AKSA 55
"that's the second time I have tried to access a schematic on IMAGESHACK. It does not show any detail (unreadable) and the "click on" does not work."
Andrew
I use Imageshack without any problems, but I have a similar problem to you with this one.
However, when I "right clicked" on it and did a "save as" , I was able to open a perfectly readable copy in both Windows Picture and Fax Viewer and Photoshop CS2.
SandyK
"that's the second time I have tried to access a schematic on IMAGESHACK. It does not show any detail (unreadable) and the "click on" does not work."
Andrew
I use Imageshack without any problems, but I have a similar problem to you with this one.
However, when I "right clicked" on it and did a "save as" , I was able to open a perfectly readable copy in both Windows Picture and Fax Viewer and Photoshop CS2.
SandyK
AKSA said:
Looks like circa 1973 RCA app. notes with Vbe mult. Yikes 35yrs later nothing new under the sun here. Shirley it must be a decoy post. If not I would never buy AKSA!
That's not a decoy and is the earlier 55 before the N and N+ upgrades.
Don't judge the sonics of this amp by the schematic as there is more to this amp than a bunch of lines and squiggles. This is only one small part of this amp.
You are probably right in saying there is nothing new in amps over the last few decades as most of them have been done before I imagine, just different combinations and tricks.
I've built a fair portion of the later respected DIY amps during the last 4 years and all of those had only a temporary stay where the AKSA 55N+ has remained as the main power amp. That also includes some very recently released commercial amps which had some more advanced circuits such as Class XD and a floating balanced design. Yes, I've worked hard to try an knock this amp off it's perch but now I've conceded.
I'm not saying it's the world's greatest amp but the sonics suits my music, tastes and listening.... isn't that the goal in the end.
Don't judge the sonics of this amp by the schematic as there is more to this amp than a bunch of lines and squiggles. This is only one small part of this amp.
You are probably right in saying there is nothing new in amps over the last few decades as most of them have been done before I imagine, just different combinations and tricks.
I've built a fair portion of the later respected DIY amps during the last 4 years and all of those had only a temporary stay where the AKSA 55N+ has remained as the main power amp. That also includes some very recently released commercial amps which had some more advanced circuits such as Class XD and a floating balanced design. Yes, I've worked hard to try an knock this amp off it's perch but now I've conceded.
I'm not saying it's the world's greatest amp but the sonics suits my music, tastes and listening.... isn't that the goal in the end.
AKSA said:
So finally, this is your non-current mirror design that is sonically superior to the D.Self blameless because of "particular attention to LTP balance”?
Hi Hugh
I am currently building a 40W per channel JLH CLASS A amp, I have also built (but not tested as yet) a Naim clone. I hope to bring them over to compare to your amps at some stage (hopefully early next year).
Just to go back to distortion measurements.
From my experience as a musician (Bass player) distortion isn't always a bad thing, most people will agree that a 12 string acoustic guitar sounds better than a 6 string acoustic guitar (all things being equal). Basically a 12 string is the equivalent of a 6 string with 50% total harmonic distortion (ie all of the distortion is 2nd harmonic).
50% is a lot higher than 2%, 1%, 0.05%, and 0.000001%, and yet this sound appeals to alot of people, so I agree with Hugh that it has more to do with which harmonics are involved.
Some people might say your adding something to the content of the music that wasn't intended by the producer or band. If one wants to use this as philosophical argument for minimising distortion to 0% then one could also argue that guitarists/musicians etc should only play their instruments to sound the way the manufacturer intended them to sound which may or may not sound best (This is almost never the case otherwise most bands would sound the same (ie tone of instruments would sound the same)).
So if musicians are allowed to alter the sound of their instruments without any criticism why can't the listener also adjust the tone to their liking.
I bet nearly everyone here has at some time adjusted the tone controls (bass/treble) while listening to music in their car. Is this not also a form of distortion, yet it appeals to people to change the treble or bass to adjust the music to their taste
I am currently building a 40W per channel JLH CLASS A amp, I have also built (but not tested as yet) a Naim clone. I hope to bring them over to compare to your amps at some stage (hopefully early next year).
Just to go back to distortion measurements.
From my experience as a musician (Bass player) distortion isn't always a bad thing, most people will agree that a 12 string acoustic guitar sounds better than a 6 string acoustic guitar (all things being equal). Basically a 12 string is the equivalent of a 6 string with 50% total harmonic distortion (ie all of the distortion is 2nd harmonic).
50% is a lot higher than 2%, 1%, 0.05%, and 0.000001%, and yet this sound appeals to alot of people, so I agree with Hugh that it has more to do with which harmonics are involved.
Some people might say your adding something to the content of the music that wasn't intended by the producer or band. If one wants to use this as philosophical argument for minimising distortion to 0% then one could also argue that guitarists/musicians etc should only play their instruments to sound the way the manufacturer intended them to sound which may or may not sound best (This is almost never the case otherwise most bands would sound the same (ie tone of instruments would sound the same)).
