BG KIT?
Hey Brian,
Wow finally the BG caps. I'm interested in getting some BG STD caps. But I'm from your first group buy. So I only need the caps. Let me know the price?
Did you used any other caps on the power supply beside the bg N 4.7uf maybe solen? Got any reviews?
thanks
Hey Brian,
Wow finally the BG caps. I'm interested in getting some BG STD caps. But I'm from your first group buy. So I only need the caps. Let me know the price?
Did you used any other caps on the power supply beside the bg N 4.7uf maybe solen? Got any reviews?
thanks
I also was part of the first premium order..
I would possibly be interested in the Black Gate caps.
I don't know if you still have the mailing list, but you might send out a mailer to everyone who ordered the first kit, extending the offer, telling a little bit about what it is exactly to those who haven't read through all 54 pages of this thread since ordering their kit. 😉
I would possibly be interested in the Black Gate caps.
I don't know if you still have the mailing list, but you might send out a mailer to everyone who ordered the first kit, extending the offer, telling a little bit about what it is exactly to those who haven't read through all 54 pages of this thread since ordering their kit. 😉
geolemon said:
Don't worry, I won't leave anyone left out of the order. I am still working on the details of the orders, and will post them to the forum in a few days.
I have a mailing list created for everyone who has placed an order so far, and I will most certainly send a mailer detailing the new offering.
I am also putting together another kit, based on the LM4780, which I will also post details about.
Also, for the BlackGate 1000uF STD capacitors, I am not selling them seperately from the premium kits, but I will be selling them seperately to people who have previously bought kits.
As for why I stopped taking orders temporarily, I ran out of pcbs, and I am organizing a new order of pcbs now.
--
Brian
Hey Brian,
I noticed the lm 4780 group buy. what's the difference between the lm3875 and lm4780 kits? any comments? when you get a chance let us know the pricing on the bg caps. i'm from the original group buy. will you allow me to
buy another bg n 4.7 uf caps?
Any chance you can make the pcb holes for the lead bigger so there is room for us to tweak it?
thanks
I noticed the lm 4780 group buy. what's the difference between the lm3875 and lm4780 kits? any comments? when you get a chance let us know the pricing on the bg caps. i'm from the original group buy. will you allow me to
buy another bg n 4.7 uf caps?
Any chance you can make the pcb holes for the lead bigger so there is room for us to tweak it?
thanks
SS1 said:
The LM4780 is essentially 2 - 50w channels on a single, larger chip. They are put in parallel with each other, and thus provide more power, and provide for a better ability to drive low impedence loads. The LM4780 is a relatively new chip, so as to how good it is compared to the LM3875, I am not sure. I have not tried it yet, but am ordering prototypes soon.
If you do not need more power than the LM3875 provides, I would think that it would be a much better solution. Peter Daniel has stated that while both chips are quite good, he prefers the sound of the LM3875.
As for the BG caps, here are my preliminary pricing to be factored into the kit pricing: $2.50 each for the 4.7uF N caps, and $12.50 each for the 1000uF STD caps, meaning a cost of $50 extra for a kit with the BG 1000uF STD caps.
As for the pcb holes, you will need to have the later version of the pcb to use the larger BG caps, as the initial pcb had smaller holes. You can see the difference here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=366623#post366623
It might be possible to modify the pcb to use the larger caps, but I haven't tried it.
--
Brian
With out some one getting there pants in a bundle would some one care to
explain why a Chip Amp and one from National at that is a Good Amp?
It’s been my experience after designing Car audio amplifiers and power supplies for over 25 years that even for a car system chips are not worth using even for car use let alone a home audio system of any caliber other then an off shore sub standard audio device found in a flea market .
While were at it, Why anyone in there right mind would buy $2.00 resisters for a $5.00 chip amp?
Gain clone would that be a trade name?
explain why a Chip Amp and one from National at that is a Good Amp?
It’s been my experience after designing Car audio amplifiers and power supplies for over 25 years that even for a car system chips are not worth using even for car use let alone a home audio system of any caliber other then an off shore sub standard audio device found in a flea market .
While were at it, Why anyone in there right mind would buy $2.00 resisters for a $5.00 chip amp?
Gain clone would that be a trade name?
As the saying goes,
"Don't knock it until you try it."
I bought my parts and will be building mine shortly. At worst it will become novelty item on my desk. At best it will sit along side my JRDG Model 2.
For < $100 I can afford to experiment. What intrigues me is MOST of the parts are internal so very little in the way of incorrect bias, components way out of tolerance, etc...
Troy
"Don't knock it until you try it."
I bought my parts and will be building mine shortly. At worst it will become novelty item on my desk. At best it will sit along side my JRDG Model 2.
