Recently, I decided to build an F5T amp. It’s a big deal for me. There is a pretty steep learning curve. There is a lot to take in. Having found a lot of the answers here, I decided that I would document this process for others.
A super big thank you to everyone on these boards that have pushed and guided me this far. This will be an ongoing guide that lays out my learning experience from the beginning.
Context is everything. The ‘how’ and ‘why’ we arrive at our choices are just as important as the choices themselves. To start at the beginning means really starting at the beginning.
So, here we go.
Part I: Reference
I have been a bit of an audio nut since my early teens. A friend of mine asked me to go shopping for a new mini system. I guess at the time mini systems were the new hot thing. We walked around the city looking at every incarnation of a mini system trying to parse the specs to find the gem of the bunch. From gray market resellers to brand name boutiques, everything was fair game. Panasonic had automatic swing up control panels, Sony was pushing better/different CD lasers and all of them had a long list of important sounding features that made very little sense to either of us.
Before this adventure I had never really considered the boxes that music came out of. During my childhood we had a bunch of stereo units, but they were never really important. We spent most of our time listening to the radio on a paint covered protable; I couldn't tell you the brand or even the original color.
One afternoon, on the way back from a search and listen session, I stopped in a now defunct big box store. Not really expecting much, I started to look over the available mini systems. The sales guy came over and started hovering; nothing like having a teen wandering around a store to attract the attention of the staff. I grilled him on specs and rather than trying to sell me one over the other, he simply asked me why I was interested in mini systems?
This was the exact moment when the wheels fell off and I was lost to hi-fi forever.
I started to put together a snappy answer in my head about available power, form factor etc. and then stopped. Because really, I didn't know why I was interested in mini systems. More importantly, his question implied that was an alternative to mini systems. Which ended up being my next question.
He introduced me to component based stereos. I spent the next few weeks going by daily to pick his brain, to listen to everything I could. There was power and depth that a mini system could even begin to replicate. A complete no brainer.
After one particular session he told me that if you want to hear really good sound, you should take a look at the shop up the road that specialized in audio gear.
I thanked him for his time and never went back. Instead, I walked nine blocks up the street to the hifi store. I became a fixture and they gradually schooled me on what real audio sounded like. I remember hearing a soundstage for the first time. I remember the speakers disappearing; not being able to locate left or right, but instead being able to definitively point to a place in space where the bass was being played or where the singer was standing. I could hear not just the piano, but the most delicate sound of fingers lifting and contacting the keys. The sound of lips parting before a note was sung - visceral sibilance. I entered the realm of detail; a squeeky bass drum pedal, spittle rattling in the crook of a trumpet.
I spent two years working my *** off to save up for my first system. In my spare time, I hung out at the store listening, pestering and generally feeding my addiction. It took everything I had.
Two years later, I brought home my first serious system. It was beautiful and the speakers filled my room with audio magic. I spent hours listening to music I knew by heart for the very first time.
That was a long time ago. Eventually, the amp died. It used to get so hot that if I left a CD on it, it would melt. It was a flaw in its design. The minimalist beauty failed miserably at heat dissipation creating a lovely little oven. It literally cooked itself to death and there was nothing I could do about it. A short time later, during a move, both my speakers were damaged beyond repair.
In less than a year, I became an audio widow.
It was a dark time in my life. I bounced around from system to system. For a time, I would try anything; I didn't even ask where it came from before plugging in. I started with old portable units, cast off power amps, even stereo receivers. At first, it was great; a no strings attached audio experience. When I got bored with one, I moved onto the next one. No attachments, no regrets and no commitments. It was all pretty innocent at first, but at some point I lost my self.
I remember waking up early one morning. It was dawn and a stillness hung about the room. I rolled over, looked across the room and saw my latest system sitting there. I had just brought it home. I knew it meant nothing; that it couldn't fill the need, but I brought it home anyway. The morning light filtered through the blinds and caught a chromed corner. I felt nothing but emptiness and longing.
Was I destined to bounce from one system to the next? Was I doomed to never really find happiness? Was I ever going to find that deep down satisfaction that can only come from commitment? All my friends had got serious systems. They gave up experimenting and swapping a long time ago. In fact, even though we still hung out, I often caught their sideways glances and picked up thinly veiled judgment when we talked. They were nervous when I was around their systems and we started meeting in public places.
It was a dark time.
I was fortunate to have some strong people in my life who stood by me. Through them, I put that time behind me and started building another serious system. It wasn't always easy, but the human spirit is surprisingly resilient.
That’s not to say I got smarter. I just got focused.
Part II
Part III
A super big thank you to everyone on these boards that have pushed and guided me this far. This will be an ongoing guide that lays out my learning experience from the beginning.
Context is everything. The ‘how’ and ‘why’ we arrive at our choices are just as important as the choices themselves. To start at the beginning means really starting at the beginning.
So, here we go.
Part I: Reference
I have been a bit of an audio nut since my early teens. A friend of mine asked me to go shopping for a new mini system. I guess at the time mini systems were the new hot thing. We walked around the city looking at every incarnation of a mini system trying to parse the specs to find the gem of the bunch. From gray market resellers to brand name boutiques, everything was fair game. Panasonic had automatic swing up control panels, Sony was pushing better/different CD lasers and all of them had a long list of important sounding features that made very little sense to either of us.
Before this adventure I had never really considered the boxes that music came out of. During my childhood we had a bunch of stereo units, but they were never really important. We spent most of our time listening to the radio on a paint covered protable; I couldn't tell you the brand or even the original color.
