Aleph J illustrated build guide

Hi again,

A question regarding the power mosfets that come in the Aleph J transistor kit from the DIY Audio Store. There are four pairs included, two of the pairs have black writing on the outside of the foil wrap, and two of the pairs have blue writing. Does the color of the writing have any significance I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance once more!

The store's listing provides an explanation of the significance of the numbers doesn't it?

Give it a look and see how you travel.
 
Hi, sorry for the stupid questions, but it's very hard to find the answer in 317 pages :(.
What could be the final build price of the "Aleph J"? Excluding the case.
I'm a little worried by the heat that needs to be dissipated.
Me I already have a 3U "Pesante Disipante" (modu)
pesDiss12x7_234x155.jpg

and I wonder if I can use it.
Many thanks
 
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Joined 2003
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Hi, sorry for the stupid questions, but it's very hard to find the answer in 317 pages :(.
What could be the final build price of the "Aleph J"? Excluding the case.
I'm a little worried by the heat that needs to be dissipated.
Me I already have a 3U "Pesante Disipante" (modu)
pesDiss12x7_234x155.jpg

and I wonder if I can use it.
Many thanks

My guess is for the Aleph J that isn't enough heatsink, but would work with a Zenmod style babysitter, which you can search but is essentially an Amp stand with cooling fan mounted underneath.

Russellc
 
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Joined 2003
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As to cost, you just add up how much it costs to get everything listed on the BOM. This price will vary depending on how much stuff you already have, and where you are sourcing it from, and delivery costs.

Delivery can vary depending not only on location, but how many separate suppliers/orders you make.

As to the size of the thread, it isn't bad at all compared to say, the F5 thread. Get a notepad, read all of 6l6's build guides, at least the one on the Aleph J. As you read build guide, questions will rise. Then skim the Aleph J threads, all if them, and make notes on interesting parts. Like part changes, later circuit changes, problems and solutions others had. You will find much of the reading is banter, which is easy to skim past. In the end, you will have a list of post numbers and what they address.

Since these are not full kits, except the ACA amp there is a lot of reading and learning here. I have no formal electronic training, just learned as I pointed out above. Simply put, there is a lot of reading to be done!!!

Hope that helps

Russellc
 
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It's really hard, as you can put from 1 cent resistors, to a few buck resistors. Even more differences in caps and other components.

I have a Mouser project that has:
- About $80 in parts for each channel = $160 in parts
- You would need the JFETs ($60 or so?)
- The PSU is about $120 (transformer not included)
- Around $45 for the Trafo and another $40 if you want to encase it
- Then you need a myriad of bolts, nuts, files, drill heads, tools, etc, etc, etc
- Case $340
- Connectors, jacks, cable, insulators, etc., etc., etc. The kit from the sotre is around $90.
- Shipping and taxes from all depending where you live

For me, an AlephJ with MY preferred parts would cost me: $846, with shipping and taxes, this is north of $1000.


That is, again MY BOM with the resistors I picked, some doubled to be able to match them, etc. But also, you can go overboard and buy components that cost twice as much.

I am SURE that someone here has made it with some spares and cheaper parts here and there for less than $500. I would bet a months salary that is the case. So you are looking anywhere from $500 to $2000 US dollars.

With such a broad margin, I see why people are reluctant to put down a number. But there you have it if you find it useful to get a broad idea of where 'north' is. Again, price can really, really vary!

Best regards,
Rafa.
 
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I made my case with Conrad heatsinks and locally sourced aluminium plate. I bought the transistor kit and boards from the store, the jfets from ebay for $60 or so, the components from Mouser and the transformer from Alltek. It was close maybe slightly under $600aud.
At least it would have been had I not blown the first transformer which added a further $200.
However in the process I over ordered a pair of circuit boards and some resistors so I have since purchased a bank of caps for a new power supply and will slowly gather stuff till I can build another Aleph j because I am going to want one for my workshop as well as the one in the house.
Suffice to say if you make no mistakes with the order or the build and make your own case including tapping all the threads for the standoffs etc. you might get out of it for close to $500 Aud .
 
I made my case with Conrad heatsinks and locally sourced aluminium plate. I bought the transistor kit and boards from the store, the jfets from ebay for $60 or so, the components from Mouser and the transformer from Alltek. It was close maybe slightly under $600aud.
At least it would have been had I not blown the first transformer which added a further $200.
However in the process I over ordered a pair of circuit boards and some resistors so I have since purchased a bank of caps for a new power supply and will slowly gather stuff till I can build another Aleph j because I am going to want one for my workshop as well as the one in the house.
Suffice to say if you make no mistakes with the order or the build and make your own case including tapping all the threads for the standoffs etc. you might get out of it for close to $500 Aud .

