I need some help for the high power Hiraga Le Monstre from the Knut Harald website.
I would like to build that amplifier but he is out of the PCB-s.
I contacted with him and he was kind enough to share the KiCad file so I (we) can order PCB-s.
I never ordered PCB-s (from China) also I know sometimes min order 10 piece or so.
If someone interested to build this variation or knows where we can order good quality fair priced PCB please let me know.
It would be great a small GB for min 10Pc boards.
Here is the information for the Harald website.
https://andiha.no/audio/projects/AlaHiraga.html
I would like to build that amplifier but he is out of the PCB-s.
I contacted with him and he was kind enough to share the KiCad file so I (we) can order PCB-s.
I never ordered PCB-s (from China) also I know sometimes min order 10 piece or so.
If someone interested to build this variation or knows where we can order good quality fair priced PCB please let me know.
It would be great a small GB for min 10Pc boards.
Here is the information for the Harald website.
https://andiha.no/audio/projects/AlaHiraga.html
I have the Cad files (I hope that is good enough), Herald shared it with me! I can not posted here, that his private stuff.
Small size but two sided board. If you open the attachment I posted you can see it when you roll down.
If it were be one side I would try home brew type of PCB.
The other thing I never ordered PCB so it would be good to know a fair company...
I visited the website you gave jlcpcb (thank you! I don't know what do I do there, I never ordered PCB-s or how to send over the Cad files... I need help from someone who has experience with.
Small size but two sided board. If you open the attachment I posted you can see it when you roll down.
If it were be one side I would try home brew type of PCB.
The other thing I never ordered PCB so it would be good to know a fair company...
I visited the website you gave jlcpcb (thank you! I don't know what do I do there, I never ordered PCB-s or how to send over the Cad files... I need help from someone who has experience with.
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I have made some boards at JLSPCB and will help if I can. I f you have the gerbers it is easy. If you have the source files I can make the gerbers.
Cheers!
🙂 morten
Cheers!
🙂 morten
Hi Gaborbela!
In post #2,427 I asked if you had finished (and tested?) the Hiraga 20W version you showed. Was it ever finished?
BTW, here is my version from 30+ years ago. Ashamed to admit it was never finished...
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I did not finished, I read multiple places the Le Monstre version sounds better if well built.
I built multiple Hiraga, the Class A 20W, the 30W and the Le Monstre with regulated PS
My SPEAKERS WERE NOT SENSITIVE enough at that time for the 8W Le Monstre, So I sold the amp.
I want to build one Mostre without regulated PS with higher rail voltage. I have some large uF capacitors, I want to use those.
Maybe one day I will finish it,
At the moment I listening a Pass F5 with Toshiba mosfets and Juma's Cube, Musical Fidelity A1 clone.
I built multiple Hiraga, the Class A 20W, the 30W and the Le Monstre with regulated PS
My SPEAKERS WERE NOT SENSITIVE enough at that time for the 8W Le Monstre, So I sold the amp.
I want to build one Mostre without regulated PS with higher rail voltage. I have some large uF capacitors, I want to use those.
Maybe one day I will finish it,
At the moment I listening a Pass F5 with Toshiba mosfets and Juma's Cube, Musical Fidelity A1 clone.
Exactly this version i make it with only difference i use bypass resistor for the right idss in ma for jfets . +/-24V 4 Ω version 20Ω instead 10Ω to ground for the same open loop as 8Ω load.
The acoustic results are above.....sounds incredible beautiful.
The acoustic results are above.....sounds incredible beautiful.
Attachments
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No one interested on a small Group Buy? (10Pc PCB? together)
I never ordered PCBs from China it would be a great help to order together wit someone who has some experience.
I have the Cad file, I posted the schematic, this for the high power Le Monste. The amplifier built and tested and sound great!!
As Morten has told you earlier, it is no use to just have the CAD files.
You need to convert them to Gerber files in the correct format before any PCB shop will accept them.
So either you find someone to convert for you (I don't use KiCad), or you use existing Gerber files available :
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7696593
Or you buy ready made PCBs on the internet :
https://jimsaudio.com/15w-pure-sound-class-a-stereo-amplifer-pcb-hiraga/
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7973736
High power or not, the circuit is the same.
But maybe you only want the specific design from Knut, for whatever reason.
Unless you find enough people living very close to you, order PCB from China and distribute around the world makes no sense, because postage from Canada plus import tax will cost much more.
If the Gerber is published, it is cheaper to order individually directly.
And you can order minimum 5 pieces.
And I am sure you know that the Le Monstre has high output impedance.
It doesn't really like speakers with large impedance variations over the frequency range.
Just my 2 cents,
Patrick
You need to convert them to Gerber files in the correct format before any PCB shop will accept them.
