….or maybeyeah, as I was saying all the time ....... sooner or later, crimping will make you cringing
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A shorted rectifier is a terrifier
🤣
Was thinking of building an Aleph J this year and I stumbled across this project. Any difference in sound or performance from the original? Is it easier to build?

I've moved this post here and am quoting it to bring it to the front.Was thinking of building an Aleph J this year and I stumbled across this project. Any difference in sound or performance from the original? Is it easier to build?
easier yes
performance vs. original .......
if by original you mean FW Aleph J ........ what's missing is personal Papa's touch ........ huge difference
besides that, not missing much, if anything
ZM Omnimodest
performance vs. original .......
if by original you mean FW Aleph J ........ what's missing is personal Papa's touch ........ huge difference
besides that, not missing much, if anything
ZM Omnimodest
It's dead easy to build. It has the Aleph sound which is forward, full, and thrusty. IMO it doesn't really matter how it sounds relative to a now-unobtainium specimen unless you had an original Aleph J a decade ago that was lost in a fire & you're now chasing the dragon trying to recapitulate a memory. If that's your bag, I can't help. I'd say haunt audiogon for a replacement.Was thinking of building an Aleph J this year and I stumbled across this project. Any difference in sound or performance from the original? Is it easier to build?
I have an F6, an original prototype built by Papa with SemiSouth JFETs, in the fancy FirstWatt chassis. I'm listening to it now & I rotate that amp with a DIY Aleph 20, an Aleph JZm, a F5m, a P-channel lottery Sony VFET, a Ship of Theseus, and other weird junk I hack together (& quickly kick out of bed!). The Aleph Jzm holds it's own with any of them and may in all honesty be my favorite, right up against the F5m.
I wouldn't fall into the trap of thinking the DIY stuff is second-rate. You really have to just build them and listen.
I got the impression @mediumgrade is asking about difference between Alpha J PCB from store and Alpha Jzm kit from store. @poseidonsvoice did a comparison.Was thinking of building an Aleph J this year and I stumbled across this project. Any difference in sound or performance from the original? Is it easier to build?
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Sure. Still working thru test spkrs (sitting on top) in accordance with the build guide instruction. 🙃
Will use AJzm with the higher efficiency Zu DW6 here or KEF LS50 downstairs.
Sounds great so far. Lovely ZM pixie dust floating in the music.
Amps seem to be stacking up. Alas.
Will use AJzm with the higher efficiency Zu DW6 here or KEF LS50 downstairs.
Sounds great so far. Lovely ZM pixie dust floating in the music.
Amps seem to be stacking up. Alas.
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