This amp is my beloved entry to high end stereos. It sounds sweet, and accurate throughout the spectrum of music. It's also dead simple: two RCA in, two high level speaker out. You will need a volume controlled source for this to work in your system (DAC with volume out, pre-amplifier). I built this in 1/2020, and it's been 100% solid since then.
When I first built it it had a physical hum coming from the toroidal transformer, as best I could tell. I corresponded with Dan the owner of Akitika and Update My Dynaco. He put together a hum killer thing that has some additional parts. Initially the box was like an AC line conditioner between the wall and the AC in to the amp. Once I purchased a smaller version of the same thing from him, I was able to install it into the chassis to keep things tidy. The older initial construction build pics don't show the line conditioner. I snapped and posted a few recent pics that do show it installed into the chassis. Those pics are attached.
At the time of this posting, there is one GT-102 on eBay for $460 that has some volume knobs installed. You can get the DIY kit and build it yourself off akitika.com for $400 + s/h. It's an easy and super fun kit by the way. The assembled amp from Akitika is $600
The amp is based on a pair of LM3886 Texas Instrument chips. They're often referred to as a "chip amp."
The big green switch on the front has a fluorescent bulb and gives off a warm glow. It really grew on me over the years, so much so I've used an identical switch in other amp builds.
10D x 15W x 4.5H
measurement depth does not include rear IEC inlet or binding posts.
When I first built it it had a physical hum coming from the toroidal transformer, as best I could tell. I corresponded with Dan the owner of Akitika and Update My Dynaco. He put together a hum killer thing that has some additional parts. Initially the box was like an AC line conditioner between the wall and the AC in to the amp. Once I purchased a smaller version of the same thing from him, I was able to install it into the chassis to keep things tidy. The older initial construction build pics don't show the line conditioner. I snapped and posted a few recent pics that do show it installed into the chassis. Those pics are attached.
At the time of this posting, there is one GT-102 on eBay for $460 that has some volume knobs installed. You can get the DIY kit and build it yourself off akitika.com for $400 + s/h. It's an easy and super fun kit by the way. The assembled amp from Akitika is $600
The amp is based on a pair of LM3886 Texas Instrument chips. They're often referred to as a "chip amp."
The big green switch on the front has a fluorescent bulb and gives off a warm glow. It really grew on me over the years, so much so I've used an identical switch in other amp builds.
10D x 15W x 4.5H
measurement depth does not include rear IEC inlet or binding posts.
