Reference DIY amplifiers

[Greg Erskine]

Hi all,

My reference amp is an AKSA 55. Sounds the best to my ears, so far.

IMHO

Easiest to build: Gainclone by a long margin.

Cheapest: Brian GT Gainclone or DSE SC480

Coolest schematic: SKA, haven't heard mine yet.

Hottest amp: Death of Zen, I think this is were "Death of Gainclone" name may have come from came from.

Best quality PCB: BrianGT Gainclone

Worst quality PCB: Digi125 from RCS

Best documentation: AKSA

regards

[jacco vermeulen]

My reference amp is the last one i built.

[Greg Erskine]

Originally posted by jacco vermeulen
My reference amp is the last one i built.

Jacco, you're bloody lucky. My AKSA was the first DIY amp I built, and so far, all the 10 or so amps after it were not as good (to my ears). Maybe 1 of the 4 amps I'm slowly building may be better, fingers crossed.

regards
Greg

[pinkmouse]

I think it's nice to have a truly open source project, like the Leach, Symasym, Pass or Krell projects. That way everything is in the open and all can contribute ideas to develop the project further. Whilst I have no problems with most kits where the IP is kept private for commercial reasons, it makes it difficult for people who haven't bought the amp to comment fairly on them, allowing a tiny minority of people to abuse the system.

[jacco vermeulen]

Greg numero 1 again,

are you kidding ?
I tossed a couple of those junkclones together about a year ago, i couldn't finish Jam's A-40s fast enough after those disasters.
I have great difficulty disposing stuff i've made myself, even if i'm not using it anymore.
Undoubtedly, the two gainchits will also still be here after i've gave up looking for my teeth.
(i still have the tools my grandfather passed on to me +40 years ago)

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by jacco vermeulen
Undoubtedly, the two gainchits will also still be here after i've gave up looking for my teeth.

Hey, they do some things well, Jacco. I have an active sat-sub system I built using chip amps for the bedroom. Sounds great with Barry White.

[jacco vermeulen]

Al,

for some obscure reason i find it very unlikely that you'll be listening when you're doing the Barry White thing in the bedroom.
How is BALDrick doing today ?

[pinkmouse]

Originally posted by jacco vermeulen
...for some obscure reason i find it very unlikely that you'll be listening when you're doing the Barry White thing in the bedroom.

Well, perhaps I might set some of my more "audiophile" pretensions aside.

How is BALDrick doing today ?

Cold day. Need to buy a woolly hat.

[protos]

What--- no tube amps in this list?
I know this is the solid state thread but horus did not specify only SS.

[dfdye]

Originally posted by protos
What--- no tube amps in this list?
I know this is the solid state thread but horus did not specify only SS.

[sarcasm]That's because he didn't want to listen to distortion and hum! [/sarcasm]

(puts on flame suit)

Seriously, you do bring up a good point, and I am sure that suggestions as to a reference DIY tube amp would be appreciated.



Addressing a different point, I have put together several LM3886 based amps, and the gainclone seems to be my least favorite. I regularly listen to my amp based on the Linkwitz LM3886 circuit with a couple of modifications, and that has served me pretty well. I would NOT, however, call the gainclone, or even my Linkwitz LM3886 amp a "reference" amp. Just my $0.02.