Original Zen as first project? Few Questions.

nshanemartin · 13th August 2004, 05:16 AM

'm considering building the original Zen (V1?) as my first real project. I have soldering/electronics experience but the newer Zen versions just look a little complicated for a first project. It doesn't look like it will be too hard as long as I actually follow the directions.

Is this still a viable project? Is there something similar in quality and simplicity? I'm going to be using it with two sets of speakers: Fostex FE103E and FE206E, both in a backhorn enclosure as per the Fostex website.

I have local sources for everything but the largest caps and transformers. Who would be a reliable source for those parts?

I know I've got a lot of questions but you all seem to have a lot of answers. Most of my questions have been answered in this forum by just looking around and these are whats left.

Thanks for your time,
nshane

Coming soon:
Bottlehead Foreplay and possibly Bottlehead Paramour(s)

Magura · 13th August 2004, 07:28 AM

I build a Z1 of whatever was available a while back. Simply just find capacitors at a reasoable size, the brand is no big deal, if you wanna go exotic...buy epcos or rifa, but apex jr. have some fine caps at 50v 68.000 uf for I guess 7 or 8 usd a piece. As for the trafo, I ask apex jr. again, he does surplus sales, and would be able to give you a bit of advice on what would work well.

Magura

moe29 · 13th August 2004, 04:55 PM

The biggest "obstacle" in building a Zen amp is find big heatsinks!
Be sure not to skimp in this area. Also consider a CLC power
supply as noted in the Return of Zen. It's a fun project and a
good sounding amp, so go for it!

nshanemartin · 13th August 2004, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the quick responses. I had forgotten about ApexJr. I contacted Avel Lindberg about a year ago and they had the transformer for not too much $$$. I first found out about the PassDIY site a while back and had planned on having my Zen running by now but things, they do happen.

As for heatsinks, any recomendations on those? How much surface area do I really need?

Thanks
Shane

moe29 · 13th August 2004, 09:34 PM

"As for heatsinks, any recomendations on those? How much surface area do I really need?"

i believe each FET dissipates around 30 to 35 watts eatch.

so 1 heatsink would have to dissipate around 140 watts total.

Using 2 heatsinks would be better, then 70 watts each... minimum.

the more heatsink area the better

13th August 2004, 05:16 AM	#1
nshanemartin diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Paducah, KY	Original Zen as first project? Few Questions. 'm considering building the original Zen (V1?) as my first real project. I have soldering/electronics experience but the newer Zen versions just look a little complicated for a first project. It doesn't look like it will be too hard as long as I actually follow the directions. Is this still a viable project? Is there something similar in quality and simplicity? I'm going to be using it with two sets of speakers: Fostex FE103E and FE206E, both in a backhorn enclosure as per the Fostex website. I have local sources for everything but the largest caps and transformers. Who would be a reliable source for those parts? I know I've got a lot of questions but you all seem to have a lot of answers. Most of my questions have been answered in this forum by just looking around and these are whats left. Thanks for your time, nshane Coming soon: Bottlehead Foreplay and possibly Bottlehead Paramour(s)

13th August 2004, 07:28 AM	#2
Magura diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Denmark, Viborg	I build a Z1 of whatever was available a while back. Simply just find capacitors at a reasoable size, the brand is no big deal, if you wanna go exotic...buy epcos or rifa, but apex jr. have some fine caps at 50v 68.000 uf for I guess 7 or 8 usd a piece. As for the trafo, I ask apex jr. again, he does surplus sales, and would be able to give you a bit of advice on what would work well. Magura __________________ Everything is possible....to do the impossible just takes a little while longer. www.class-a-labs.com

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13th August 2004, 04:55 PM	#3
moe29 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Florida	The biggest "obstacle" in building a Zen amp is find big heatsinks! Be sure not to skimp in this area. Also consider a CLC power supply as noted in the Return of Zen. It's a fun project and a good sounding amp, so go for it!

13th August 2004, 07:30 PM	#4
nshanemartin diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Paducah, KY	Thanks for the quick responses. I had forgotten about ApexJr. I contacted Avel Lindberg about a year ago and they had the transformer for not too much $$$. I first found out about the PassDIY site a while back and had planned on having my Zen running by now but things, they do happen. As for heatsinks, any recomendations on those? How much surface area do I really need? Thanks Shane

13th August 2004, 09:34 PM	#5
moe29 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Florida	"As for heatsinks, any recomendations on those? How much surface area do I really need?" i believe each FET dissipates around 30 to 35 watts eatch. so 1 heatsink would have to dissipate around 140 watts total. Using 2 heatsinks would be better, then 70 watts each... minimum. the more heatsink area the better

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