Current we are building preamps using a standard 3207 case :
https://www.ebay.de/itm/273748851771
8mm front panel, 4mm extrusion side and rear walls.
You pay ~70€ ex stock Germany all inclusive.
Same thing at TaoBao 25€ + postage + tax.
Same size Hifi2000 80€ + postage :
https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_291_293&product_id=445
Custom made in the EU for 10 cases ?
We were quoted 400€ per case.
Refurbished preamp cases may or may not cost less.
But it is unlikely you can get similar panel thickness.
But of course, it depends on how you set your priorities.
Patrick
.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/273748851771
8mm front panel, 4mm extrusion side and rear walls.
You pay ~70€ ex stock Germany all inclusive.
Same thing at TaoBao 25€ + postage + tax.
Same size Hifi2000 80€ + postage :
https://modushop.biz/site/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_291_293&product_id=445
Custom made in the EU for 10 cases ?
We were quoted 400€ per case.
Refurbished preamp cases may or may not cost less.
But it is unlikely you can get similar panel thickness.
But of course, it depends on how you set your priorities.
Patrick
.
Attachments
Every time i move a project from a plank of wood into an alu case i end up being disappointed with the change in sound. Especially so if the case has a solid lid.
Besides phono stages, cannot think of any other audio electronics where improvised shielding around select sensitive areas is insufficient.
If dacs are on boards with proper ground planes, interconnected via micro bncs i have not noticed any particular sonic advantage that a metal casing brings.
Two of my dacs are in metal cases, one steel, one alu. Both seem ok, but have worked coverless since day one. I have made several attempts to reinstate the top covers, but the drop in perceived quality was too substantial. One of my preamps eventually got a fine steel mesh in lieu of the solid alu top plate and that seemed to work very well.
I believe the main reason is microphonics of varying degree in all sorts of components, both passive and active. Once the lid is on, the vibration effects at resonant frequencies are amplified. The same is true for my external crossovers; those are positioned on the floor, vertically and had acrylic sides. The sides had to go almost immediately.
We all hear differently, many people may not be bothered at all by these effects. If this were someone else's thread i would have said nothing, but diyiggy is more inclined than most to pay attention to this kind of stuff.
We all hear differently, many people may not be bothered at all by these effects. If this were someone else's thread i would have said nothing, but diyiggy is more inclined than most to pay attention to this kind of stuff.
Long ago I walked into David Haflers suite at the Chicago CES show. Two Japanese gentlemen were literally bowing their way out as I came in. Walked up to David Hafler who was staring into a glass case with a DH-101 preamp without it's cover on and he looked puzzled. Turns out the two gents that just left were a senior designer and his translator who worked for Sony. They had just asked him how he could afford to use such expensive transistors in such a inexpensive product? His comment to me was -Expensive ? we pay 5 or 6 cents a piece for them -given the volume that Sony buys -they've gotta pay a lot less than we do ?? This seemed like a opportunity to ask someone who knows a question : "So what's the most expensive part in a DH-101 ?' I guess I expected it would be something like the power transformer. My jaw drooped when Hafler said 'The chassis ." I had sold and would continue to sell DH-101 preamps -but I don't think anyone was ever particularly impressed by the case of a DH-101 - it kept your fingers off the innards and that is about it. Now he could see from my expression that I was shocked. His explanation -we buy these transistors from Motorola several thousand at a time - the chassis we order as needed -a couple hundred at a time -they are far more expensive than any other component in the 101 .
The chassis has always been the most expensive individual part of a product.
I have the Modulus Chassis made by Takachi in Japan. It's a gorgeous chassis. Some bristle at the $469 that I charge but that is actually less than what you would pay if you bought a single chassis with all the holes machined directly from the manufacturer. No other individual component is that expensive.
On top, chassis work involves a fair amount of manual labour so it doesn't scale well.
Another thing that just blows my mind is the cost of shipping materials. For shipping that Modulus Chassis I have a pair of custom made foam end caps made and ship using a double thickness cardboard box. That's $15 just in shipping materials!
Tom
I have the Modulus Chassis made by Takachi in Japan. It's a gorgeous chassis. Some bristle at the $469 that I charge but that is actually less than what you would pay if you bought a single chassis with all the holes machined directly from the manufacturer. No other individual component is that expensive.
On top, chassis work involves a fair amount of manual labour so it doesn't scale well.
Another thing that just blows my mind is the cost of shipping materials. For shipping that Modulus Chassis I have a pair of custom made foam end caps made and ship using a double thickness cardboard box. That's $15 just in shipping materials!
Tom
For me when you see the price of a fridge or a washing machine, there is still purchasing cost control problem with our hifi metal weigth needs (yes I am aware of volume factor, but it doesn't explain all the expensive pricing of our hifi metal casing, I mean most of us don't make d'Agostino Nautilus casing.
I do wonder if specialised electronic distributors than have an important parts enough incomes from diy hifi or study designer offices should not propose more ruled casing prices no to kill DIY hifi. I had not the time to shoot my wood casings I made to focus more on the electronic parts than the casing in my DIY hobby.
cheers
I do wonder if specialised electronic distributors than have an important parts enough incomes from diy hifi or study designer offices should not propose more ruled casing prices no to kill DIY hifi. I had not the time to shoot my wood casings I made to focus more on the electronic parts than the casing in my DIY hobby.
cheers
A fridge is typically made from thin panels of powder coated steel. It's usually textured to hide imperfections. I bet it would be really wobbly if it wasn't for the insulation adding some rigidity.
Would you be willing to accept that level of finish and wobbliness in an audio product?
Tom
Would you be willing to accept that level of finish and wobbliness in an audio product?
Tom
It could be. The rest of an amp chassis could be made from sheet steel, and the front panel could be 1/4" anodized aluminum.
jeff
Have a look at the chassis out there. There are tons of examples of chassis where a different material is used for the front panel.
In case of Takachi, I'm pretty sure the front and rear panels are machined from extrusions. That means that you have to set up two extrusions per chassis - one for the heat sinks and one for the front/rear panels. That adds cost ... at least up front. The top and bottom panels are just sheet aluminum.
Tom
Yes.
How are made the U case that cover the top and sites of the amps and hihi gears? Is it steel blach powder coated ? Expensive to fabric as well ? Btw I prefer steel from aluminium cause more air waves imun. Plastic or wood Front can over à steel front as well.
Wonder how the purchasing directors of mass market hifi brands handle that as it seems to cost more than what is inside.
Lol, I want an Accuphase with a card biard or wood casing, if it cuts the price by 8 times...Ah well I forget the price of dev plus ads.
How are made the U case that cover the top and sites of the amps and hihi gears? Is it steel blach powder coated ? Expensive to fabric as well ? Btw I prefer steel from aluminium cause more air waves imun. Plastic or wood Front can over à steel front as well.
Wonder how the purchasing directors of mass market hifi brands handle that as it seems to cost more than what is inside.
Lol, I want an Accuphase with a card biard or wood casing, if it cuts the price by 8 times...Ah well I forget the price of dev plus ads.
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I dream of à low cost one from Diya but not North America based only.
But the little market is not worthing the hassle imo.
But the little market is not worthing the hassle imo.
I like this à lot, vent makes cost it greater, the prices of the non material aka holes are increased (because machining).
Wind is expensive, that's à good modern moral. 😉