I am completly new to building audio amplifiers etc. so purchased a book by Elector Electronics called 'build your own high-end audio equipment' and wanted to know if the products you build are any good.
The main thing I want to ask though is that I live in the UK and would like to know where the bestplace is to buy all the components, integrated circuits and transformers at good prices.
Thanks,
William
The main thing I want to ask though is that I live in the UK and would like to know where the bestplace is to buy all the components, integrated circuits and transformers at good prices.
Thanks,
William
There are a fair few electronics suppliers in the UK, some you have probably heard of others not so. However if you keep up with this for any length of time, you will probably end up realising that most of these places are rather expensive when it comes to the sorts of things you will need in many audio projects. Whilest I have listed a few below, whenever you do want something and it looks like it may be expensive, try a few different places to get your components from (ebay can be great if you are in the right place at the right time to find something useful to you), or post up in the trading post to see if people here can help you out.
Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'll put a list below of some of the ones that I use and see if anyone else would care to add to the list once I have finished.
RS - Big, good service and range but quite expensive.
Farnel - A bit like RS, but not quite as easy to find stuff on their website (occasionaly impossible)
CPC - subsiduary of Farnell, not a huge range, but some things are a bit cheeper
Maplin - very small stock, handy for popping into town to pick up the odd bit though
Rapid - Quite a good range and good prices on most items (especialy resistors)
DigiKey - not in the UK, but good for getting hard to find semiconductors and chips at decent prices
Distel - Surplus store based near london, random stock but often have a good bargin if you know what you want
Anyway, enough of my babbling, I'll put a list below of some of the ones that I use and see if anyone else would care to add to the list once I have finished.
RS - Big, good service and range but quite expensive.
Farnel - A bit like RS, but not quite as easy to find stuff on their website (occasionaly impossible)
CPC - subsiduary of Farnell, not a huge range, but some things are a bit cheeper
Maplin - very small stock, handy for popping into town to pick up the odd bit though
Rapid - Quite a good range and good prices on most items (especialy resistors)
DigiKey - not in the UK, but good for getting hard to find semiconductors and chips at decent prices
Distel - Surplus store based near london, random stock but often have a good bargin if you know what you want
Digikey now have a UK distribution division. (It's accessed via the normal website)
Farnell are excellent as they are quite happy to accept private credit card orders, and have very fast delivery. RS used to have a seperate number for private orders, but remember that their trade counters dotted around the country don't accept private buyers. You have to set up an account to use the trade counters. (A real pain considering that there's one not too far from me in Nottingham).
Don't forget that a lot of components are on sale at the big electronics/radio rallies that take place. For example, the big one held towards the end of June at Elvaston Castle (near Derby) is well worth visiting.
Farnell are excellent as they are quite happy to accept private credit card orders, and have very fast delivery. RS used to have a seperate number for private orders, but remember that their trade counters dotted around the country don't accept private buyers. You have to set up an account to use the trade counters. (A real pain considering that there's one not too far from me in Nottingham).
Don't forget that a lot of components are on sale at the big electronics/radio rallies that take place. For example, the big one held towards the end of June at Elvaston Castle (near Derby) is well worth visiting.
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