Best DIY AMP?

[Scribble]

Ok need all your feedback on DIY amp's, which ones sound the best and which ones have the most power. Also about how much do these beastlies cost to build?

Thanks

[uli]

Hi,
Definitely best sounding: Aleph 2 (IMHO)

U.

[Magnetmaz]

Answering this question just means rehashing about 1000x other threads going on.

This is such a broad question, you need to better define what you are looking to get out of an amplifier. Do you want solid state, tube, class A, push/pull, single ended? There's a million different variances...

Do a search on the forum for Aleph X, gainclone, ZenV4, P3A, ...read these threads first.

[Mark A. Gulbrandsen]

Magnetmaz,
He was asking for the BEST SOUNDING amplifier to build...Aleph 2 is the only one on this site that fills that bill. While there are alot of other amp designs it doesn't sound like he is interested in building more than one...so ALEPH 2 would be my reccomendation for the best all around amp.
So far I have spent about 750.00 to build(actually overbuild) my pair. Most of the parts with the exception of Semis, and heatsinks was aquired surplus.
Mark

[Magnetmaz]

nonesense....he was asking it very generally as in:

"I'm completely new here...what should i build?"

( i'm inferring since he only registered in the last month)

and i'm sure that at least a hundred people would disagree with you that the Aleph 2 is the best, especially since the Gainclone and the AlephX seem to be the amp de jour ( and i'm not even going to bring up what the tube enthusiasts would say about this).

It all depends on what your object is, and there are a ton of criteria for choosing.... : Home theatre or just music, tube or solid state, frugal or price is no object, sensitivity of existing speakers as in how many watts do you need...is the amp for DJing clubs where you need 1500watts solid state, or will a 10watt SE tube amp suffice... class A...A/B...

Amplifier choice is all in the needs, and in what you've got to spend.......do don't automatically he wants an ALEPH2 when he wants to power a nightclub with hard house and jungle techno. He did say "and how much power" which would lead me to believe he wants alot of it

-Maz

edited out something that referenced another post : i'm a bottle of wine into the evening...forgive me

[moe29]

It's kind of like having someone pick a girlfriend for you!

(...hmmmm, looking back over my choices, maybe that
wouldn't have been such a bad idea)

So, i'm going to say. Build the Zen V4!

Buy the boards and Q pack from Pass DIY

Download and read the project... in fact read all the Zen projects!

You'll probably spend anywhere between
$200 to 500 USD, depending on an infinite
number of variables.

how's that for an answer?

P.S. i'm not responsible for your audio nirvana, prices may vary,
your mileage may differ, add 7% tax if you're in the state of FL,
contents may shift during shipping, May cause drowsiness or
dizziness, this offer void after January 31, 2003.
void in PA, GA, ND, & SD.

[Nelson Pass]

Whatever you pick, I say that IC power amps are some
kind of anethema to DIY. You can build discrete for just
as much trouble and cost, and you won't learn as much,
the sound won't really be as good, and your bragging
rights are diminished.

Personally, I was taken aback by the manufacturers who
have gone this route. What's this country coming to?!

[JoeBob]

It's strange how a year ago the national amp ICs were considered just for beginers and downright bad, I only heard negative things about them. Now all of a sudden they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Discrete is indeed more fun, also you can tailor the sound to what YOU want, with ICs you get the sound of the IC designer, it's not DIY, it's GSETDIFY (get someone else to do it for you) in my book.

[halojoy]

Originally posted by Nelson Pass
Whatever you pick, I say that IC power amps are some
kind of anethema to DIY. You can build discrete for just
as much trouble and cost, and you won't learn as much,
the sound won't really be as good, and your bragging
rights are diminished.

Personally, I was taken aback by the manufacturers who
have gone this route. What's this country coming to?!

Gainclone or POWER-ICs can be good amplifiers.

But, I have to agree with Nelson:

If you want to be wiser and learn something
you should go Discrete.

There are many Not too complicated Amplifiers
out there.
Nelson Pass' Amplifiers are not Typical for Amplifiers (even if they work good)
----------------------------------------------

I would recommend you to build some ESP project.
Elliot is a VERY good Teacher -and the project are well documented

Start with this: Elliott Sound Products Power Amplifier Design Guidelines

And then goto Projects: Projects - Complete designs and ideas, with schematics and construction details

--------------------------------------------------------------------

halojoy - there is more to DIY - than Elliot and Pass

[Neutron Bob]

Originally posted by Nelson Pass
Whatever you pick, I say that IC power amps are some
kind of anethema to DIY. You can build discrete for just
as much trouble and cost, and you won't learn as much,
the sound won't really be as good, and your bragging
rights are diminished.

Personally, I was taken aback by the manufacturers who
have gone this route. What's this country coming to?!

IC power amps are best suited for installation under the seat, or in the trunk. I can't imagine why one would care to listen to this genre of amplifier.... Ah! I know, Nelson! One who has a early transistor machine from the early 70s mass market era! Remember that harsh "gnarly" sound?

As for the manufacturers going with them, I was floored with the junk I saw at the convention center years ago....well, if they package them with a combination siren and flashlight, we'll know their country of origin.

Bob