So if musicians are allowed to alter the sound of their instruments without any criticism why can't the listener also adjust the tone to their liking.
I bet nearly everyone here has at some time adjusted the tone controls (bass/treble) while listening to music in their car. Is this not also a form of distortion, yet it appeals to people to change the treble or bass to adjust the music to their taste
I think it is absolutely hilarious how so many people here have annoyed Hugh to see a schematic of his AKSA amp, and now that he has shown it no one is interested in building it.
Well I hope at some point in time someone will build this and report back about their impressions.
Well I hope at some point in time someone will build this and report back about their impressions.
thanh1973 said:
The fact that you are comparing musical instruments with amplifiers shows that you have no clue what you are talking about. Posts like these make the internet notorious for being a unreliable source of information.
Amplifier shouldn't have any distortion -end of discussion.
You would be better off posting in a musician's forum.
I don't completely disagree that an amplifier should have no distortion.
My point was that the measurements that are commonly used to measure the performance of an amplifier are obviously not the be all and end all, otherwise everyone here would ONLY be building Siliconchip and Douglass Self amps (which is obviously not the case).
However most importantly amplifiers should sound good. Measurements are irrelevant if the amplifier sounds crap.
In the end how do we all listen to music? Hopefully you will agree that you use your ears.
When you go to a concert do you take your distortion analyzer with you?
I bet even John Curl would agree with me on this, so if you want to tell me again I know nothing about amplifiers, I would suggets you also tell the master John Curl he knows nothing about amplifiers too.
My point was that the measurements that are commonly used to measure the performance of an amplifier are obviously not the be all and end all, otherwise everyone here would ONLY be building Siliconchip and Douglass Self amps (which is obviously not the case).
However most importantly amplifiers should sound good. Measurements are irrelevant if the amplifier sounds crap.
In the end how do we all listen to music? Hopefully you will agree that you use your ears.
When you go to a concert do you take your distortion analyzer with you?
I bet even John Curl would agree with me on this, so if you want to tell me again I know nothing about amplifiers, I would suggets you also tell the master John Curl he knows nothing about amplifiers too.
measurements are irrelevant ?
" Measurements are irrelevant if the amplifier sounds ****.
If the amplifier sounds ****, then the measurements would also be poor.
Low distortion is a good starting point for an amplifier that won't ultimately sound fatigueing on a wide range of material.
Douglas Self designs do NOT sound ****. They may not always sound very involving, but neither are they fatigueing.
With further attention to detail, they can sound superb, and even have an excellent soundstage.
AKSA 55 was a good amplifier when it was built, but Hugh Dean has more recent designs that would leave it way behind.
For example, the Soraya 2, or Aztec.
SandyK
" Measurements are irrelevant if the amplifier sounds ****.
If the amplifier sounds ****, then the measurements would also be poor.
Low distortion is a good starting point for an amplifier that won't ultimately sound fatigueing on a wide range of material.
Douglas Self designs do NOT sound ****. They may not always sound very involving, but neither are they fatigueing.
With further attention to detail, they can sound superb, and even have an excellent soundstage.
AKSA 55 was a good amplifier when it was built, but Hugh Dean has more recent designs that would leave it way behind.
For example, the Soraya 2, or Aztec.
SandyK
Ok crap is extreme I suppose.
And I think I can agree if an amp measures well it will at least sound OK.
But distortion measurement don't necessarily tell you how good the powersupply is, which will definitely have an effect when driving a real load.
When these distortion measurements are taken are they taken with a resistive load or a load that is representative of a real loudspeaker?
Thanks
And I think I can agree if an amp measures well it will at least sound OK.
But distortion measurement don't necessarily tell you how good the powersupply is, which will definitely have an effect when driving a real load.
When these distortion measurements are taken are they taken with a resistive load or a load that is representative of a real loudspeaker?
Thanks
OK just so know one gets confused. I am not saying Siliconchip or Douglas Self amps are bad.
I am just saying that, according to the industry standard distortion measurements, then these amps should be the best sounding amps in the world and we shouldn't be wasting our time building anything else.
If I was to start a thread titled "Siliconchip ULD Mk2 amp, The BEST sounding amp in the world", I would be crucified here.
So you are damned either way.
I hope that people can show a bit more enthusiasm towards building Hugh's amp. Even though it may leave out some of the detail, therein lies the challenge to all of us.
Can we discover the secrets oursleves by trial and error.
Surely Carlos is not the only one around here that actually builds stuff.
I am just saying that, according to the industry standard distortion measurements, then these amps should be the best sounding amps in the world and we shouldn't be wasting our time building anything else.
If I was to start a thread titled "Siliconchip ULD Mk2 amp, The BEST sounding amp in the world", I would be crucified here.
So you are damned either way.
I hope that people can show a bit more enthusiasm towards building Hugh's amp. Even though it may leave out some of the detail, therein lies the challenge to all of us.
Can we discover the secrets oursleves by trial and error.