One afternoon, on the way back from a search and listen session, I stopped in a now defunct big box store. Not really expecting much, I started to look over the available mini systems. The sales guy came over and started hovering; nothing like having a teen wandering around a store to attract the attention of the staff. I grilled him on specs and rather than trying to sell me one over the other, he simply asked me why I was interested in mini systems?
This was the exact moment when the wheels fell off and I was lost to hi-fi forever.
I started to put together a snappy answer in my head about available power, form factor etc. and then stopped. Because really, I didn't know why I was interested in mini systems. More importantly, his question implied that was an alternative to mini systems. Which ended up being my next question.
He introduced me to component based stereos. I spent the next few weeks going by daily to pick his brain, to listen to everything I could. There was power and depth that a mini system could even begin to replicate. A complete no brainer.
After one particular session he told me that if you want to hear really good sound, you should take a look at the shop up the road that specialized in audio gear.
I thanked him for his time and never went back. Instead, I walked nine blocks up the street to the hifi store. I became a fixture and they gradually schooled me on what real audio sounded like. I remember hearing a soundstage for the first time. I remember the speakers disappearing; not being able to locate left or right, but instead being able to definitively point to a place in space where the bass was being played or where the singer was standing. I could hear not just the piano, but the most delicate sound of fingers lifting and contacting the keys. The sound of lips parting before a note was sung - visceral sibilance. I entered the realm of detail; a squeeky bass drum pedal, spittle rattling in the crook of a trumpet.
I spent two years working my *** off to save up for my first system. In my spare time, I hung out at the store listening, pestering and generally feeding my addiction. It took everything I had.
Two years later, I brought home my first serious system. It was beautiful and the speakers filled my room with audio magic. I spent hours listening to music I knew by heart for the very first time.
That was a long time ago. Eventually, the amp died. It used to get so hot that if I left a CD on it, it would melt. It was a flaw in its design. The minimalist beauty failed miserably at heat dissipation creating a lovely little oven. It literally cooked itself to death and there was nothing I could do about it. A short time later, during a move, both my speakers were damaged beyond repair.
In less than a year, I became an audio widow.
It was a dark time in my life. I bounced around from system to system. For a time, I would try anything; I didn't even ask where it came from before plugging in. I started with old portable units, cast off power amps, even stereo receivers. At first, it was great; a no strings attached audio experience. When I got bored with one, I moved onto the next one. No attachments, no regrets and no commitments. It was all pretty innocent at first, but at some point I lost my self.
I remember waking up early one morning. It was dawn and a stillness hung about the room. I rolled over, looked across the room and saw my latest system sitting there. I had just brought it home. I knew it meant nothing; that it couldn't fill the need, but I brought it home anyway. The morning light filtered through the blinds and caught a chromed corner. I felt nothing but emptiness and longing.
Was I destined to bounce from one system to the next? Was I doomed to never really find happiness? Was I ever going to find that deep down satisfaction that can only come from commitment? All my friends had got serious systems. They gave up experimenting and swapping a long time ago. In fact, even though we still hung out, I often caught their sideways glances and picked up thinly veiled judgment when we talked. They were nervous when I was around their systems and we started meeting in public places.
It was a dark time.
I was fortunate to have some strong people in my life who stood by me. Through them, I put that time behind me and started building another serious system. It wasn't always easy, but the human spirit is surprisingly resilient.
That’s not to say I got smarter. I just got focused.
Part II
Part III
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What amp did you say that was?
And you still want more heat? I guess you've found the right place!
Part Zero: Design the amp for the load.
Nice read
Your grammar, tense, and prose was great! Your story telling was compelling. Do you happen to be a writer by trade?
Your grammar, tense, and prose was great! Your story telling was compelling. Do you happen to be a writer by trade?
...a little like Harry Crews...less blood and place, more heat of amps than heat of south : )... in a chapter about childhood with consumer elelectronics. Really enjoyed!
You are on auto pilot and don't even know it yet. Let me explain.
First thing you need to do is stop looking for your last system or component. Even if you are buying components, you'll always feel you want to try something else. You'll always want to change something. You will have preconseved ideas of what you think is good sound or how a system should sound. That is until your gut tells you something is off or you hear another system or component.
It gets worse with building your own gear. Good enough is never good enough. You'll start to say, I can do it better. Maybe you can to some degree. You will see the downhill, but you won't see the finish line.
A friend of mine just had me change caps on a week old, $7k dac, voiding his warranty.
I know in a month it will be another dac or table or amp or...
You cant tell people how to spend their money, but be realistic with it and your time.
Accept you are now opening up a new can of worms or caviar (SP?). Don't forget to enjoy the music.
First thing you need to do is stop looking for your last system or component. Even if you are buying components, you'll always feel you want to try something else. You'll always want to change something. You will have preconseved ideas of what you think is good sound or how a system should sound. That is until your gut tells you something is off or you hear another system or component.
It gets worse with building your own gear. Good enough is never good enough. You'll start to say, I can do it better. Maybe you can to some degree. You will see the downhill, but you won't see the finish line.
A friend of mine just had me change caps on a week old, $7k dac, voiding his warranty.
I know in a month it will be another dac or table or amp or...
You cant tell people how to spend their money, but be realistic with it and your time.
Accept you are now opening up a new can of worms or caviar (SP?). Don't forget to enjoy the music.
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