I guess before I go into everything it will take for me to build an Amp, My first question would be is it worth it?
Will it be that much better sounding than a store bought amp?
Other that the ability to brag to my friends that "I built that"? The reason I'm asking is it's gonna take a lot for me to be able to learn and understand how to do it. And I'm not really sure it will be worth it? Plus I'd still need a pre-amp, and a tuner... Sounds like the hard way to get something millions of others have already figured out and manufactured for me. Probably not the right thing to be tossing around a DIY forum but just wanted your opinions.
Will it be that much better sounding than a store bought amp?
Other that the ability to brag to my friends that "I built that"? The reason I'm asking is it's gonna take a lot for me to be able to learn and understand how to do it. And I'm not really sure it will be worth it? Plus I'd still need a pre-amp, and a tuner... Sounds like the hard way to get something millions of others have already figured out and manufactured for me. Probably not the right thing to be tossing around a DIY forum but just wanted your opinions.
No its not "worth it".
It will cost you more even without working out the cost of your labour.
You will not be satisfied. You will build another.
You will then be dissatisfied with your speakers and will want to build those. Again, it will cost more than buying a comparable item.
You will then build another set.
You will "tweak" your sources. They will not like it. You will buy (or build) new sources.
Your SO will leave in frustration. After years of sticking their head into the music room (another cost...) and telling you how much better it sounds since you did something, they will no longer be able to continue with the lie. Or the smell of solder.
You will buy capacitors that are literally worth their weight in gold.
You will later do the same with cables.
You will later realise that Panasonic make perfectly good capacitors and CAT5 works fine as speaker cable. You will get 10 cents in the dollar on your "audiophile" items.
Nah, not worth it.
I wouldn't give it away for quids.
It will cost you more even without working out the cost of your labour.
You will not be satisfied. You will build another.
You will then be dissatisfied with your speakers and will want to build those. Again, it will cost more than buying a comparable item.
You will then build another set.
You will "tweak" your sources. They will not like it. You will buy (or build) new sources.
Your SO will leave in frustration. After years of sticking their head into the music room (another cost...) and telling you how much better it sounds since you did something, they will no longer be able to continue with the lie. Or the smell of solder.
You will buy capacitors that are literally worth their weight in gold.
You will later do the same with cables.
You will later realise that Panasonic make perfectly good capacitors and CAT5 works fine as speaker cable. You will get 10 cents in the dollar on your "audiophile" items.
Nah, not worth it.
I wouldn't give it away for quids.
I'm simply too cheap to buy cheap stuff, let alone expensive stuff. Ninety percent of what I use I pull out of my junk box.
it's like drugs - when you started - you can not stop - keep reading, learning and solder.
I started as a beginner and over the past five years I have completed:
Leach amp;
LM 3875 ;
LM1875;
F5;
Hiraga le monstre;
Another leach (for biamping);
OPA 549
Another LM3875 , dont know whay;
B1 buffer;
Three different RIAA preamps;
Tube amp SE 6C33C ;
And lot f cables and Mods.
Class D is still missing 😉
I started as a beginner and over the past five years I have completed:
Leach amp;
LM 3875 ;
LM1875;
F5;
Hiraga le monstre;
Another leach (for biamping);
OPA 549
Another LM3875 , dont know whay;
B1 buffer;
Three different RIAA preamps;
Tube amp SE 6C33C ;
And lot f cables and Mods.
Class D is still missing 😉
If you have to ask, then maybe DIY is not for you?
You are wise - many people don't realise that and so become disappointed and frustrated when they find their aspirations run far ahead of their knowledge and experience.cradeldorf said:
Only you can judge that. The only reason to start building audio is because you want to learn how to build audio. It won't be cheaper and, certainly at first, it won't be better. Eventually it could be cheaper and better, but it takes a long time to get there.
Most systems don't need a preamp. A tuner requires RF skills, which are partly different from and harder to acquire than audio skills. Few people on here do RF too.
Yes its like drug once you start you cant stop and you need bigger doses 🙂
Once you have finished your first amp and know how to make it better it will become endless trail.
Once you have finished your first amp and know how to make it better it will become endless trail.
Thanks Guys, At this point I think I will pay those who have dedicated their lives to understanding this profession. I can't afford crazy priced stuff but I could spring for a nice new 2 channel Marantz amp or something similar. Not that I'm giving up studying the electronics profession, just learnt my fair share from trying to make good speakers and then spending a 10th of that on a pair that sound ten times better than I ever came up with on my own. I'm getting to the point in my life (52) that I just want to kick back and enjoy some life before it's over. This is the one I was eyeballing last night.
