Amplifier suggestion please

[Professor smith]

Hi,

I am looking for a medium power amplifier with a budget of say 300 pounds. I want something which will exceed the commercial amps out there. Can someone make any serious suggestions?
I don't want any gimmicks.
Is it possible to build a cheap amplifier which will beat say the krell and mark levinsons? Let's be honest now please.


Professor Smith~

[taj]

There are plenty of world class circuits floating around here that a bit of investigation will expose. So that leaves it up to you to better define your circuit requirements and purchase the hardware that fits within your budget limitations.

What I mean by that is if you build the amp in a circuit breaker panel box and use discarded step-ladder rails for heatsinks, you'll have a jump start on beating the budget, but it ain't gonna be presentable at the next office party. The hardware is where you're going to spend the most money and only you can decide how best to spend your cash on that.

If you like the big class A house warmers, check out Nelson Pass's designs (and I'm sure there are others). If class A/B is "acceptable" to your criteria then there are dozens of circuit designs here that might suit you. Even "medium power" may need clarification here.

I wouldn't hazard a guess, however, as to which amp circuit design is going to meet your needs. You would have a tough time getting a consensus on which circuit is the best. So explore, read, better define, ask, tell and build a few of them.

Good luck and have fun.

[AndrewT]

Hi,
which parts of the Krell and Levinson specification must be beaten?
Which should match and which are completely unimportant to you?

[Professor smith]

Originally posted by AndrewT
Hi,
which parts of the Krell and Levinson specification must be beaten?
Which should match and which are completely unimportant to you?

If you remember when we last spoke, I was looking for an amplifier and I've considered all the various options, but now I am still without an amplifier and I need one quickly.

I would have gone for an Aksa even though its abit expensive, but I was getting wildly varying opinions on it ranging from it being a good amp to being one of the worlds best so now I am not sure how good it is.

I dont care about how it looks all I care about is having an amplifier which matches with my 87db speakers and will give me very good sound which rivals that of much more expensive gear. I used Krell as an example.

[tinitus]

Originally posted by Professor smith
Hi,

Is it possible to build a cheap amplifier which will beat say the krell and mark levinsons? Let's be honest now please.


Professor Smith~

That depends
If its about power probably not
At least not at your budget

But fore low level quality listening maybe look a something like "THE AMAZING CIRCLOTRON"

Im confident that it will easily beat both of those, on its homeground that is

[Professor smith]

Originally posted by taj
There are plenty of world class circuits floating around here that a bit of investigation will expose. So that leaves it up to you to better define your circuit requirements and purchase the hardware that fits within your budget limitations.

What I mean by that is if you build the amp in a circuit breaker panel box and use discarded step-ladder rails for heatsinks, you'll have a jump start on beating the budget, but it ain't gonna be presentable at the next office party. The hardware is where you're going to spend the most money and only you can decide how best to spend your cash on that.

If you like the big class A house warmers, check out Nelson Pass's designs (and I'm sure there are others). If class A/B is "acceptable" to your criteria then there are dozens of circuit designs here that might suit you. Even "medium power" may need clarification here.

I wouldn't hazard a guess, however, as to which amp circuit design is going to meet your needs. You would have a tough time getting a consensus on which circuit is the best. So explore, read, better define, ask, tell and build a few of them.

Good luck and have fun.

But the bottom line is I am considering DIY as an option however I dont have time or patience to experiment right now. I am without an amp and without music.
The trouble with Nelson Pass class A is that I get the impression and I think Pass himself admitted that none of his designs are intended for driving inefficient 87db speakers. He also mentioned the 'lack' of bass drive and these are two things which

What I would ask is this though. There are many good ''5 star'' magazine reviewed commercial designs out there ranging in price.

I would like to know how the DIY amps such as AKSA or PASS labs or carlos's would be reviewed against these other commercial amps.
Would they get 5 star? Would they measure well?

We will never know.

