Where to go after the F5?

DJNUBZ · 2nd June 2011, 04:13 AM

So I am about to finish the first amp I have ever built. A goal I have had for about 10 years but for one reason or another I was not ready to tackle it until now. I have the amp running using a bench supply and am amazed by just how transparent it is. Of course the builder in me is now all worked up because I have made a working unit. So my question is where do I go from here. Do I build a hot rodded F5 or do I build a different amp? Personally I would love to know what the next level above the F5 would be. This amp sounds so good I have trouble believing that there could really be much better. When it comes to improving on the F5 it seems like the most you could really do is to up the power supply capacitance and possibly try different resistors. I feel though that changing resistors would be more of a matter of taste and not an upgrade. What about the premium resistor upgrade from techDIY, has anyone tried them, what did you find?

I'm using a decware preamp and a marantz 63 straight into the amp (it has volume control)but I am considering building my own preamp. The Aikdo looks tempting as well as the DCB1. Is this where I should focus next? Might be interesting to hotrod a DCB1 in a case that matches my F5 and crank up the bias.

Richard Ellis · 2nd June 2011, 04:19 AM

Finish it....Get it off the bench, build your PS, create a very personalized enclosure & let it go to work making music....
If you 'music room' is too crowded, put in the 'den', kitchen........wherever it will stand out...

__________________________________________________ ______Rick......

AudioSan · 2nd June 2011, 04:28 AM

there is a sea of options.

Nelson Pass · 2nd June 2011, 04:57 AM

F6

DJNUBZ · 2nd June 2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

F6

Ohh that's a good idea unless you want to share the plans for the even more secret f7

DJNUBZ · 2nd June 2011, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioSan

there is a sea of options.

There is and this is just a fishing expedition.

Marra · 2nd June 2011, 07:10 AM

Build a hotrodded DCB1 in conjunction with the Lightspeed as the volume control.IMHO truly a match made in heaven. The combination lets the F5 sing.
Having said that the Aleph amps are good too but a bit more expensive to build.

Andersonix · 2nd June 2011, 07:30 AM

Try something single-ended? BA-1?

chalkandtalk · 2nd June 2011, 09:19 AM

J5

Itsmee · 2nd June 2011, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

F6

Oooh, my soldering iron is getting fidgity

2nd June 2011, 04:13 AM	#1
DJNUBZ diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago	Where to go after the F5? So I am about to finish the first amp I have ever built. A goal I have had for about 10 years but for one reason or another I was not ready to tackle it until now. I have the amp running using a bench supply and am amazed by just how transparent it is. Of course the builder in me is now all worked up because I have made a working unit. So my question is where do I go from here. Do I build a hot rodded F5 or do I build a different amp? Personally I would love to know what the next level above the F5 would be. This amp sounds so good I have trouble believing that there could really be much better. When it comes to improving on the F5 it seems like the most you could really do is to up the power supply capacitance and possibly try different resistors. I feel though that changing resistors would be more of a matter of taste and not an upgrade. What about the premium resistor upgrade from techDIY, has anyone tried them, what did you find? I'm using a decware preamp and a marantz 63 straight into the amp (it has volume control)but I am considering building my own preamp. The Aikdo looks tempting as well as the DCB1. Is this where I should focus next? Might be interesting to hotrod a DCB1 in a case that matches my F5 and crank up the bias.

2nd June 2011, 04:28 AM	#3
AudioSan diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2009	there is a sea of options. __________________ soon to be: papa's Class A all the way

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2nd June 2011, 04:19 AM	#2
Richard Ellis diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mar del Plata, a BIG seasonal getaway city, can see the Ocean from our residence.	Finish it....Get it off the bench, build your PS, create a very personalized enclosure & let it go to work making music.... If you 'music room' is too crowded, put in the 'den', kitchen........wherever it will stand out... __________________________________________________ ______Rick......

2nd June 2011, 04:57 AM	#4
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	F6

2nd June 2011, 07:10 AM	#7
Marra diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Near Lincoln	Build a hotrodded DCB1 in conjunction with the Lightspeed as the volume control.IMHO truly a match made in heaven. The combination lets the F5 sing. Having said that the Aleph amps are good too but a bit more expensive to build.

2nd June 2011, 07:30 AM	#8
Andersonix diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	Try something single-ended? BA-1?

2nd June 2011, 09:19 AM	#9
chalkandtalk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North west England	J5

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