When I find a new hobby or activity that interests me, I tend to dive in deep. My interest in tube electronics is relatively new, just a couple of years, but I've done some successful projects (and some failed ones!) And I've already got a long list of projects that I want to do.
Some are simple and straightforward, some are things that will stretch and grow both my patience and abilities.
Some examples - there are a bunch more, too. Some of these have already had preliminary design work or component purchases.
All told, I've got projects that could eat up the next several years. And in the meantime, I would surely come up with even more.
Does anyone else suffer from this "eyes bigger than your tummy" problem? How do you deal with it?
Some are simple and straightforward, some are things that will stretch and grow both my patience and abilities.
Some examples - there are a bunch more, too. Some of these have already had preliminary design work or component purchases.
- Build a Marshall 18W from scratch
- Convert a Bogen CHB35A to something close to an AB763 Fender
- Scratch design of a 6DY7-based stereo
- Pair of 80W monoblocks based on the 6883 or 6159
- Rebuild an HP rackmount VTVM
- Add reverb to my Bassman
All told, I've got projects that could eat up the next several years. And in the meantime, I would surely come up with even more.
Does anyone else suffer from this "eyes bigger than your tummy" problem? How do you deal with it?
Find out which area of sound reproduction matters the most and tackle that. Luckily for you, others have found that out already, speakers and room acoustics. Spend the available time and money on those if you want good sound quality. The rest are negligible in terms of money spent and sound quality gained. Why? Because the rest prior to speaker terminals are already matured technology and high quality performance is achieved even at entry level components in digital audio.
I'd tend to agree with Evenharmonics.
The fun part is, even the speakers / room is a compromise between listening styles, which of course are pre-programmed by whoever created the recording. Are all the performers in your listening space, as if they're giving you a personal audition? Or, are you there; the illusion being you're within whatever venue the recording was made in?
It's like you need two spaces for listening - and where you listen depends on what you're listening to. That'll take a few years to put together and get just right. For me, not in this lifetime...unless it's simply take everything and set it up outside. That wouldnt be very neighborly and impractical on a casual listening, continuous availability basis.
The fun part is, even the speakers / room is a compromise between listening styles, which of course are pre-programmed by whoever created the recording. Are all the performers in your listening space, as if they're giving you a personal audition? Or, are you there; the illusion being you're within whatever venue the recording was made in?
It's like you need two spaces for listening - and where you listen depends on what you're listening to. That'll take a few years to put together and get just right. For me, not in this lifetime...unless it's simply take everything and set it up outside. That wouldnt be very neighborly and impractical on a casual listening, continuous availability basis.
Deafen, you and I are definitely alike. My wife will tell you I always have at least one project going. Just recently I realized I was working on five major projects at the same time:
My projects usually end up with software, firmware, electronics and even enclosure design - and some reverse engineering in some cases. Scope creep is definitely something I suffer from!
I have more on the horizon too:
No doubt I'll come up with more, as I always do.
So, how do I prioritize? My actual job is basically to prioritize what others work on, so you'd think this would come easy... but of course when it's stuff you want to work on yourself, that never happens (well, not for me).
Some projects might have timelines, like my Bose project. That's for my three year old boy as a gift, so needs to be done in time. Some just can't be rushed, like my Hypnic project. I also time-share my projects. Sometimes I'm waiting for parts on one project, so I'll switch to another. Things like soldering can be done on conference calls (thanks Zoom!) so sometimes the project I work on is determined by what I can actually do. Most of my spare time is at night as I require little sleep. But my family don't appreciate it when I test amplifiers at 1am, so there are limits 🙂
Really, I guess pick the projects that are highest priority or seem like the most fun. I don't need the RIAA or balanced turntable now, so they're on the back burner. The Bose project has a deadline (and it's really good fun).
- Passive modular preamplifier (now complete)
- Digital source, which has *many* subcomponents (hardware is complete, still working on the software)
- Hypnic Power Manager for Single Board Components (now complete)
- Bose "Upferb" project (I'm ripping the guts out of an old AWR-1 radio and replacing it all). This project has turned out to be much more complex than I first thought.
- A small PBX (Personal Branch Exchange) to run five POE-powered phones at home, all built into a small 6-port Ethernet switch
My projects usually end up with software, firmware, electronics and even enclosure design - and some reverse engineering in some cases. Scope creep is definitely something I suffer from!
I have more on the horizon too:
- Balanced RIAA stage
- Convert my Pro-ject turntable to balanced output
- Build a pair of monoblocks for my stereo build
No doubt I'll come up with more, as I always do.
So, how do I prioritize? My actual job is basically to prioritize what others work on, so you'd think this would come easy... but of course when it's stuff you want to work on yourself, that never happens (well, not for me).
Some projects might have timelines, like my Bose project. That's for my three year old boy as a gift, so needs to be done in time. Some just can't be rushed, like my Hypnic project. I also time-share my projects. Sometimes I'm waiting for parts on one project, so I'll switch to another. Things like soldering can be done on conference calls (thanks Zoom!) so sometimes the project I work on is determined by what I can actually do. Most of my spare time is at night as I require little sleep. But my family don't appreciate it when I test amplifiers at 1am, so there are limits 🙂
Really, I guess pick the projects that are highest priority or seem like the most fun. I don't need the RIAA or balanced turntable now, so they're on the back burner. The Bose project has a deadline (and it's really good fun).
Depends on scope as small jobs like cable building come and go. For the second system I am assembling its a matter of procuring parts and starting. As one is well under way I get an eye for the second and third and begin to acquire parts, brainstorm construction ideas and plan of attack. As one finishes I am usually in a position to dig deep into the next.
My past two years have been like this:
Knew I wanted new speakers from a friend who builds them. Arranged a barter so I build him an F5 in trade for monitors. Completed Jan. '20.
Decided I want to try an Aleph J for this new setup. Acquired parts Jan-Apr and completed amp in Dec'20.
In June 2020 I come to terms I want a DHT preamplifier. Goal is to finish pre and then modify Aleph J into F4 so tube pre drives it. Because of parts sourced worldwide I am now close to completion with goal being end of summer.
So always something in the pipe with a lot of research to carefully consider what the next move is.
As it stands I'm an amp and preamp guy. I am debating whether I buy or build a DAC like the dddac or something from Soekris modules. Patiently waiting on the Wolverine amp or for Papa to drop a sick follower amp based on high power SIT.
My past two years have been like this:
Knew I wanted new speakers from a friend who builds them. Arranged a barter so I build him an F5 in trade for monitors. Completed Jan. '20.
Decided I want to try an Aleph J for this new setup. Acquired parts Jan-Apr and completed amp in Dec'20.
In June 2020 I come to terms I want a DHT preamplifier. Goal is to finish pre and then modify Aleph J into F4 so tube pre drives it. Because of parts sourced worldwide I am now close to completion with goal being end of summer.
So always something in the pipe with a lot of research to carefully consider what the next move is.
As it stands I'm an amp and preamp guy. I am debating whether I buy or build a DAC like the dddac or something from Soekris modules. Patiently waiting on the Wolverine amp or for Papa to drop a sick follower amp based on high power SIT.