So either you find someone to convert for you (I don't use KiCad), or you use existing Gerber files available :
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7696593
Or you buy ready made PCBs on the internet :
https://jimsaudio.com/15w-pure-sound-class-a-stereo-amplifer-pcb-hiraga/
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7973736
High power or not, the circuit is the same.
But maybe you only want the specific design from Knut, for whatever reason.
Unless you find enough people living very close to you, order PCB from China and distribute around the world makes no sense, because postage from Canada plus import tax will cost much more.
If the Gerber is published, it is cheaper to order individually directly.
And you can order minimum 5 pieces.
And I am sure you know that the Le Monstre has high output impedance.
It doesn't really like speakers with large impedance variations over the frequency range.
Just my 2 cents,
Patrick
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Hi Patrick
I re-read the letter from Knut Harald and he did sent the Gerber files also!! I CAN NOT post it here.
All the required file is there to order PCB I have it!
The circuit not the same as the PCB of the Jims Audio etc.
I built that version many years a go and I sold it.
It had only 7 or 8W, it did not match/drive well my bookshelf speakers.
Harald circuit not the same please read it carefully from his website.
I posted his website also.
It use different driver transistors etc. At least 15-20W type 18-0-18V power supp.
Yes it is a specific design.
The 8W did not drive well my Visaton 86/87db speakers especially with a classical music,. I am not interested on that.
I do not want that type Le Monster not even for free,
I can post (mail) the PCB in a letter mail, they are small.
Greetings gabor
I re-read the letter from Knut Harald and he did sent the Gerber files also!! I CAN NOT post it here.
All the required file is there to order PCB I have it!
The circuit not the same as the PCB of the Jims Audio etc.
I built that version many years a go and I sold it.
It had only 7 or 8W, it did not match/drive well my bookshelf speakers.
Harald circuit not the same please read it carefully from his website.
I posted his website also.
It use different driver transistors etc. At least 15-20W type 18-0-18V power supp.
Yes it is a specific design.
The 8W did not drive well my Visaton 86/87db speakers especially with a classical music,. I am not interested on that.
I do not want that type Le Monster not even for free,
I can post (mail) the PCB in a letter mail, they are small.
Greetings gabor
Attachments
I know his circuit very well, as described here :
www.diyaudio.com/community/attachments/hiraga-le-monstre-2024-description-pdf.1316244/
And we have built a high power version for 4 ohm speakers for ourselves using the same PCB.
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7704689
Patrick
www.diyaudio.com/community/attachments/hiraga-le-monstre-2024-description-pdf.1316244/
And we have built a high power version for 4 ohm speakers for ourselves using the same PCB.
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7704689
Patrick
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Apparently the first link doesn't work. So try again :
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7695896
See PDF attachment :
"More Power for 4 ohm ?
Knut Harald Nygaard [1] did post a 24V version of the Le Monstre on his website, using GR grade JFETs, Toshiba BJT cascodes, Sanyo 2SA1209 / 2SC2911 drivers, and 2SA1943 / 2SC5200 for the output. But for +/-12V output into 4 ohm, 19V rails and 1.7A bias would be more optimal, with the output device dissipation limited to 33W, pretty much standard in numerous Class-A projects. The temperature above heat sink for the output devices is a healthy 30°C, but now the drivers will have to take 300mW each. 3x Onsemi TO92s in parallel would be required if we do not want to sacrifice the high hfe. Alternatively, KSC3503 / KSA1381 could be used, keeping the low capacitance and providing much more reserve for current delivery, at the expense of 3x lower hfe. It is worth mentioning the addition of a 220R resistor by Nygaard between the bases of the two output devices, “introduced to limit the current variation in the driver transistors”. It adds 6mA to their DC bias current. At least in simulations this does not seem to improve things. The open loop gain, just like the Pass F5, is load dependent. With 4R load, this is halved compared to8R. To compensate for this, one could reduce the gain by increasing the 10R feedback resistor to 20R. The output impedance is still something in the order of 0.7R. So the speaker should have relatively flat impedance over the audio band."
Patrick
www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/hiraga-le-monstre-2024.413301/post-7695896
See PDF attachment :
"More Power for 4 ohm ?
Knut Harald Nygaard [1] did post a 24V version of the Le Monstre on his website, using GR grade JFETs, Toshiba BJT cascodes, Sanyo 2SA1209 / 2SC2911 drivers, and 2SA1943 / 2SC5200 for the output. But for +/-12V output into 4 ohm, 19V rails and 1.7A bias would be more optimal, with the output device dissipation limited to 33W, pretty much standard in numerous Class-A projects. The temperature above heat sink for the output devices is a healthy 30°C, but now the drivers will have to take 300mW each. 3x Onsemi TO92s in parallel would be required if we do not want to sacrifice the high hfe. Alternatively, KSC3503 / KSA1381 could be used, keeping the low capacitance and providing much more reserve for current delivery, at the expense of 3x lower hfe. It is worth mentioning the addition of a 220R resistor by Nygaard between the bases of the two output devices, “introduced to limit the current variation in the driver transistors”. It adds 6mA to their DC bias current. At least in simulations this does not seem to improve things. The open loop gain, just like the Pass F5, is load dependent. With 4R load, this is halved compared to8R. To compensate for this, one could reduce the gain by increasing the 10R feedback resistor to 20R. The output impedance is still something in the order of 0.7R. So the speaker should have relatively flat impedance over the audio band."
