Moving up the chipamp ladder

[vodka]

Well, earlier this month I built myself a stereo LM3886 amp, using apex's PCB, rod eliott's P97 preamp schematic to make my own PCB, PSU and regulated PSU for the preamp, all in one 20x10cm pcb, along with a 240va 24+24v transformer. It's really amazing what the 3886 can do... it sounds really good. Much better than a 30 year old old kenwood KA-300B I fixed and recapped, by a mile. Or more..

I was thinking of making a revision of that all integrated pcb and thought, why not improve the amps. I've read a few things and lots of praising about the myrefc, which seems feasible in a single layer PCB and I also came across bob cordell's super gain clone. I checked the circuit mentioned in that book and seems simpler to build than the myref. I love the DIY way and buying boards is not an option, I want to craft everything with my hands. It's much more rewarding, I suppose.


To you, chipamp gurus, I ask. Which of these two is the most worthy of building? I don't have super speakers, but they get the job done after some little tweaks... who knows, I may get something better in the future and improving the amplification behind them can't hurt.


Thank you in advance.

 

[gootee]

Use two-sided pcbs, with ground plane. Two-sided are easy to make at home.

 

[jackinnj]

... and I also came across bob cordell's super gain clone. I checked the circuit mentioned in that book and seems simpler to build than the myref. I love the DIY way and buying boards is not an option, I want to craft everything with my hands. It's much more rewarding, I suppose.

Bob demo'd the Super GC at the NJ Audio Society a couple years back -- with a set of Thors another fellow had modified. It sounded very nice indeed.

 

[troystg]

The My_Ref is not a standard GC.. However for an amp based on the LM3886 I don't think it can be beat.

If you are enjoying the DIY aspect then build simple to elaborate and give away the old to hook others on DIY as you make bigger and better.