DIY Pass labs 100watt amplifier.

[microwalsh8504]

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and I have a question I would like to ask. Does pass labs make a DIY 100watt solid state, or tube amplifier?

If so, what would I need and how much do you think it would cost?

I have never tackeled an electronics project like this before. What pointers would you all have for me. Should there be any classes or books that I should take before doing a project like this?

What kind of chasis material do you use? Is hardwood a good choice?

thanks,
Mitchell

[roddyama]

Hi Mitchel,

Welcome to the forum.

Originally posted by microwalsh8504
Does pass labs make a DIY 100watt solid state, or tube amplifier?

If so, what would I need and how much do you think it would cost?

No Pass Labs does not sell kits. There are however, a few of his designs available on the forum. The Aleph, AlephX, and Zen amps are all Mr. Pass' designs which he allows us to use for DIY projects.

Originally posted by microwalsh8504
I have never tackeled an electronics project like this before. What pointers would you all have for me. Should there be any classes or books that I should take before doing a project like this?

If your interested in the Pass designs I would suggest you start with the Pass Labs site and the Passdiy site . There is a lot of information there.

Originally posted by microwalsh8504
What kind of chasis material do you use? Is hardwood a good choice?

Look at the Gallery at the Passdiy site.

Have Fun,

[microwalsh8504]

with the information on the amplifiers you said there are several designs to choose from. Which design would you say is the best?

Is there a way i could achive approximatly 100 watts a channel with it?

Where can i get diagrams, discriptions, and pictures of these models?

Thanks,
mitchell

[Netlist]

Mitchell
Go and have a look at the WIKI as well.
Go to Amplifiers, PassLabs -> AlephX.

Good luck and don't be shy to ask

/Hugo

[Merijn]

Welcome!

There is a lot to choose from. All the amps sound in there own way tremendously well. Mr. Pass has givven us some of the very best designs you could wish, but please keep in mind that if you don't have any experiences, every amp (Pass or non-Pass) does have a pricetag you might not be willing to test with. I mean: A hundred-Watts Pass amp will be an joy for the ear but a pain for your checkbook, so I would reccomend you to start with something easier/cheaper but equally big in sound.
(You dont want to abandon your project half-way with spending a couple of hundred of dollars do You? and the best motivation is succes...)

So I would suggest Aleph-X or SOZ 10-30 Watts/channel.

(I do not want to disencourage you, onely prevent you from falling in the same pit I did )

[tool49]

(You dont want to abandon your project half-way with spending a couple of hundred of dollars do You? and the best motivation is succes...)

This implies that he does have basic soldering/case working/testing material, else it might be more like a thousand dollars! (well this is what happened to me anyway) But the good thing is that if it is a pass time activity, money won't be an object

I second the suggestion for the 10-30 watts range at first. Now you might be successful on the first try, for the first project on a 100W thingy, but just to make your hand, the 30 watts will sound just as good (if your speakers are efficient enough) and will cost a lot less. Then after the first one is finished, you'll be able to tell more precisely whether or not a 100W project fits your skills and needs.

Sébastien

[microwalsh8504]

Merijn, and everyone else!

Thank you for your reply.

You suggest that I look into an Aleph-X or SOZ 10-30 Watts/channel.

That sounds pretty good to me.

I want to let you know that the speakers that I want to drive aren't a high efficient speaker. I am reffering to the OHM C-2. They can handle 30-120 watts continous, and have a sensitivity of 87 dB.

Would these amps be able to drive these speakers with Authority?

These speakers produce a lovely smooth sound that isn't strenuous. They play loud, and have very deep bass.

Will one of these amplifiers bring out these speakers even more?

Thanks,
Mitchell

[fcel]

Aleph-X may not be a beginner project. "We" have ordered over 1000 boards but very few of us has actually built it - at least that's what I read in this forum.

[roddyama]

Originally posted by fcel
Aleph-X may not be a beginner project. "We" have ordered over 1000 boards but very few of us has actually built it - at least that's what I read in this forum.

Agreed. I would suggest that if you must have 100W "with authority" the Aleph 4 would be a better way to go. Although as it has been suggested a few times now, it would be easier to start with a lower powered amp like one of the Zens.

[Magura]

If youre a little handy, the x-SOZ or the zen V.1 would be a good way to go.

10W is actually an awfull lot of power if from the right amp (i mean good quality 10w).

Just start out by deciding how much youre willing to spend on this, i mean both time and moneywise.

Magura