Edited version of real letter:
Oh Great and Mighty Pass,
I see the "passlabs.com" with nice looking amps (but too expensive for me)
and then there is the passdiy scene. so the questions come... are the diy
amps here comparable to the passlabs amps? how come they are so
expensive ($5000+)? (i don't have an infinite hifi budget 😉)
Since i just want nice music quality for the money, what should i do? How
does a diy amp compare to commercial amps when comparing quality?
The reply:
Of course we make big powerful exotic amplifiers for the commercial
market, and you will note that they aren't even the most expensive stuff
you can buy - reasonably priced in the market we address.
Nevertheless, I enjoy putting DIY stuff out there, and while it is also
exotic (and sounds good) it is generally limited in power and complexity.
For four reasons:
I like simple little amplifiers.
I have designs which otherwise will not see the light of day, and like any
artist I want an audience.
I don't want to compete with myself too much.
I don't want to support anything too complicated for DIY or it will
end up being too much work for the Great Pass.
Now go forth, pick a design, and populate the earth with little amplifiers.
😎
Oh Great and Mighty Pass,
I see the "passlabs.com" with nice looking amps (but too expensive for me)
and then there is the passdiy scene. so the questions come... are the diy
amps here comparable to the passlabs amps? how come they are so
expensive ($5000+)? (i don't have an infinite hifi budget 😉)
Since i just want nice music quality for the money, what should i do? How
does a diy amp compare to commercial amps when comparing quality?
The reply:
Of course we make big powerful exotic amplifiers for the commercial
market, and you will note that they aren't even the most expensive stuff
you can buy - reasonably priced in the market we address.
Nevertheless, I enjoy putting DIY stuff out there, and while it is also
exotic (and sounds good) it is generally limited in power and complexity.
For four reasons:
I like simple little amplifiers.
I have designs which otherwise will not see the light of day, and like any
artist I want an audience.
I don't want to compete with myself too much.
I don't want to support anything too complicated for DIY or it will
end up being too much work for the Great Pass.
Now go forth, pick a design, and populate the earth with little amplifiers.
😎
I don't want to compete with myself too much.
😎
Dear Mr. Pass with all respect, I do not agree. the most important thing in life is.. to compete with.. ourselves. be it a professional activity or sport activity- to compete with ourselves(and defeat ourselves in that mannier) is the most valuable and efective way to progress..
so we will wait..

Let us hear it for Mr. Pass. While a tube fan myself, I have greatly respected Mr. Pass's expertise and designs since his Threshold days. I also think he is both daring and wise-a rare combination. Regards, Dr. John Dozier
Dear Mr. Pass with all respect, I do not agree. the most important thing in life is.. to compete with.. ourselves. be it a professional activity or sport activity- to compete with ourselves(and defeat ourselves in that mannier) is the most valuable and efective way to progress..
so we will wait..😀
My read on that comment by NP - juzzzzz being a bit sarcastic about himself. The generous folks that fork over much $$$$$ for his consumer stuff usually are not into DIY type hobbies. If they are into DIY they most likely already own the real stuff and are playing around with DIY for the enjoyment of it.
OTOH - I'm usually wrong about most things - so consider the source.🙄
(and Terry and ZM and maaaaaany others - I can hear you snickering from here!!!!) 😛
Dear Mr. Pass with all respect, I do not agree. the most important thing in life is.. to compete with.. ourselves.
Of course I meant that I do not wish to put my wallet on a diet.
😎
It would seem that over here in the DIY world, Nelson is trying to both teach and leak helpful info about bigger boys at the same time. I believe there is enough out here right now to make a very respectable amp, by any standards.
My read on that comment by NP - juzzzzz being a bit sarcastic about himself. The generous folks that fork over much $$$$$ for his consumer stuff usually are not into DIY type hobbies. If they are into DIY they most likely already own the real stuff and are playing around with DIY for the enjoyment of it.
OTOH - I'm usually wrong about most things - so consider the source.🙄
(and Terry and ZM and maaaaaany others - I can hear you snickering from here!!!!) 😛
In Audio there's no room for humor, so wipe that smile off your face Mister!
Now, there once was these two Norwegians, Swen and Ole...oops!
😱
Best Regards,
Terry
if we could just find a GOOD(cheap) source for heat sinks and cases we all don't have metal working and machine shop privileges... to house our big Manly Sonder Klass A amps in.
Just sayin', E
Just sayin', E
Now, there once was these two Norwegians, Swen and Ole...oops!
😱
Swen is usually swedish, and Ole being norwegian -- makes an interesting combo for the last couple of centuries....😛
That was an interesting letter to Nelson, and takes me back a decade to my humble entry into the world of DIY amplifiers. I'm so thankful to Nelson for taking the time to create simple projects that instruct and satisfy simultaneously. I also want to thank Nelson for suggesting I learn to use a circuit simulator. That single suggestion has had a greater impact on my DIY life than anything else -- of course, a simulator isn't going to teach me the basics as well as Nelson's Zen tutorials.
I will never forget Nelson. 🙂
I will never forget Nelson. 🙂
The problem with simulators is spice models. So many of the components we use don't have them, and many including myself, don't know how to come up with them.
I think this is where you will find Bob Cordell helpful. His book gives a decent
hand-holding account of firing up LT-Spice and his web site has some models
that are of interest to audio.
Getting used to Spice can be a real effort. Treat is as another DIY effort.
😎
hand-holding account of firing up LT-Spice and his web site has some models
that are of interest to audio.
Getting used to Spice can be a real effort. Treat is as another DIY effort.
😎
Thanks for the advice. I will eventually have to invest in his book. It is difficult to buy the book because i can get components for an amp for that price. 😀 I currently prefer making smoke. It seems to hone your concentration and thinking. If errors are costly, you tend to make less of them.
FW amps have been reviewed next to mega-buck stuff and hold up well. If 25 watts is enough then what more do you need?
Seems like yesterday.
I wonder how many amps have been built in that time.
naah ........
to quote one clever guy :
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😀
Psychanalysticly saying, the guy in the sofa can not deal with himself as he is listening to and not talking !😀
... and as it's about little amps and diy : no authority in a chair, nore remote to switch off the music... 😎 ! It's a good deal 🙂
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