Yes. You may already know this, but the "BA-3 amplifier" is sorta-kinda a BA-3 front end strapped to an F4.
You can even vary the gain if you'd like.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/the-ba-3-as-preamp-build-guide.258022/
Edited to add - ZM hopping in... that reply is for EE... 🙂
You can even vary the gain if you'd like.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/the-ba-3-as-preamp-build-guide.258022/
Edited to add - ZM hopping in... that reply is for EE... 🙂
BA-3 is fantastic. Dynamics and bass are insane.
Still, given the right speakers, the J has a lightness of touch and a smooth cleanliness that I have never heard before. And dynamics are very good, as long as not run with extremely current hungry or low sensitivity speakers. But beware, on most full ranges even the J has a tad too high a damping factor.
I have never tried all the software and soundcards.
I did however buy an old HP 334A, and am very happy with that decision, for the purpose of seeing the residual 🙂
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you can easily alter J to sing with your FR speakers
there are easier and less easier options - one is to insert series resistor in speaker line
next one is to arrange variable Aleph CCS modulation, you can set it even on the fly (rotary switch, one section per channel)
everything is easypeasy ......... sometimes is more important knowing what you want, than knowing how
you'll always find some fool to explain "how to", while for "what to" you're only decider
there are easier and less easier options - one is to insert series resistor in speaker line
next one is to arrange variable Aleph CCS modulation, you can set it even on the fly (rotary switch, one section per channel)
everything is easypeasy ......... sometimes is more important knowing what you want, than knowing how
you'll always find some fool to explain "how to", while for "what to" you're only decider
I know, but I got hold of R100’s before understanding that. But who doesn’t need to try a current source? As important as an Aleph, I thinkyou can easily alter J to sing with your FR speakers
there are easier and less easier options - one is to insert series resistor in speaker line
next one is to arrange variable Aleph CCS modulation, you can set it even on the fly (rotary switch, one section per channel)
everything is easypeasy ......... sometimes is more important knowing what you want, than knowing how
you'll always find some fool to explain "how to", while for "what to" you're only decider
«Some fool», haha, you are always so modest - Mighty!
I find fools being antonyms in this forum 🙂
Wow... that's a lot of reading... THANKS. I think this amp is gonna be very fun.
My end goal is to have an F4 that can swing 100 wpc into 8 ohms and 200 wpc into 4 ohms. (Either that or I get some high efficiency speakers).
Something that will drive Magnepans.
For that, my first order calculations are 28V at ~3.5A into 8ohms and 28V at ~7A into 4ohms.
Crippled F4 Turbo V3.
As usual, the Turbo V2 will only swing 50/100 wpc.
That means the gain source must swing 28V and the amp must drive as much as 7A. My tubed preamp swings 30V.... I don't know how high the BA-3 front end will go.
Might need an F4 Integrated Turbo V3. The volume would control the gain of the input stage.
Why do it?
Why not?
I still have my eye on that one extant pair of F5 Turbo V3 monos.
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You might also wanna check out the XA252 thread, and the F4 beast builders thread 🙂
Thanks, I have been looking at the F4 builder's thread. I sort of parachuted here to look into building a BA3 preamp...
I have not looked at the XA252 thread.
EDIT: I just went back to the specs for my tubed preamp. Max output voltage is only 20V. That will only support 50/100 wpc.
Hmm...
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Yes, I miss that. Sounds like the Aleph is the ticket. What amps have you built so far? It is amazing how many designs there are.
I know I have been off topic quite a lot. So to continue that trend... What about a output section for the BA-3X with 4 or 8 devices per channel so you can have your + and - with fewer devices? Would that defeat the purpose?
I was thinking it would be a neat idea to have a X output section that can fit onto a 4u or 5u heatsink less matching to deal with. One could purchase the outputs for the F4 complimentary board for the smaller X output board, The F5 turbo for the larger output board. A way to keep things relatively simple and sweet. Maybe this has already been done.
I know I have been off topic quite a lot. So to continue that trend... What about a output section for the BA-3X with 4 or 8 devices per channel so you can have your + and - with fewer devices? Would that defeat the purpose?
I was thinking it would be a neat idea to have a X output section that can fit onto a 4u or 5u heatsink less matching to deal with. One could purchase the outputs for the F4 complimentary board for the smaller X output board, The F5 turbo for the larger output board. A way to keep things relatively simple and sweet. Maybe this has already been done.
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Why not BBA3? That will give plenty of power. Or like me, wait for XA 252! Oh, and yes on higher efficiency speakers!
Russellc
I had a pair of Magnapan IIIa and was surprised at what a little F6 could do. I could only imagine what a BA-3 push pull could do. I think a 50w variant would be plenty capable and not cook you out of the house.
balanced F4 monsterblocks should do the trick
Planning to gut my balanced F6 monsterblocks this Thanksgiving weekend and repopulate with the F4 boards I built up last summer. Finally getting to it.
Planning to gut my balanced F6 monsterblocks this Thanksgiving weekend and repopulate with the F4 boards I built up last summer. Finally getting to it.
Your X ideas are way above my head
Though if you go the BBA-3 route I can hook you up with matched Harrises for the P channel, and 313/2013 matched octet. Think I’ll stick with SE for a while.
I built the BA-3, Aleph J Zen Mod edition, and the F2J. Preamps I have built are B1K, ACP+ and Wayne’s linestage.
Not exactly a long list, but happy nonetheless.
Here it is, my version of the BA-3, fully working and sounding sublime. Now what do I upgrade next?? Lol. Ok, my second pic is missing the voltage regulators on the back panel, but it’s close enough 😜
The preamp is also a BA-3. The speakers are John Busch’s OB Ultra Mazanita’s.
Best bass so far from anything I own, dead slient with the Smooth as Butter power supplies, -extremely- transparent. Wide, deep soundstage. I can even hear the floor of the recording venues sometimes now! These speakers are not the highest end that I have, so there’s much more to discover.
The preamp is also a BA-3. The speakers are John Busch’s OB Ultra Mazanita’s.
Best bass so far from anything I own, dead slient with the Smooth as Butter power supplies, -extremely- transparent. Wide, deep soundstage. I can even hear the floor of the recording venues sometimes now! These speakers are not the highest end that I have, so there’s much more to discover.
I can think of a bunch of uses for those parts 🙂
SoundWaveSteve:
I just ordered two SLB's. With the 28vac transformers, where did you land on the rails? 30vdc? How is the 4u chassis handling the heat? I was thinking a high voltage would be limited to the 5u case. Beautiful build.
Hi Mike
Given my 118v from the wall, I landed at 34.2v from the SLB when loaded and about 37.5 unloaded. I like the SLB sound quality...I get 1.1mV of AC ripple....its amazing.
Thanks for the thumbs up everyone!
Given my 118v from the wall, I landed at 34.2v from the SLB when loaded and about 37.5 unloaded. I like the SLB sound quality...I get 1.1mV of AC ripple....its amazing.
Thanks for the thumbs up everyone!
Its my basement, so 1000sq ft, but that section is 14ft wide and has no wall behind the listener. The Ultra Mazanita's and this 50w per channel BA-3 will get plenty loud here (so loud my GF won't even come downstairs LOL!), but being OB, I have no trouble finding the limit of the speaker either.