Hi all! After building a couple headphone amps (Peter Millet's NuHybrid and an ACP+), an ACA, and an lxmini crossover, I think I am ready to tackle one of the FW or BA projects to power the full range tops on my lxminis (crossed at 700 Hz). Currently, my signal chain is either an Apple AirPort Express used as a streamer or Pioneer L-71 turntable, into an Emotiva PT-100 preamp, into the analog lxmini crossover, into an Elan 660 power amp (a 6 channel distribution amplifier running LM3886s), with 4 of the 6 channels bridged to provide about 100 watts to the woofers.
I am hoping to build something that can deliver 40 watts at 4 ohms to the Seas Prestige FU10RB H1600-04 4" Full Range drivers handling the mids and highs. Due to the fact these are 4 ohms, I believe that rules out the single ended options if I want to be able to play the system full volume. So I have been considering buiding an F5, F6, M2X, BA-2, or BA-3.
I have a spare quad of TSJ74 (Idss 6-8mA) that I ordered thining I had burned one out on the ACP+ (I had not), so it would be great to use them or 2 of them, but that might be tough to match.
I listen to a wide variety of source material including alternative country, 90s and 00s indie rock, 60s and 70s classic rock, punk, soul, hip-hop. I love a good drummer that can lift great artists to alltimers most of all (Janet Weiss and Sleater-Kinney, Topper Headon and The Clash, Levon Helm and The Band, Al Jackson Jr. with the Stax Rythym section, Roger Hawkins of the Swampers at FAME studios), so definetely looking for something that can resolve cymbals well.
Regarding distortion signatures, I have found that using the Millet NuHybrid into the ACA (with full range MarkAudio speakers) was too much 2nd harmonic. Complicated drum licks and guitar passages were too muddy. Feeding the ACA with the ACP+ is more to my taste, though at times there can still be a touch of muddiness at higher output volumes. This has me leaning towards buildign the F5 or BA-3 since I could adjust this some to my taste, but I'de love to hear what others recomend in this case.
@6L6 I have read that you use lxminis, so I'd especially curious about your thoughts here for a good fittign amplifier. Thank you all for your advice.
I am hoping to build something that can deliver 40 watts at 4 ohms to the Seas Prestige FU10RB H1600-04 4" Full Range drivers handling the mids and highs. Due to the fact these are 4 ohms, I believe that rules out the single ended options if I want to be able to play the system full volume. So I have been considering buiding an F5, F6, M2X, BA-2, or BA-3.
I have a spare quad of TSJ74 (Idss 6-8mA) that I ordered thining I had burned one out on the ACP+ (I had not), so it would be great to use them or 2 of them, but that might be tough to match.
I listen to a wide variety of source material including alternative country, 90s and 00s indie rock, 60s and 70s classic rock, punk, soul, hip-hop. I love a good drummer that can lift great artists to alltimers most of all (Janet Weiss and Sleater-Kinney, Topper Headon and The Clash, Levon Helm and The Band, Al Jackson Jr. with the Stax Rythym section, Roger Hawkins of the Swampers at FAME studios), so definetely looking for something that can resolve cymbals well.
Regarding distortion signatures, I have found that using the Millet NuHybrid into the ACA (with full range MarkAudio speakers) was too much 2nd harmonic. Complicated drum licks and guitar passages were too muddy. Feeding the ACA with the ACP+ is more to my taste, though at times there can still be a touch of muddiness at higher output volumes. This has me leaning towards buildign the F5 or BA-3 since I could adjust this some to my taste, but I'de love to hear what others recomend in this case.
@6L6 I have read that you use lxminis, so I'd especially curious about your thoughts here for a good fittign amplifier. Thank you all for your advice.
Many will pupu this recommendation as not modern enough, but I can't say enough about NPs original A40 P-P class A design. I have built two through the years along with others of his and a few other peoples. They still sound wonderful to my ears and give you that class A sound. they come in at 40W per channel and mine have been bullet proof. Even when driving a speaker that would develop a momentary short every now and then.
