Just a noob here having just built my first anything. I took up ham radio a few years ago after retirement but I was never an electronics whiz like a lot of the old timer ham operators. I thought building something from scratch for the first time would be fun and good education.
The simple Monitor Audio Bronze 2's in my office/cluttered ham shack have never sounded this good.
I think my Rogue Audio Sphinx is headed out to make room. Only two sources: a DAC and the turntable. Right now the DAC is direct into the ACA and I'm controlling volume with Roon.
You've got me hooked on the sound! Where to go from here...
The simple Monitor Audio Bronze 2's in my office/cluttered ham shack have never sounded this good.
I think my Rogue Audio Sphinx is headed out to make room. Only two sources: a DAC and the turntable. Right now the DAC is direct into the ACA and I'm controlling volume with Roon.
You've got me hooked on the sound! Where to go from here...
First of all, congratulations on your ACA build.
What are your plans for the turntable? Perhaps some kind of preamp and phono
stage?
If you want to try other amps, there are lots available. I'll start by mentioning
the M2 (or M2x) and the Aleph J.
I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.
What are your plans for the turntable? Perhaps some kind of preamp and phono
stage?
If you want to try other amps, there are lots available. I'll start by mentioning
the M2 (or M2x) and the Aleph J.
I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.
Dennis, thank you for your reply. I'll check into the M2 and Aleph J. I'm sure the amp builds will be a journey. The ACA was just a start.
I am looking at commercial pre's and phono stages. I did hear of kits available from Transcendent Sound. Looking to do the best I can w/o spending a bundle on a pre.
I am looking at commercial pre's and phono stages. I did hear of kits available from Transcendent Sound. Looking to do the best I can w/o spending a bundle on a pre.
BA-3 Front end makes a very nice preamp, I built one a few years ago and it sings nicely connected to my A40 (an old amp designed by Nelson Pass), and my Paradigm Studio 60 speakers.
Here is a link to 6L6's extremely informative build guide for the BA-3 Preamp;
The BA-3 as preamp build guide
Here is a link to 6L6's extremely informative build guide for the BA-3 Preamp;
The BA-3 as preamp build guide
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Hi Pkoss455, maybe have a quick look at the Noir headphone amp in the diyAudio Store. It drives headphones AND it also has preamp outputs (+6dB gain) to drive a power amp. I'm mentioning it because Noir is specifically intended for complete beginners, and can be put together in a weekend. Chassis front panel and rear panel are included; pre-drilled and labeled. The Store has photos.
Nelson's Slot Loaded Open Baffle would be a great project
After that then do active cross overs.
Then another amp to go with the active cross overs
After that then do active cross overs.
Then another amp to go with the active cross overs
Congratulations on your first build! I second the recommendation from Dennis, the M2(x) and Aleph J are a great addition to your amp family.
From what I see online it appears the Sphinx has line level outputs (variable and fixed). Have you tried connecting the Sphinx as a preamp/phono stage with your ACA?
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Hi pkoss455
Like many others have already said congratulations on your first build. Sounds like you might get hooked like the rest of us. If you want an easy"ish" phono stage I can recommend the boozehound jfet phono stage. It's easy to build and can fit into a small inexpensive chassis. I, like many others, powered mine with a rechargable battery pack and it is dead quiet no messy ac noise no expensive separate power supply. Plus it sounds quite good. I am just replacing it two years later with Salas's folded simplistic njfet phono stage. I also started out with a commercial preamp as well and now I have a small arsenal. Both the Korg B1 and the mezmerize B1 are great.
Jeffrey
Like many others have already said congratulations on your first build. Sounds like you might get hooked like the rest of us. If you want an easy"ish" phono stage I can recommend the boozehound jfet phono stage. It's easy to build and can fit into a small inexpensive chassis. I, like many others, powered mine with a rechargable battery pack and it is dead quiet no messy ac noise no expensive separate power supply. Plus it sounds quite good. I am just replacing it two years later with Salas's folded simplistic njfet phono stage. I also started out with a commercial preamp as well and now I have a small arsenal. Both the Korg B1 and the mezmerize B1 are great.
Jeffrey