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...tId=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=&ProductId=PM8005
BTW: If you ever land a pair of Klipsch KLF 30's cut a piece of carpet the size of the cab, flip it over, remove the feet from the cab and plop it down square on the carpet. Then yank out the port tubes from the back panel and you'll have an awesome sounding speaker setup. That's my contribution back to the group. 😀
http://us.marantz.com/us/Products/P...tId=HiFiComponents&SubCatId=&ProductId=PM8005
BTW: If you ever land a pair of Klipsch KLF 30's cut a piece of carpet the size of the cab, flip it over, remove the feet from the cab and plop it down square on the carpet. Then yank out the port tubes from the back panel and you'll have an awesome sounding speaker setup. That's my contribution back to the group. 😀
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Agree with the advice above. Building an amp is only for us hobby-crazy or for education. ( I am building mine to better understand speaker-amplifier interaction). Even with a wonderful design, parts costs are many times what the OEM's pay.
Many posters on these very forums have spent their entire life learning this craft professionally. The level of detail and small issues they deal with are far more advanced than building multi-million dollar super computers. ( I know, you should see the hack job in some circuits I have to deal with). Small details in the physical construction matters a lot. Sometimes more than the actual circuit topology.
The Marantz is not bad. Played with one. There are some very nice small integrated amps out there. NAD, Cambridge, Arcam, Music Fidelity, Creek. etc. Even Sony just came out with a "high line" integrated. Not being a fan of tubes, but the Peachtree seems to be this week's fad. Some even have a decent DAC built in. If it is all about just enjoying the music, that is the way to go.
I'll say it again and get slammed again, but the speakers are 90% of the system. Not that quality electronics are not important, just that the speakers are more so.
Many posters on these very forums have spent their entire life learning this craft professionally. The level of detail and small issues they deal with are far more advanced than building multi-million dollar super computers. ( I know, you should see the hack job in some circuits I have to deal with). Small details in the physical construction matters a lot. Sometimes more than the actual circuit topology.
The Marantz is not bad. Played with one. There are some very nice small integrated amps out there. NAD, Cambridge, Arcam, Music Fidelity, Creek. etc. Even Sony just came out with a "high line" integrated. Not being a fan of tubes, but the Peachtree seems to be this week's fad. Some even have a decent DAC built in. If it is all about just enjoying the music, that is the way to go.
I'll say it again and get slammed again, but the speakers are 90% of the system. Not that quality electronics are not important, just that the speakers are more so.
Oh yea, some even have some semblance of a crossover to a sub built in, making a 2.1 an easier solution.
I'm just kinda taking a break and enjoying where I'm at for the moment. 🙂 Got other things that need tackling. Like a new garage... that will eventually have a new house connected to it. 🙂
Making your own is seriously not the cheapest way of getting an amplifier.
Especially if it doesn't work first time !
I do it for the challenge. Despite being in electronics for 35 years I had a go at a class d amplifier. Of course it didn't work for numerous reasons, layout, noise and decoupling all wrong.
I came from a digital background which for me was a lot easier.
I didnt get a class d pcb working until revision 3 !
But I learned a lot from the exercise about digital and analogue electronics.
That to me was well worth the hassle and cost I went through.
Especially if it doesn't work first time !
I do it for the challenge. Despite being in electronics for 35 years I had a go at a class d amplifier. Of course it didn't work for numerous reasons, layout, noise and decoupling all wrong.
I came from a digital background which for me was a lot easier.
I didnt get a class d pcb working until revision 3 !
But I learned a lot from the exercise about digital and analogue electronics.
That to me was well worth the hassle and cost I went through.
You can buy decent gear, most will sound better then your first attempt or 2 at building an amp and definitely cost less unless you just want to buy a kit and nail it on the first try.
I started off attempting to fix old gear but after 2 failures I decided I would rather work with new stuff then fix something that is 20+ years old and full of filth.
I build my own just because I enjoy it. Then I start a new project and usually give my old gear to the wife, kids, relatives, friends the kid down the street.
I started off attempting to fix old gear but after 2 failures I decided I would rather work with new stuff then fix something that is 20+ years old and full of filth.
I build my own just because I enjoy it. Then I start a new project and usually give my old gear to the wife, kids, relatives, friends the kid down the street.
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