Nice setup Adason !
LT4320 ideal bridges are the way to go for amplifiers: no voltage drop, so no heat
but most important: no ringing that translates into better sound.
LT4320 ideal bridges are the way to go for amplifiers: no voltage drop, so no heat
but most important: no ringing that translates into better sound.
That red & gold anodized case is awesome!
I had to go look for one out of curiosity. dartzeel chassis – Buy dartzeel chassis with free shipping on AliExpress version I'd never heard of dartzeel until now, but now I see why...they're CRAZY expensive. As in, their amps range in price from $20,000 to $200,000USD!! So for that price they better have a catchy looking chassis...anyway, I digress.
I'm seeing that there are some great deals on AliExpress what look to be pretty nice amp chassis, whether you want a more generic (but still very nice) looking case, or knockoff of any of several well known known high-end audio brands.
I do like the cases from HiFi2000 in the DIYAudio store, but they can get pricey. These AliExpress cases look like they might be a good option for those who are on a tight budget like myself.
EDIT: Ahh crap nevermind. I just noticed the shipping is almost as much as the case itself for most of these, which makes them about the same price as the HiFi2000 cases in the DIY Audio store🙁
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AliExpress has some enticing offerings, but if you add in the shipping cost the HiFi2000s in the DIYAudio store are not so pricey. I could not find the “free shipping on Dartzeel offerings”, so if shipping is free indeed that would be a great alternative.
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I suspect that they load up the shipping so the product looks cheaper.
They do look like though and I've just ordered one to have a good look at it. If it passes muster I will try to negotiate a bulk shipping rate.
I'm waiting to see if the many international airlines start to compete with lower shipping costs to avoid their aircraft repayments.......
HD
They do look like though and I've just ordered one to have a good look at it. If it passes muster I will try to negotiate a bulk shipping rate.
I'm waiting to see if the many international airlines start to compete with lower shipping costs to avoid their aircraft repayments.......
HD
Hi!
I bought 2 alpha nirvana PCBs and 2 BOM and extra parts for snubber boards from Mouser. When parts com I saw there is no few parts and some parts ar different. I know this is my fault because I don't read all this forum 😃 But how I understand I need to buy -
2.7v zener
10pf 500v silver mica
KSA992
FQA40N25
FQA36P15
8D-20 thermistor
It is right.??
An my last question is, Mouser I can't buy 8D20 thermistor but I can buy 8D2-18LC same 8ohm 6A its be good or not?
I bought 2 alpha nirvana PCBs and 2 BOM and extra parts for snubber boards from Mouser. When parts com I saw there is no few parts and some parts ar different. I know this is my fault because I don't read all this forum 😃 But how I understand I need to buy -
2.7v zener
10pf 500v silver mica
KSA992
FQA40N25
FQA36P15
8D-20 thermistor
It is right.??
An my last question is, Mouser I can't buy 8D20 thermistor but I can buy 8D2-18LC same 8ohm 6A its be good or not?
Hi Kasparsleicis,
Sorry this response is so late - this thread dropped off the radar for some reason before I saaw that you had a question.
Yes, that is fine. It serves as a safety ground loop breaker for the protective earth so anything circa 8ohm to 10ohms and can handle over 5A is fine. CL60 works too.
Those other parts look fine as well.
Sorry this response is so late - this thread dropped off the radar for some reason before I saaw that you had a question.
Yes, that is fine. It serves as a safety ground loop breaker for the protective earth so anything circa 8ohm to 10ohms and can handle over 5A is fine. CL60 works too.
Those other parts look fine as well.
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Some possible cases for the Alpha Nirvana that look like a good value. You will have to d0 your homework to make sure the dimensions are big enough to hold your amp, trafo(s), PSU, etc. Also, check to see if the heatsink is big enough based on general dimensions. For reference, I am running 4U x 300mm x 25mm fins on each channel and it runs about 47C to 50C.
Full Aluminum power amplifier chassis amp Enclosure /case/Box 440*410*150mm A30|amp enclosure|power amplifier chassisamplifier chassis - AliExpress
BZ E 360/All aluminum luxury type/class d/Post/Power amplifier/amplifier audio/tube preamplifier/amplificador audio/hifi case|Amplifier| - AliExpress
Full Aluminum power amplifier chassis amp Enclosure /case/Box 440*410*150mm A30|amp enclosure|power amplifier chassisamplifier chassis - AliExpress
BZ E 360/All aluminum luxury type/class d/Post/Power amplifier/amplifier audio/tube preamplifier/amplificador audio/hifi case|Amplifier| - AliExpress
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Now that we are entering the cold season over here, I can't wait to enjoy my Alpha Nirvana again!
Jacques,
I would love your thoughts on the sound quality of this amp vis a vis other amps in your stable. I know that technocrats love the specs, but to me they don't convey the musicality of a good amp; things like engagement, soul, depth and breadth of image, and perceived speed are difficult to measure.
Recently I swapped a ZRX Kawasaki for a R1200GS BMW and on paper, the Kwaka seems easily the better bike. But the soul of a big twin, the crazy topology of the suspension and the quirky controls give it great character, and I love to nail that engine in third gear without flipping the bike over with power like the Kwaka. I am warming to this bike over time, it grows on you, and I'm hoping that the AN does the same.
