Boards and parts about $150. Power supply your preference dictates. Figure $100-150 for an average supply but you can go nuts with capacitors and dual transformers. Enclosure cost is totally up to you. Minimum size heat sinks from surplus and a MDF box and you are under $100. A 4U store case is $330. Go nuts with a custom machined case and the sky is the limit.
IIRC early in the thread are measurements, but conventional measurements don't tell the whole story. My Badger is still waiting final assembly so I will leave it to others to say how it sounds. There are a number of glowing reports already.
Hope that helps.
IIRC early in the thread are measurements, but conventional measurements don't tell the whole story. My Badger is still waiting final assembly so I will leave it to others to say how it sounds. There are a number of glowing reports already.
Hope that helps.
A comparison....
I've been researching, (looking for ideas/design refinements)in some of the "top end" amps.
I came across the marantz ma9s2 (below). At 8000USD , one would expect
something "magical".
-The case is top gun. (unknown $ - DIYA's case is just as functional)
-A shielded 600VA toroid ... AnteK sells these.
-standard 15K -22K X 2 main capacitors (maybe more) , an EF2 with 3 pair Sanken MT-200 OPS.
Most badger builds have more at MUCH less cost.
Nothing "magical" yet...
The amp - it HAS been pirated
....
Power amplifier kit Ref MA-9S2 Ma-9 AMP DIY by weiliang - $46.80 : Enjoy in your hi-fi project, diy tube amp, amplifier diy, amp diy
Not really superior to the Badger -different but not better.
The marantz might (I suspect) have an auxiliary supply for the VAS/LTP as it
also has a separate output stage PCB.
Omit R32/33 on the badger , add 2 wire wrap posts and hook up an independant 50VA /100Vct toroid
with a nice capacitance multiplier/regulator.
We now have the marantz BEAT (it uses
a secondary from the main trafo)
POWER !! The marantz is rated 300/600w (8/4R).
We can boost the badger - MG6330/9410 - with these devices, the Badger would
easily be rated at 200/400w (8/4R).
My point is... spend 600-1000USD and you will have an equivalent (if not superior) power supply ,
an amp that is all on one board and uses easily
sourced components (no marantz "potted" proprietary BS) .
Or spend 8K for a brand name.
OS
I've been researching, (looking for ideas/design refinements)in some of the "top end" amps.
I came across the marantz ma9s2 (below). At 8000USD , one would expect
something "magical".
-The case is top gun. (unknown $ - DIYA's case is just as functional)
-A shielded 600VA toroid ... AnteK sells these.
-standard 15K -22K X 2 main capacitors (maybe more) , an EF2 with 3 pair Sanken MT-200 OPS.
Most badger builds have more at MUCH less cost.
Nothing "magical" yet...
The amp - it HAS been pirated
....Power amplifier kit Ref MA-9S2 Ma-9 AMP DIY by weiliang - $46.80 : Enjoy in your hi-fi project, diy tube amp, amplifier diy, amp diy
Not really superior to the Badger -different but not better.
The marantz might (I suspect) have an auxiliary supply for the VAS/LTP as it
also has a separate output stage PCB.
Omit R32/33 on the badger , add 2 wire wrap posts and hook up an independant 50VA /100Vct toroid
with a nice capacitance multiplier/regulator.
We now have the marantz BEAT (it uses
a secondary from the main trafo
)POWER !! The marantz is rated 300/600w (8/4R).
We can boost the badger - MG6330/9410 - with these devices, the Badger would
easily be rated at 200/400w (8/4R).
My point is... spend 600-1000USD and you will have an equivalent (if not superior) power supply ,
an amp that is all on one board and uses easily
sourced components (no marantz "potted" proprietary BS
) .Or spend 8K for a brand name.
OS
Attachments
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My point is... spend 600-1000USD and you will have an equivalent (if not superior) power supply ,
an amp that is all on one board and uses easily
sourced components (no marantz "potted" proprietary BS
Or spend 8K for a brand name.
OS
And true dual mono to boot!
There are many levels in between ,as well .....
Attachments (PSRR):
#1. = Unregulated plain ol' Badger ....
#2. = Badger with a diode bypassed 8200uF / .47R / 8200uF CRC.
#3. = Badger with separate PS for small signal section.
#4. = The combination of the CRC + separate 65V supplies for LTP/VAS
(OPS runs on 58V).
This was with a single output stage supply (not full dual mono). 1V ripple was simulated.
OS
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The CRC is very effective !
And the combination of CRC + separate front end PSU is especially so.
I am slightly surprised that the separation of the Front end supply really only benefits the LF. Is this a quirk of the Honey Badger, or is it something we would see more generally in other amplifiers?
And the combination of CRC + separate front end PSU is especially so.
I am slightly surprised that the separation of the Front end supply really only benefits the LF. Is this a quirk of the Honey Badger, or is it something we would see more generally in other amplifiers?
Yes ! "single ended" amps like the Badger seem to behave like this.
Push pull VAS's are natively superior by design (below 1 -push-pull VAS PSRR/ NO CRC).
But I thought I would port the advantages of the CRC back to the good 'ol
Badger.
(below 2) is a mod that can be added to the DIYA power supply board.
Add 2 - 10W 1R resistors + 2 10-15A diodes to the DIYA PCB instead of those jumpers
(between the 2 sets of reservoirs -C/R/D/C) .
For the front end supply , just a single 50VA 50-0-50VAC trafo with simple cap multipliers
would be sufficient.
Edit - amps like the leach or the GLA (push pull) already have basic regulation
(raw zener for the leach and zener/emitter follower for the GLA) , this also increases
PSRR.
OS
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You can use either , I use a PC soundcard.
I've also used a portable MP3 player , any 1-2V p-p source works well.
OS