As a relative newb to DIY audio, but having a solid ability to solder and follow directions, though lacking understanding of theory, I see all these amplifier builds, but nowhere near as many preamplifiers to control volume and/or tone? What would be a good beginner level preamp kit or build for someone who already has a nice class A amp? I am finding out that "front end" "line stage" "preamp" and more can all mean the same thing as far as control goes, so it can be very confusing for the beginner. If needed, the amp I'm trying to control is a Pass Aleph 30. I have a phono preamp already, so just a stereo preamp is what's needed. Class A preferred. I've been going cross-eyed trying to figure this section out. Any help from the gurus is appreciated.
Cheers!
Cheers!
I built one of Rod Elliot’s pre amps from www.sound-au.com using one of his bare pcbs. I also used one of his regulated psu boards. It was easy to build and works well. I used 5532 op amps and these work well here. I’d say this would be good for you as a first preamp project. His site also has tons of articles on audio design that I found useful for getting back into electronics after many years away from it.
Good luck and have fun!
Jeff
Good luck and have fun!
Jeff
I've designed a few preamps with boards available. All but one is tubes. The other uses 1000V depletion MOSFETs and a 600V B+ to act like a solid state replacement for a 6SN7.
There are plenty options around, but your timing is good. A great preamp kit to be released very soon:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...the-diya-store-register-your-interest.390509/
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...the-diya-store-register-your-interest.390509/
If you're interested, this is the SS amp I designed... No need to run it on 600V if you adjust a couple of resistors... Use it for stereo, or to drive a push pull pair 🙂
If R23, R28 == 0R, gain is about 70.
If R23, R28 == 2k7, gain is about 6.
The fuzz/noise is due to using a POS for a PSU and the fact this was done with spaghetti wiring.
If R23, R28 == 0R, gain is about 70.
If R23, R28 == 2k7, gain is about 6.
The fuzz/noise is due to using a POS for a PSU and the fact this was done with spaghetti wiring.
Guru's ??? How about a class A PPM 2 pole compensated (TPC) preamp. No tubes , just BD139/140's and 2sa/sc's. Add 2 super regulators for the
split supplies. Good to go. I'm about to design a headphone amp that could be ported. "Tone controls" he he ... why not add 4 pole Bessel
filters. Rod Elliot's stuff is good , but NE5532's ... yikes.
"Wolverine" headphone amp/ (or preamp) will soon be born.
split supplies. Good to go. I'm about to design a headphone amp that could be ported. "Tone controls" he he ... why not add 4 pole Bessel
filters. Rod Elliot's stuff is good , but NE5532's ... yikes.
"Wolverine" headphone amp/ (or preamp) will soon be born.
I'm not using any preamp since the advent of DACs.
NE5532 is plenty good enough for music IMHO. Hell, a freaking TL072 is good enough IMHO although when I need an OPAMP I generally go with AD712.
But BJT? Can't do it.
I want a voltage controlled resistance, not a voltage controlled current source hence why I use triodes or triode connected tubes other than depletion parts which work similar to tubes (biasing) anyway.
I wonder if anyone has bothered to make a preamp/line stage/ HP amp using SITs?
But BJT? Can't do it.
I want a voltage controlled resistance, not a voltage controlled current source hence why I use triodes or triode connected tubes other than depletion parts which work similar to tubes (biasing) anyway.
I wonder if anyone has bothered to make a preamp/line stage/ HP amp using SITs?
I played with transformers in a signal chain before but... didn't like it. I also would not use capacitors in a signal path again. Once you go transformer-less and capacitor-less, you never go back.
I suppose if one really has to use the pre-amp, Wayne's one would be better suited..? It does come to individual taste.
Maybe build both (Iron-pre and Wayne's pre-amp) and see which one sounds better...?
Also, decide if the ultimate sound quality is your prerogative If it IS, you'll appreciate the omission of another box, power supply, interconnects, contact resistances... volume control (wipers scratching the graphite layer... or maybe plastic layer if you pay more...?).
Of course, having a source selector is handy.
I suppose if one really has to use the pre-amp, Wayne's one would be better suited..? It does come to individual taste.
Maybe build both (Iron-pre and Wayne's pre-amp) and see which one sounds better...?
Also, decide if the ultimate sound quality is your prerogative If it IS, you'll appreciate the omission of another box, power supply, interconnects, contact resistances... volume control (wipers scratching the graphite layer... or maybe plastic layer if you pay more...?).
Of course, having a source selector is handy.
If you need a preamp I have designed and built line/headphones preamp without global negative feedback look here:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/gainwire-line-phone-non-gnfb-preamp.395695/#post-7266406
So far it is my best preamplifier, it uses volume control after gain stage an in this way keep SNR very low.
Some DACs have volume control, but in most cases it is in digital domain and it degrades the sound at low level, so I keep my DAC volume high volume and use the one in my preamplifier.
In combination with my CFA A class + B class power amp the sound is my best so far.
I had to laugh at the "yikes" 🙂. I suspect that much of the music I listen to was mixed and mastered through consoles using 5532s at best, so another half dozen isn't going to make a difference. They are a known and well understood device though and display few vices so are easy to work with for a beginner, although by today's standards not the absolute best anymore. I haven't rebuilt any of my early stuff yet, so have not had the epiphany of newer devices! (I did also let a TL072 into the signal chain for a giggle and it didn't mess things up, but maybe that is telling in itself perhaps??)
I now have some LM4562 and OPA2134s in stock, so I'll give them an outing for my next opamp project, although no doubt there are still better devices to choose from.
Great to see all the ideas on this thread!
Jeff.
Check out this modular pre. Has daughter boards to suite your preference. It's a nice project to build too.
Check out this one. I've built and love it. SOA tone controls also.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/doug-self-preamp-from-linear-audio-5.280458/
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/doug-self-preamp-from-linear-audio-5.280458/
@Fast14riot,
Here's more on my Yarra build if you want to see the guts. 🙂 X has developed other, very nice projects as well.
Rick
Here's more on my Yarra build if you want to see the guts. 🙂 X has developed other, very nice projects as well.
Rick
The vast majority of "poweramps" consist of pre amp, driver amp, current amp. The vast majority of people do not need an external pre amp. Who wanted to build another, mostly unnecessary, could rebuild one from a "poweramp". Some small differential amplifier. 5 - 10 parts. Or even better a small single ended, consisting of 3 parts. More is not needed. Unless you want to listen to the sound non-quality of the parts;-)
My system is analog only, except for a Bluetooth receiver I added in for the kids to use, so I do need a preamp. Looking to replace my 55 year old receiver I'm currently using as a preamp and input selector.