Hi,
I really like the sound of AKSA amps. Having listened to Hugh's 55 watter made me think I was listening to Naim amp. Very musical with good dynamics and bass.
* How does the Rod Elliot P3A compare in sound quality to the AKSA? Is it more like a NAD or Rotel as opposed to Linn or Naim?
* I realize Rod sells the PCBs and instructions. You buy all the other parts. How much would you estimate it cost you to build the P3A?
I'm thinking 2-channel 90-100watter. Though, I'm curious about a 3-channel cost as well.
Thanks for your advice,
Al Garay
I really like the sound of AKSA amps. Having listened to Hugh's 55 watter made me think I was listening to Naim amp. Very musical with good dynamics and bass.
* How does the Rod Elliot P3A compare in sound quality to the AKSA? Is it more like a NAD or Rotel as opposed to Linn or Naim?
* I realize Rod sells the PCBs and instructions. You buy all the other parts. How much would you estimate it cost you to build the P3A?
I'm thinking 2-channel 90-100watter. Though, I'm curious about a 3-channel cost as well.
Thanks for your advice,
Al Garay
not bad
I'm putting together a parts list for the P3A now. As with most amps your big costs are going to be the heatsinks, PS caps and transformer. If you can find surplus stuff like I did, you can probably make a 2 channel for $200-300, maybe more if you buy a prebuilt enclosure. There is very little difference in price to add channels too. I am trying to keep my 4 channel P3A in the same price range.
I can't comment on the sound quality of either yet, but most people on this forum praise both amps.
Good Luck,
Austin
I'm putting together a parts list for the P3A now. As with most amps your big costs are going to be the heatsinks, PS caps and transformer. If you can find surplus stuff like I did, you can probably make a 2 channel for $200-300, maybe more if you buy a prebuilt enclosure. There is very little difference in price to add channels too. I am trying to keep my 4 channel P3A in the same price range.
I can't comment on the sound quality of either yet, but most people on this forum praise both amps.
Good Luck,
Austin
Re: not bad
Why don't you finish your 3 channel leach amp first... 🙂
Is it still sitting on your coffee table?
What did you decide to put your case together with?
--
Brian
Austin said:
Why don't you finish your 3 channel leach amp first... 🙂
Is it still sitting on your coffee table?
What did you decide to put your case together with?
--
Brian
I haven't tried the AKSA myself, though i've heard nothing but good stuff about them. I did check out the P3A and it's a very very good sounding amp; perhaps the best AB amp i've tried.
In any case, both amps are excellent designs. You just cant go wrong 🙂
In any case, both amps are excellent designs. You just cant go wrong 🙂
Lisandro_P,
How do you describe the difference between your JLH and the P3A sound? I am just curious. Given that they are different class a and class a/b...
Chris
How do you describe the difference between your JLH and the P3A sound? I am just curious. Given that they are different class a and class a/b...
Chris
chris ma said:
I like the JLH much better 😀 but that's no secret. It's a subtle difference, but audible. There's a tiny "muddines" in the sound (at high frequencies mostly) that is not listened in the JLH. The JLH has also more a "tubey", warm quality, while the ESP is more, say, "sharp" sounding. Still, it's a tiny difference, and if i needed more power than i do now i'd be surely considering the ESP.
One thing the ESP does quite well is controlling bass. Most midfi AB amps tend to get muddy when there's a high bass kick, but the ESP plays it faithfully.
Hi Al,
I'm about to find out in a couple of weeks. I bought both the AKSA 55 and P3A amp at the beginning of this year. It should be a good comparison as the power supplies, heatsinks and output transistors will be the same. The quality of the remaining components will favour the AKSA.
Since I completed the AKSA first, work on the P3A has slowed. I spend a lot of my time listening to the AKSA. 😀
The P3A will work out a little cheaper than the AKSA for me because buying quality parts in Australia can be difficult so I compromised by buying over the counter and lower quality components. The convenience of getting all the amp parts in one kit was a major factor for me in buying the AKSA and building it first. Also, this means Hugh has control of the sonics of AKSA you build.
Hugh's PCBs are really high quality; thick tracks, large pads, silk screening and solder masks. I personally like the layout design. Its got that by hand, artistic feel as opposed to a computer generated layout. A joy to work with and a high quality result is pretty much assured. The components supplied are a good quality without going to the extreme of exotic parts.
It should be interesting to find out which is better. My guess is both will be extremely good. I know the AKSA is.
PS My advice is to just do it. Its great fun and the sooner you start the sooner you finish.
I'm about to find out in a couple of weeks. I bought both the AKSA 55 and P3A amp at the beginning of this year. It should be a good comparison as the power supplies, heatsinks and output transistors will be the same. The quality of the remaining components will favour the AKSA.