But my requirement is simply a very high quality amplifier which matches my 87db speakers, puts out about 60-100 watts/channel and one which can be set up with minimal effort (such as the AKSA) and can compare favorably with more expensive amplfiers.

[tinitus]

About 225 pund will buy you two Hypex standard modules and a switchmode supply
Dont know how it sounds, but at least it works

I dont think that VERY high quality is within your budget
And some experience may be required
But hey, even cheap gain clones makes people happy too

A plug and play integrated Abacus Rieder Ampino cost 470pund

The cute little AMPINO from Dayens is only 220EUR
Supposed to be a true bargain
But he makes bigger ones too

[taj]

Originally posted by Professor smith


What I would ask is this though. There are many good ''5 star'' magazine reviewed commercial designs out there ranging in price.

I would like to know how the DIY amps such as AKSA or PASS labs or carlos's would be reviewed against these other commercial amps.
Would they get 5 star? Would they measure well?

We will never know.

But my requirement is simply a very high quality amplifier which matches my 87db speakers, puts out about 60-100 watts/channel and one which can be set up with minimal effort (such as the AKSA) and can compare favorably with more expensive amplfiers.

Well, a couple of points I would make...

87dB is pretty typical, just not high efficiency. A 30 watt class A (Pass's Aleph 30 ) will drive them without a problem, if you decide to go that way.

5-star magazine reviews... I won't waste your time with my opinion of their opinions. If you're looking for opinions here, you will get many of everything and very little consensus. And correlating measurements to sound quality is a can of worms I avoid like the plague.

It sounds like you've decided Krell is on a pedestal and is thus your bellwether. Why not just build one and be happy. http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...940#post894940

I don't think Hugh is producing any kits or DIY stuff any more, but I could be wrong. So I believe you are out of luck if you decided to go that route. Carlos's projects follow in the footsteps of Hugh's AKSA work to a degree.

Something simple to build and set-up is a tough one. That depends entirely on your electronics abilities and knowledge. There are very few "kits" offered here. There are "group buys" and bulk-produced PC Boards occasionally made available that simplify construction, but they come and go. You could ask in the marketplace threads here if anyone has any surplus PCBs for a particular design you've chosen.

Other designs (besides the ones already mentioned) that builders here have been very happy with are: SymAsym, Mooly, GEM, Krill, Quasi, Roender, and many more (with apologies to those I didn't mention).

These ones would have all been ignored here and faded into obscurity if they didn't sound good. One way to determine a vague consensus of builders' opinions is to page through the forum here noting the number of posts in any given amplifier construction thread. The actual numbers don't matter, but the fact there are big numbers is telling.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that good sound quality is far too vague and controversial a parameter to use as a selection criteria. Everything mentioned here will sound GOOD. Beyond that you're getting into personal criteria that may not agree with yours. Go with Krell, it's obvious you respect that design. And you would not be alone.

..Todd

[taj]

Actually, I am completely confused about Hugh's AKSA kit set amplifiers. He's still listing them for sale on his website, but I thought he mentioned he has phased them out.

Hugh? You there? What up?

If they are still available in kit form, that would be my first choice given your criteria. (my opinion)

..Todd

[tinitus]

Originally posted by Professor smith
Hi,

I am looking for a medium power amplifier with a budget of say 300 pounds.

Let's be honest now please.


Professor Smith~

Alone the supply caps could easily cost 300pound
Mind you, I dont say that they need to cost that much
Depends on the design, but if you want the power of a Krell or Levinson it will probably end that way
And if you look at the new biggie from Aussie amps, each amp module cost close to 500AUD, which is around your budget
So, if you could find trafos from old amps etc....
Anyway, its the one I would like to build, fore bass use
Fore the top I prefer smaller amps

But if you want a real amp to compare with, maybe better look at Gryphon instead of those you mention

But as said, small and good classA amps are completely different, and will easily sound way better than Krell or Levinson, even when built cheapish
Unles you really like the Levinson "sound"