You guys are lucky having a supplier for good heatsinks. I tried once to source some heatsinks from Conrad. The shipping alone was double the cost of the actual heatsinks. You would think that with the heavy airline traffic between Australia and SA that shipping would be much cheaper.

So now I just get a Modushop case from Italy via the DIYAudio store. One 4U/400 case works out much cheaper that a set of Conrad 350 heatsinks landed here. Go figure. Those Conrad heatsinks are nice though.

Same with the toroidal transformers. Those Anteks are decently priced, but the shipping is a total rip off. So now I get them from Toroidy. Shipping from Poland is about 40% for the toroidals, compared to shipping from the US.

Ordered some toroidals from Toroidy yesterday. This was the quote:

2 X TSAS200VA (SUPREME AUDIO GRADE) with 230V primary and 2 X 18V secondaries. Without side mounting plate.
price: 87,80 EUR / pc (0% VAT export price)

2 X TSA400VA (AUDIO GRADE) with 230V primary and 2 X 18V secondaries. Filled with epoxy in center for mounting.
price: 52,00 EUR / pc (0% VAT export price)

Shipping cost: 166,10 EUR
 
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Hi, sorry for the stupid questions, but it's very hard to find the answer in 317 pages :(.
What could be the final build price of the "Aleph J"? Excluding the case.
I'm a little worried by the heat that needs to be dissipated.
Me I already have a 3U "Pesante Disipante" (modu)
pesDiss12x7_234x155.jpg

and I wonder if I can use it.
Many thanks

That looks like the 300mm deep version. Without air cooling it would be too small to run an Aleph J at the standard bias current. If you read the build guide it gives recommendations for chassis size. Generally the bigger the better. I’m thinking I would use a minimum of 4u 400mm deep.
I built an Aleph j using smaller heat sinks with forced air cooling. It’s a completely different and more difficult chassis build if you go that route. If you look through the build thread you should see a number of non standard builds to inspire you if you want to try something different.
 
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I made my case with Conrad heatsinks and locally sourced aluminium plate. I bought the transistor kit and boards from the store, the jfets from ebay for $60 or so, the components from Mouser and the transformer from Alltek. It was close maybe slightly under $600aud.
At least it would have been had I not blown the first transformer which added a further $200.
However in the process I over ordered a pair of circuit boards and some resistors so I have since purchased a bank of caps for a new power supply and will slowly gather stuff till I can build another Aleph j because I am going to want one for my workshop as well as the one in the house.
Suffice to say if you make no mistakes with the order or the build and make your own case including tapping all the threads for the standoffs etc. you might get out of it for close to $500 Aud .

That is a great consideration, extra parts. As you look at First Watt BOMs, you will notice many part values replicate. If I need 2 resistors of a popular value, I might order 10 or 20 for future builds.

One thing I would suggest anyone get first for Aleph J is the matched Jfets needed. While they are available from a few sellers, I would get them. The LS versions in the store rarely come around, being in such short supply, and those with Toshibas will eventually run dry.

Best cost estimate is to use your suppliers website, cart the items and total. Invariably, some suppliers wont have something, or be out of it thus requiring multiple suppliers.

You might also consider, (I wish I had ) building a separate power supply in its own chassis. This will remove heat, much reduce chance of hum and can then be used on later FirstWatt builds, most all use the same power supply....Caps and transformers are big heavy expensive purchases. Conversely, small caps and resistors are cheap, make lists of any build that interests you and get the cheap parts along with present order,

Sites like Mouser, Digikey etc. will usually show stock on hand...if it looks low, might want to jump early on that item. That will assure you have it, but will also require multiple orders and increased costs. You may save later orders by getting extras, resistors for example are usually cheap, get ones for your next build at same time.

Another advantage of carting your items is the cart can usually, on most sites be saved, so you can come back to it when ready.

Russellc
 
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Joined 2003
Paid Member
That looks like the 300mm deep version. Without air cooling it would be too small to run an Aleph J at the standard bias current. If you read the build guide it gives recommendations for chassis size. Generally the bigger the better. I’m thinking I would use a minimum of 4u 400mm deep.
I built an Aleph j using smaller heat sinks with forced air cooling. It’s a completely different and more difficult chassis build if you go that route. If you look through the build thread you should see a number of non standard builds to inspire you if you want to try something different.

Agreed, 400/4U no doubt best, I used the Deluxe 4 which I believe is only 300? It worked well, discounting less room, mine wasn't dual mono, but heatwise was fine. Any smaller use babysitter for sure. Looks small for Aleph J....one of the hotter Firstwatts.

Russellc
 
You might also consider, (I wish I had ) building a separate power supply in its own chassis. This will remove heat, much reduce chance of hum and can then be used on later FirstWatt builds, most all use the same power supply....

Russellc

I also like this idea. Would you suggest using IEC power inlets and matching power cable to unplug it from one amp to another or something else?

Thanks