5.1 Amp

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There are lots of pages already here that you could use. Look at what other people have built and see what direction you would like to go.

A 5.1 amp is just 6 amplifiers with the last one (for the sub woofer) twice (at least) as powerful as the other 5.

If you are new to electronics a kit would probably be the best route.

If you are more experienced then you can move past that to the your level.

a couple of questions that need to be addressed:

How much power? (size of room, speaker efficiencies)
What speaker impedance is to be driven?

Best help/advice: start learning by surfing, these forums as well as Google

search for amplifier schematics...you will find hundreds

search for amplifiers in images...lots there

Best advice always: get lots of advice and then decide yourself what you want to do

There are many right and wrong ways to build what you need...if it works, is safe, and you like the sound then it was the right way. If it does not work very well, is unsafe or you let the smoke out of the parts or it sounds bad then more work is required. (wrong way)

Have fun
 
The most cost-effective solution is to buy an obsolete A/V surround receiver from a thrift store. $20 to $50, and that's for one with decoding for Dolby Digital (and usually DTS). If you have a source with 5.1 outputs (like a sound card, or DVD/Blu-ray player with internal decoding), then an older "Digital Ready" receiver should work, since those have 5.1 analog inputs. You might run across an outboard Dolby Digital processor like the Technics SH-AC300 or SH-AC500D; those were intended as companions to the "Digital Ready" receivers, but since they have built-in source switching and volume control, you could hook up 6 channels of power amplifier without a receiver.

For larger rooms, a bunch of linear chip amps like the LM3886 should work. In smaller spaces or for desktop use, boards based on Tripath digital amp chips (TA2020 or TA2024), or the Yamaha YDA148 would be smaller and simpler to work with. Tripath boards can be found cheap on eBay; Dealextreme was cheaper for a YDA148 board.

Another option: use a multichannel car amp and power it from a computer ATX supply.

And finally: collect old stereo receivers and integrated amps and use them as basic amplifiers for the main speakers or just the subwoofer.

If you want an insanely powerful subwoofer, look out for a deal on a used pro or semi-pro power amp. I found a Behringer EP2500 at a Cash Converters store for about $250; about 600 watts per channel into 4 ohms.
 
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