Highest quality design

[Nico Ras]

Originally posted by D_o_S
Ok, I would like something that is class A...

I was also thinking about some of the amps Upupa Epops had, the DA 386, or so (I don't know the name exactly), is that any good? Can anyone get me a schematic?

Also, what about the Simple Killer Amplifier by Greg Ball? As here: http://www.ska-audio.com/diy/003.html

Is that any good? I would need 2 kits ofc, but it looks like a nice way to start perhaps?

I showed my dad the Krell clone, he doesn't seem to impressed by it, he sort of couldn't figure out how it was working, saying it was some "old configuration" or so

Can anyone else point me to anything nice?

Why don't you ask your dad what you should build?

[culture]

well, a year ago i had the same problem.. new speakers...no new amp..

i build myself a aleph p1.7 and a f4. just 25w 8ohm/50 watt 4ohm, more than enough for me. build yourself two f4s and you have 100 watt balanced.

now i want new speakers

to find out more about look into the pass forum. read it first and than ask your dad

btw, pumpkin pre is supposed to be very good with the f4 (designed for...) recommended by nelson pass himself (somewhere in some thread as far as is remember)

6moons has a nice extensive review about the commercial f4 amps

cheers,

C

[AKSA]

A simple amp design can be had at no charge from Doug Self's website.

However, it is not particularly refined by high end standards, and for that you must spend lots of time tweaking component values and choices until you get it voiced just right. CBS240 makes this very point; if you are a perfectionist, this quest will take years, particularly if you do it as a hobby.

Once completed, the schematic must be laid out as a pcb. When I started out with the AKSA, the combination of learning the layout program and refining the board took around 650 hours at the keyboard!

This is what you pay for when you buy a professional, commercial product. All this time costs; none of us like working for nothing. What you seek, the ultimate amp well refined, either costs money or time; you can't get away from it.

Choosing the 'best' amp is difficult; they are all different, but opinions vary on what is best, and in this sense audio is like food - a huge diversity, and all of it with a share of the market. Contrary to popular belief, the amp makes a huge difference to the sound; it's not all the speaker. Think about that, and try to reconcile it with the published specifications you see in the glossy brochures.

Cheers,

Hugh

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by D_o_S
I showed my dad the Krell clone, he doesn't seem to impressed by it, he sort of couldn't figure out how it was working, saying it was some "old configuration" or so

It may be old, but it's a very good amp, and still beats the pants off many "modern" designs.

Still, if you want Class A, and don't like the Krells, do some reading in the Pass Labs forum, though your Dad may dislike them even more...

[Cloth Ears]

Originally posted by AKSA
Choosing the 'best' amp is difficult; they are all different, but opinions vary on what is best, and in this sense audio is like food - a huge diversity, and all of it with a share of the market.

Succinctly put. I must use the food analogy and possibly expand on it (eg. class 'G' - like high protein, high energy bars, they work but you wouldn't want them every day )

Originally posted by AKSA
Contrary to popular belief, the amp makes a huge difference to the sound; it's not all the speaker. Think about that, and try to reconcile it with the published specifications you see in the glossy brochures.

Hugh, I'm still (naively?) hoping that with well-designed amps that they don't actually affect the sound themselves. But that they do affect what the speaker does (or is able to do) with the sound.
And apologies for the slight thread hijack...

D_o_S, what are you intending to use the amp for? It's OK to want a 200w/ch class 'A' amplifier, but what are you intending to drive with this beast (ie. what are your speakers?). Also, Hugh is probably too shy to mentioned it, but his later AKSA kit amplifiers (which might still be available) are pretty good...if you're not going to design your own. And, there's some pretty interesting designs floating around on the Pass forum on this site - with Nelson occasionally available for advice (amongst others).

[KLe]

Hi D_o_S

You should definitely add this one to your list ... http://www.ska-audio.com/diy/

[CBS240]

Originally posted by AKSA
if you are a perfectionist, this quest will take years, particularly if you do it as a hobby.

Once completed, the schematic must be laid out as a pcb. When I started out with the AKSA, the combination of learning the layout program and refining the board took around 650 hours at the keyboard!

Only 650 hours? That's all? I've been changing/refining my "ultimate amp" design for a couple of years now, with different topologies, but also learning invaluble knowledge in audio design, which is actually the main goal. Finally I'm now to the PCB layout and expect to spend many more hours yet. Time is slow since I'm only a hobbiest in this field, and must earn elsewhere.....

[AKSA]

Jont,

When you put two amps side by side into the same system and switch between them, you find quite astonishing differences between them. At the highest levels of performance, these differences come down to presentation; that is, where the vocals are placed, the width of the sound stage, the impact of the percussion, the fine detail of hihats and 2nd violin/wind sections, the depth of the image, the decay of pianos, the fullness of a hall of clapping people. These are the big ones, and they come back to the amp as much as the speakers.

In fact, with a good amp and lousy speakers, you can still hear the potential of the amp, no question. The reverse is not true at all; a bad amp and good speakers will sound very ordinary.

Yes, I have quite a range of amps, and they are all very good. But the forum is not to sell, I have a website for that, it is to exchange ideas, and I have a problem with people touting particlar designs - it's like a broken record.

CBS240, yes, only 650 hours! I'm sorry, I work quickly, it took about two years...... email me if you'd like a photo!

Cheers,

Hugh

[KLe]

Hi CBS240

Why don't you try a Dr Bora design ... Bora is a nice guy from Serbia - Yugoslávia

Have a look at the thread.
There are quite a few designs ... and Carlos is speaking highly of them.
So, they must be as good as some or even all of the designs that have been mentioned

ciao

[CBS240]

Originally posted by AKSA

CBS240, yes, only 650 hours! I'm sorry, I work quickly, it took about two years...... email me if you'd like a photo!

Cheers,

Hugh

Hi Hugh, photos are always a great bit. ...e-mail is blocked from forum.

KLE

Dr Bora does interesting designs for sure, but I undertook the quest of starting from the begining. I've come this far, might as well finish. The PCB in work is for this amp. It works increadibly well constructed on cheap vero board, it should work with a properly designed and built PCB...the current challenge is to not make any mistakes!! ...may take months to optimize.



almost forgot...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!!!!!!!