Surely Carlos is not the only one around here that actually builds stuff.
thanh1973 said:
Why? You probably were not born at that time but in the seventies i owned a string of Jap amps which all measured brilliantly and were in varying degrees unlistenable. Interestingly, the worst sounding had the least thd/imd. At least it was interesting at the time. Apparently some lessons are never learnt.
Thanks for backing up my feelings about distortion measurements.
And yes I was born in the early seventies
Just one other question regarding distortion measurements.
Are these measurements taken with simple sine waves, or are they taken with complicated sound spectrums representative of real music?
And yes I was born in the early seventies
Just one other question regarding distortion measurements.
Are these measurements taken with simple sine waves, or are they taken with complicated sound spectrums representative of real music?
thanh1973 said:
Harmonic distortion is measured at fixed frequencies. IMD is measured in different ways, but usually two sine waves are applied at the same time. There are no distortion measurements with real music but there is a null test, which at least in concept is very persuasive. In practice some relatively poor sounding amps score well in the null test.
So these measurements:
- 1) aren't performed using a load representitive of a real loudspeaker.
- 2) aren't performed using a complicated spectrum representitive of real music
- 3) don't tell you much about how good the powersupply is
So in conclusion these distortion measurement are almost a waste of time except for bragging rights.
- 1) aren't performed using a load representitive of a real loudspeaker.
- 2) aren't performed using a complicated spectrum representitive of real music
- 3) don't tell you much about how good the powersupply is
So in conclusion these distortion measurement are almost a waste of time except for bragging rights.
Dear colleagues
This is my first post
I´m newbie at this, and my technical background in electronics is zero. I have a moderate budget to spend in audio, but my wife wouldn´t accept to spend some money in a commercial kit "with low success probability" as she said.
However this website is like a drug for me , and I´ve been visiting everysingle day since I found it.
I´m very fascinated about AKSA 55, and I have some material from old amplifiers ( PS´s heatsinks, etc) feasible to reuse. So I´m determined to try something at low cost/risk.
The questions is:
It is worth to experiment with orientative aksa schematics published so far , or rather try with Project like DX, Symassym, P3A...?
Thanks
This is my first post
I´m newbie at this, and my technical background in electronics is zero. I have a moderate budget to spend in audio, but my wife wouldn´t accept to spend some money in a commercial kit "with low success probability" as she said.
However this website is like a drug for me , and I´ve been visiting everysingle day since I found it.
I´m very fascinated about AKSA 55, and I have some material from old amplifiers ( PS´s heatsinks, etc) feasible to reuse. So I´m determined to try something at low cost/risk.
The questions is:
It is worth to experiment with orientative aksa schematics published so far , or rather try with Project like DX, Symassym, P3A...?
Thanks
The P3a or the Dx are cheap amps that perform reasonably well for very little outlay.
Both have similarities to A55.
Dip your toe the cheap way and then decide whether to invest time/money in your hobby/listening.
Both have similarities to A55.
Dip your toe the cheap way and then decide whether to invest time/money in your hobby/listening.
I just made almost pointless post, hope this one will be less. None on this planet can claim if amplifier is adding something or not. None can claim that is revealing and "giving" the information/signal just amplified further to the cables and then speakers and then room and you ears etc. blamelessly. First of all, it is an interactive device and dependent from all other elements further in the chain. Secondly, we do not have a point of reference. Yes, yes, live, unamplified music coming from speakers, saw that coming, I mean perfect amp. We do not have perfect amp on our disposal. To some audionuts live music is much more boring then amplified CDs they are listening at home...
I think we are all just painting a big canvas with little distortion points so we can at the end admire for a while the colored picture.
Comparing is much better than sticking to facts. The reviewers are the truly blessed ones. They mix pictures made of distortion to gain a colored picture.
Guess who achieves his goal faster and with more insight of how large the diapason of changes can be made in musical chain to get there? And still they change their "goal achivers".... that tells a lot about human in reality is not searching for "best" but contemporary as his spirit seems to be just that. Stick to some point then let it go.
!!
T
...s**t this is pointless to...
I think we are all just painting a big canvas with little distortion points so we can at the end admire for a while the colored picture.
Comparing is much better than sticking to facts. The reviewers are the truly blessed ones. They mix pictures made of distortion to gain a colored picture.
Guess who achieves his goal faster and with more insight of how large the diapason of changes can be made in musical chain to get there? And still they change their "goal achivers".... that tells a lot about human in reality is not searching for "best" but contemporary as his spirit seems to be just that. Stick to some point then let it go.
!!
T
...s**t this is pointless to...
I suppose it depends on how much money you want to spend.
If you are prepared to spend $500 then go for the AKSA from Hugh Dean (the real thing). http://www.aksaonline.com/
If you can only afford $200 go for a Gain Clone.http://www.audiosector.com/lm3875.shtml
If you are prepared to spend $500 then go for the AKSA from Hugh Dean (the real thing). http://www.aksaonline.com/
If you can only afford $200 go for a Gain Clone.http://www.audiosector.com/lm3875.shtml
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