Patrick
Hello, my Gerber files for the Hiraga version are free to use and are attached here.
Knut
Knut
If you need gerbers to order pcb`s in China, send a Cad-file, I will make a gerber.
Just another Le Monstre builder here.
I have finished one channel, using Knut's modified design and PCB (thank you Knut!). I used BL JFETs, with resistor current bypassing, original cascode and driver BJTs and Toshiba 2SC5200/2SA1943 output transistors. It was powered from a laboratory PS, in order to have a first impression (I always do that, before I decide whether I like the built project, before finalizing it with proper PS etc.).
I'm playing it with 12.5 Volts and 0.55-0.60 mA, which gives me ca. 6 W at the start of clipping. Here, I must note that I use a pair of quite sensitive horn loaded speakers (Tune Audio Marvel) with a sensitivity of 97dB, so 6 watts is ample power.
My first impressions were great. The amp is very precise, analytical, with powerful yet controlled bass, very nice instruments separation. In all, a very pleasing and accurate sound. In order to have a reference, I compared it to Juma's Cubie 2 (with Exicon lateral MOSFETs), which I considered a very good amplifier. Well, Le Monstre beat the Cubie by far.
I tried playing a little with the idle current: I increased it to ca. 0.9 A, but I immediately went back, as I found the sound quite aggressive (I remember reading somewhere here that the ideal Ideal current for the Le Monstre is from 0.5 to 0.6 A. Also, I want to try different output BJTs that I have gathered, in particular: 2SC3284/2SA1303 (Sanken), 2SC2837/2SA1186 (Sanken) and MJL3281A/MJL1302A (On Semi).
So, I think that, so far, Le Monstre is a very promising amp. Next step is to build the second channel and listen to full stereo.
Cheers,
Evangelos
I have finished one channel, using Knut's modified design and PCB (thank you Knut!). I used BL JFETs, with resistor current bypassing, original cascode and driver BJTs and Toshiba 2SC5200/2SA1943 output transistors. It was powered from a laboratory PS, in order to have a first impression (I always do that, before I decide whether I like the built project, before finalizing it with proper PS etc.).
I'm playing it with 12.5 Volts and 0.55-0.60 mA, which gives me ca. 6 W at the start of clipping. Here, I must note that I use a pair of quite sensitive horn loaded speakers (Tune Audio Marvel) with a sensitivity of 97dB, so 6 watts is ample power.
My first impressions were great. The amp is very precise, analytical, with powerful yet controlled bass, very nice instruments separation. In all, a very pleasing and accurate sound. In order to have a reference, I compared it to Juma's Cubie 2 (with Exicon lateral MOSFETs), which I considered a very good amplifier. Well, Le Monstre beat the Cubie by far.
I tried playing a little with the idle current: I increased it to ca. 0.9 A, but I immediately went back, as I found the sound quite aggressive (I remember reading somewhere here that the ideal Ideal current for the Le Monstre is from 0.5 to 0.6 A. Also, I want to try different output BJTs that I have gathered, in particular: 2SC3284/2SA1303 (Sanken), 2SC2837/2SA1186 (Sanken) and MJL3281A/MJL1302A (On Semi).
So, I think that, so far, Le Monstre is a very promising amp. Next step is to build the second channel and listen to full stereo.
Cheers,
Evangelos
Attachments
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Great report! Thank you!
You do have an extra set of PCB, I would be interested to buy it of your hand.
If not I am still interested to participate in a small GB in case there are other interests.
I never ordered PCB from China (no experience with that, unfortunately).
I have the Cubie 3 and is a great amplifier. JUMA's amps well designed and has a good/great sound.
This Le Monstre beat the Cubie 2 that tells a lot about it. Me, I would use Higher rail voltage to go over min. 10W power!
Greetings
You do have an extra set of PCB, I would be interested to buy it of your hand.
If not I am still interested to participate in a small GB in case there are other interests.
I never ordered PCB from China (no experience with that, unfortunately).
I have the Cubie 3 and is a great amplifier. JUMA's amps well designed and has a good/great sound.
This Le Monstre beat the Cubie 2 that tells a lot about it. Me, I would use Higher rail voltage to go over min. 10W power!
Greetings