For < $100 I can afford to experiment. What intrigues me is MOST of the parts are internal so very little in the way of incorrect bias, components way out of tolerance, etc...
Troy
Microchip_Usa said:
Despite various poor sounding chips and implementations in earlier years, integrating an amp onto a single chip has a logical appeal from a fidelity point of view.
Consider how advantageous it is to have the various transistors, resistors etc. implemented onto one substrate in a very controlled silicon fab and packaging process. The control and repeatability of the various components is greatly increased over an implementation with discrete components from different manufacturers, made at different times and using PC boards with different topologies.
The discrete vs. chip Amp. vs. tube amp discussions will probably go on for at least our lifetimes with new variants improving the wonderful experiences that each can provide. People seem to like the sound of recent chip amps and so it has earned a place in "raising the bar" on accessible good sound.
Microchip_Usa said:
I was quite skeptical with the LM3875 and similar chip amps. It took me quite a while before I took the amplifier serious.
Gainclone is not a trade name, but is based on the Gaincard, which wasn't the first chip amp product, but the first minimal, high priced amplifier using the LM3875:
http://www.sakurasystems.com/products/47amp.html
As for the $2-3 resistors, it is up to you... I now have 3 different kits that I will start taking orders for in the next week or so:
-Basic kit for $35 with normal metal film resistors
-Premium kit for $65 with exotic resistors
-UltraPremium for $115 with the addition of BlackGate 1000uF STD caps (cost $12.50 each in quantity)
This provides a few options for trying out a chip amp. I wouldn't be putting these kits together if I didn't think that it was a good amplifier. I would recommend keeping an open mind, and giving it a try. You don't even need to buy the kit, if you can pick up the $5 chip, and build it out of spare parts/cheap resistors. It is simple enough to wire point-to-point.
--
Brian
Thanks for all the information.
I can also thank you for being civil most “New wave” amp guys get riled up easy and just flame away nice to so that’s not going on here.
I have indeed heard this chip set I don’t believe it to be of such quality as to be in a Home amplifier But, that’s just my personal experience in audio design speaking.
I’m not with out I.C’s in some amps but there Op-Amps Or Power Op-amp types by BB or Apex Or Tripath.
Nothing is simpler that 4 transistors and 2 Mosfets and getting 65 watts into 8 ohms. Total cost maybe $7.00
I can also thank you for being civil most “New wave” amp guys get riled up easy and just flame away nice to so that’s not going on here.
I have indeed heard this chip set I don’t believe it to be of such quality as to be in a Home amplifier But, that’s just my personal experience in audio design speaking.
I’m not with out I.C’s in some amps but there Op-Amps Or Power Op-amp types by BB or Apex Or Tripath.
Nothing is simpler that 4 transistors and 2 Mosfets and getting 65 watts into 8 ohms. Total cost maybe $7.00
rabstg said:
I assure you that I have tried most if not all of the chip amps out since 1985 all the way back to the STK stuff.
Rest assured anyone paying $6.000 for this is off there rocker, For that matter a 1000Uf cap @ $150.00 is also insane.
Don’t bother to regale me with a power supplies sounding good I’m not buying it Black caps or not.
Besides Tripath there is not 1 chip amp I would use in a home application again just my personal say so.
If you guys like the amp I applaud your sprit to explore new devices and respect your right to spend as you see fit.
I understand completely.
Remember that I said "if" it sounds good it will be placed aside(nothing I've heard so far tops) my JRDG Model 2.
If it bites, it will be a PC amp for crap-fi internet streams and MP3 playback. Holly cow I wonder how many people I just ****ed off with that statement.
.
In reality, I would rather listen to something that sounds crappy and hear others creativity(music) than sit in silence.
Troy
Remember that I said "if" it sounds good it will be placed aside(nothing I've heard so far tops) my JRDG Model 2.
If it bites, it will be a PC amp for crap-fi internet streams and MP3 playback. Holly cow I wonder how many people I just ****ed off with that statement.
. In reality, I would rather listen to something that sounds crappy and hear others creativity(music) than sit in silence.
Troy
Another kit arrived / small world
Hi Brian,
My kit arrived safe and sound last week. Now it's just a matter of finishing up my speaker project and freeing up some time to work on the gainclone. As an aside, over the weekend my finance and I went to breakfast with an old college friend of hers, his girlfriend Beth, and Beth's sisters. One sister was visiting Portland from Sonoma, and her boyfriend, who was there as well, turns out to not only frequent the 'diyaudio' forum but also to have ordered and constructed your gaincard pcb kit. Small world I guess.
Thanks for the kit!
Scott.