Ciao,
Hugh
I would love your thoughts on the sound quality of this amp vis a vis other amps in your stable. I know that technocrats love the specs, but to me they don't convey the musicality of a good amp; things like engagement, soul, depth and breadth of image, and perceived speed are difficult to measure.
Recently I swapped a ZRX Kawasaki for a R1200GS BMW and on paper, the Kwaka seems easily the better bike. But the soul of a big twin, the crazy topology of the suspension and the quirky controls give it great character, and I love to nail that engine in third gear without flipping the bike over with power like the Kwaka. I am warming to this bike over time, it grows on you, and I'm hoping that the AN does the same.
Ciao,
Hugh
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Hi Hugh,
Due to confinement, we had to convert our largest rooms into separate work offices suitable for videoconference.
I only have my mancave available for amp testing at this time, with digital source but only near-field listening with diy Bagby's Tangos.
The AN works very well in these conditions and sounds better than a vintage Proton AM-20 but very close to a diy Elliott's P3A.
However this setup and my old ears are probably not the best for deep comparative testing.
Cheers,
Jacques
The Alpha Nirvana has been back on rotation. This time with a BTSB Buffer driving it from a balanced output DAC plus 6dB boost. Sounding really good.
Not that I have ever ridden one - I have a certain fondness for Ducati 1198’s. Just something neat about Desmodromic valve actuation. Just feels more analog vs the more electronic modern bikes.
Not that I have ever ridden one - I have a certain fondness for Ducati 1198’s. Just something neat about Desmodromic valve actuation. Just feels more analog vs the more electronic modern bikes.
Those of youts... you that have the talent, I would like to see some thoughts as to the amp and the pre, paired, not just the pre.... Unless, I missed something, there is stuff on the table there.
J
J
J,
Do you mean the paired AKSA/Lender then the Class A AN?
It works well according to X, actually, the front end of the AN is very similar to the AKSA/Lender pre in fact, so it's more of same, should be very consistent across the entire frequency and level range.
Ah, the 1198, everything designed for low weight. But the Desmo system, elegant as it is, needs a lot of maintenance. And it makes a lot of whirring noises, and bike is like a race horse and very small. 200kph and stop, not that good between, though handles well. You always lose bandwidth when you stress engines for max power, and the 1198 is really a race bike. But it is Italian, so it looks outa this world........
HD
Do you mean the paired AKSA/Lender then the Class A AN?
It works well according to X, actually, the front end of the AN is very similar to the AKSA/Lender pre in fact, so it's more of same, should be very consistent across the entire frequency and level range.
Ah, the 1198, everything designed for low weight. But the Desmo system, elegant as it is, needs a lot of maintenance. And it makes a lot of whirring noises, and bike is like a race horse and very small. 200kph and stop, not that good between, though handles well. You always lose bandwidth when you stress engines for max power, and the 1198 is really a race bike. But it is Italian, so it looks outa this world........
HD
Not sure what you are asking here? We have driven it from the Yarra, which has about 8 different preamp daughter board options. Melbourne, PCA, Korg NuTube, WBA18, ACP+, Hakuin, and something else but I forget.
Plus the Aksa Lender. But Aksa slender, Melbourne, as well as front end of Alpha Nirvana is all Aksa Lender based.
I was just saying that an opamp based buffer like the BTSB sounds amazingly good. I think the state of art OPA1656 is really special sounding.
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OPA1656
Hi XRK971,
Let me deviate a little from the topic, but I would like to know your opinion about the application in a circuit as unity gain buffer for a subsonic filter (19Hz/18db) for my turntable and I am using OP2132p in the circuit...Do you think that using OPA1656 instead of OP2132p would have any advantage or influence on the sound?
Thanks in advance and best regards
Hi XRK971,
Let me deviate a little from the topic, but I would like to know your opinion about the application in a circuit as unity gain buffer for a subsonic filter (19Hz/18db) for my turntable and I am using OP2132p in the circuit...Do you think that using OPA1656 instead of OP2132p would have any advantage or influence on the sound?
Thanks in advance and best regards
OPA1656
I just looked at the features of the OPA1656 and they are very good in distortion and low noise Compared to OPA2132...these data seem to be a good starting point....
I just looked at the features of the OPA1656 and they are very good in distortion and low noise Compared to OPA2132...these data seem to be a good starting point....
Karucho,
If you wish to rejig the Aksa/Lender for unity gain, you will need to re-examine all the compensation issues to ensure it is stable. You cannot reset gain from 25dB down to 0dB without changing the entire stability issues of a feedback amplifier.
I may be wrong; is this your intention?
The OPA1656 is a very low distortion opamp and will deliver a completely neutral sound. I believe they sound very good too, so go for it.
HD
If you wish to rejig the Aksa/Lender for unity gain, you will need to re-examine all the compensation issues to ensure it is stable. You cannot reset gain from 25dB down to 0dB without changing the entire stability issues of a feedback amplifier.
I may be wrong; is this your intention?
The OPA1656 is a very low distortion opamp and will deliver a completely neutral sound. I believe they sound very good too, so go for it.
HD