Since I completed the AKSA first, work on the P3A has slowed. I spend a lot of my time listening to the AKSA. 😀
The P3A will work out a little cheaper than the AKSA for me because buying quality parts in Australia can be difficult so I compromised by buying over the counter and lower quality components. The convenience of getting all the amp parts in one kit was a major factor for me in buying the AKSA and building it first. Also, this means Hugh has control of the sonics of AKSA you build.
Hugh's PCBs are really high quality; thick tracks, large pads, silk screening and solder masks. I personally like the layout design. Its got that by hand, artistic feel as opposed to a computer generated layout. A joy to work with and a high quality result is pretty much assured. The components supplied are a good quality without going to the extreme of exotic parts.
It should be interesting to find out which is better. My guess is both will be extremely good. I know the AKSA is.
PS My advice is to just do it. Its great fun and the sooner you start the sooner you finish.
I just did it... AKSA 100 watter
Thank you to everyone who has shared their advice.
I decided to buy a completed monoblock AKSA 100 watt amp with the Nirvana upgrade plus Theta capacitors. And he threw in a partial TLP kit (this is Hugh Dean's tube-line-preamp) that's missing the power supply and volume control. I got it all for about the price to build the smaller AKSA 55 wat amp.
My friend DarrenT looks like will order the P3A. It is very tempting to try Rod Elliot's design esp. for the low start-up cost. However, the AKSA is the amp I had my heart set on getting. So, I'm glad I can get it now and get a TLP pre-amp as a bonus.
This will be a nice match for the new Ellis 1801's that I will order soon for Christmas. Santa will have a full bag this year.
Thanks again,
Al Garay
Thank you to everyone who has shared their advice.
I decided to buy a completed monoblock AKSA 100 watt amp with the Nirvana upgrade plus Theta capacitors. And he threw in a partial TLP kit (this is Hugh Dean's tube-line-preamp) that's missing the power supply and volume control. I got it all for about the price to build the smaller AKSA 55 wat amp.
My friend DarrenT looks like will order the P3A. It is very tempting to try Rod Elliot's design esp. for the low start-up cost. However, the AKSA is the amp I had my heart set on getting. So, I'm glad I can get it now and get a TLP pre-amp as a bonus.
This will be a nice match for the new Ellis 1801's that I will order soon for Christmas. Santa will have a full bag this year.
Thanks again,
Al Garay
I have built the AKSA 55w and the 100W as well as a 4-channel version of the P3A. My preference is in this order.
I would be interested in hearing your comments/impression of the 1801's when you have finished them.
SteveA
I would be interested in hearing your comments/impression of the 1801's when you have finished them.
SteveA
Hi Steve,
A few questions, if you have a minute.
Did either the AKSA 55 or 100 have the Nirvana upgrade?
Any chance you compared a AKSA 55 w/Nirvana to a standard AKSA 100? I'm thinking about my next AKSA.
What quality components did you use in the P3A? How different did it sound compared to the AKSA 55.
A few questions, if you have a minute.
Did either the AKSA 55 or 100 have the Nirvana upgrade?
Any chance you compared a AKSA 55 w/Nirvana to a standard AKSA 100? I'm thinking about my next AKSA.
What quality components did you use in the P3A? How different did it sound compared to the AKSA 55.
Grege-
Neither had the Nirvana upgrade (I have the parts for the 55W upgrade but haven't redone the boards yet). My impressions (55 vs 100) obtained over limited comparisons, but I thought the 55w was more open (greater depth).
For the P3A, I bought parts from Digikey. BC resistors, Panasonic
caps, Bourns (sp?) or Clarostat variable pots. The transisitors, I believe I got from Newark (but I believe PartsExpress has them also). It is also a very good performer but overall I like the AKSA 55W best.
SteveA
Neither had the Nirvana upgrade (I have the parts for the 55W upgrade but haven't redone the boards yet). My impressions (55 vs 100) obtained over limited comparisons, but I thought the 55w was more open (greater depth).
For the P3A, I bought parts from Digikey. BC resistors, Panasonic
caps, Bourns (sp?) or Clarostat variable pots. The transisitors, I believe I got from Newark (but I believe PartsExpress has them also). It is also a very good performer but overall I like the AKSA 55W best.
SteveA
Grege-
Sorry, I sent the reply before finishing the comments. The P3A (a little less expensive than the 55w) is very "quiet". Had I not heard the AKSA I would most probably have been quite satisified with the P3A sound. However, I have been bitten severly by the DIY bug and have several other projects underway.
SteveA
Sorry, I sent the reply before finishing the comments. The P3A (a little less expensive than the 55w) is very "quiet". Had I not heard the AKSA I would most probably have been quite satisified with the P3A sound. However, I have been bitten severly by the DIY bug and have several other projects underway.
SteveA
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