Hi Brian,
My kit arrived safe and sound last week. Now it's just a matter of finishing up my speaker project and freeing up some time to work on the gainclone. As an aside, over the weekend my finance and I went to breakfast with an old college friend of hers, his girlfriend Beth, and Beth's sisters. One sister was visiting Portland from Sonoma, and her boyfriend, who was there as well, turns out to not only frequent the 'diyaudio' forum but also to have ordered and constructed your gaincard pcb kit. Small world I guess.
Thanks for the kit!
Scott.
BrianGT said:
Hi,
Any more of these board left? I'd like to mess around with about a dozen.
Thanks, Nick
Ok so it has been a week.....
I built my first Gainclone using Brian's boards a week ago. First I want to thank Brian and Peter for all that they have done for the group. I didn't get into the chassis group buy, was too late but what a fantastic chassis it has turned out to be!
If I had to come up with one and only one word for the gainclone it would be EFFORTLESS. That is the only way I can explain this amp. I could go on and say wall of sound or amazing soundstage or countless other descriptions. Effortless for me says it all
I also give kudos to Brian for his very detailed instructions for the lay person. I am an Avionics Tech. and solder and troubleshoot on a daily basis. but Brian basically holds your hand and walks you thru the process.
I was trying to remember how I first heard about the Gainclone, I think it was someone over at the Bottlehead forum talking about it and how it sounded with their Foreplay, I don't know just am glad that I did!
Enjoy the music
Jerry
I built my first Gainclone using Brian's boards a week ago. First I want to thank Brian and Peter for all that they have done for the group. I didn't get into the chassis group buy, was too late but what a fantastic chassis it has turned out to be!
If I had to come up with one and only one word for the gainclone it would be EFFORTLESS. That is the only way I can explain this amp. I could go on and say wall of sound or amazing soundstage or countless other descriptions. Effortless for me says it all
I also give kudos to Brian for his very detailed instructions for the lay person. I am an Avionics Tech. and solder and troubleshoot on a daily basis. but Brian basically holds your hand and walks you thru the process.
I was trying to remember how I first heard about the Gainclone, I think it was someone over at the Bottlehead forum talking about it and how it sounded with their Foreplay, I don't know just am glad that I did!
Enjoy the music
Jerry
What revisions to the new LM3875 boards?
Hi Brian,
You mentioned in the LM4780 thread that you were revising the LM3875 boards for the new batch.
Just curious what the changes are.
Thanks,
KT
Hi Brian,
You mentioned in the LM4780 thread that you were revising the LM3875 boards for the new batch.
Just curious what the changes are.
Thanks,
KT
Re: What revisions to the new LM3875 boards?
I added placement on the pcb for a Zobel network, placement for the feedback resistor on the pcb, and added another rectifier board, so that you don't need to buy 2 pcb sets for monoblocks. There are a few small changes with the running of the traces and misc. I wil be posting a screenshot of it soon, preparing to start taking orders.
For others: As for the last batch of orders, I shipped the US ones out on Tuesday, and the international ones went out this morning (had to pick up more customs forms before mailing out).
I will post farther details on the new order later today. I will also start taking orders this evening or tomorrow, so that I can order the boards early next week.
--
Brian
KT said:
I added placement on the pcb for a Zobel network, placement for the feedback resistor on the pcb, and added another rectifier board, so that you don't need to buy 2 pcb sets for monoblocks. There are a few small changes with the running of the traces and misc. I wil be posting a screenshot of it soon, preparing to start taking orders.
For others: As for the last batch of orders, I shipped the US ones out on Tuesday, and the international ones went out this morning (had to pick up more customs forms before mailing out).
I will post farther details on the new order later today. I will also start taking orders this evening or tomorrow, so that I can order the boards early next week.
--
Brian
Kit received
Hi Brian:
I received the kit I ordered.Thanks for quick delivery.I guess I got in just in time .
Assembly was straight forward and easy I'm now just waiting for torroids and will hopefully be able to hear them soon.
I plan on upgrading to premium parts after initial listening.
I am on the wiki for the NI LM4780 group buy and will be making a set of four channel monoblocks probably a double stacked version of Peters Patek.
Is there any reason to use the 2w rikens as apposed to the 1w and was wondering if anyone has tried AN tantalum resistors for GC? I know they are verry expensive but they made quite a difference as up grades in my AN M2 pre line stage.
Regards.
Craig
Hi Brian:
I received the kit I ordered.Thanks for quick delivery.I guess I got in just in time .
Assembly was straight forward and easy I'm now just waiting for torroids and will hopefully be able to hear them soon.
I plan on upgrading to premium parts after initial listening.
I am on the wiki for the NI LM4780 group buy and will be making a set of four channel monoblocks probably a double stacked version of Peters Patek.
Is there any reason to use the 2w rikens as apposed to the 1w and was wondering if anyone has tried AN tantalum resistors for GC? I know they are verry expensive but they made quite a difference as up grades in my AN M2 pre line stage.
Regards.
Craig
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