Hello All!
Please forgive me if this question has been asked before, I've done a search and not found exactly what I'm looking for so here goes! Has anyone had any experience or good success with some of the Pass kits that are being sold on EBay? Some are the boards alone, some have the boards and components, and some completely assembled. I've seen Aleph3 and F4/5 kits for sale and am wondering if they are any good? It would save some time sourcing out all of the components so I can get to a build quicker. I've had a need to tinker and build something for a while now, and I do realize that you get what you pay for. I've also considered just starting off with the AmpCamp full kit.
Thanks In Advance!
Please forgive me if this question has been asked before, I've done a search and not found exactly what I'm looking for so here goes! Has anyone had any experience or good success with some of the Pass kits that are being sold on EBay? Some are the boards alone, some have the boards and components, and some completely assembled. I've seen Aleph3 and F4/5 kits for sale and am wondering if they are any good? It would save some time sourcing out all of the components so I can get to a build quicker. I've had a need to tinker and build something for a while now, and I do realize that you get what you pay for. I've also considered just starting off with the AmpCamp full kit.
Thanks In Advance!
You can find all you need here at Diyaudio, and you support the site you're asking the question on. Why take the chance on fake semi's and support rip off merchants on eBay?
Hi Aspringv,
You're absolutely right. My question hopefully did not offend any of the great members that contribute to this site. I've read through hundreds of posts on various topics and project builds and the community of help on this site is amazing. An amplifier project/build seems a little intimidating to me and would be my first technically challenging build. Again, it was more the sourcing of the parts to get me started on a first build that was the motivation for the original post. You've indicated that those components are obviously not trustworthy and that is apprectiated. I've been on the DIY store page and have seen the parts listings for many of the printed circuit boards and just got a little nervous.
You're absolutely right. My question hopefully did not offend any of the great members that contribute to this site. I've read through hundreds of posts on various topics and project builds and the community of help on this site is amazing. An amplifier project/build seems a little intimidating to me and would be my first technically challenging build. Again, it was more the sourcing of the parts to get me started on a first build that was the motivation for the original post. You've indicated that those components are obviously not trustworthy and that is apprectiated. I've been on the DIY store page and have seen the parts listings for many of the printed circuit boards and just got a little nervous.
Hi JSA,
I certainly appreciate your apprehension about the parts list but it actually isn't
too bad. Aspringv is absolute right about the ebay parts being generally
untrustworthy, especially if you're talking about the discontinued jfets.
As this point, I suggest that you consider which amp might be more appropriate
for your system and not worry about the ordering of parts. When it comes
time to order parts, if you get stuck, just ask and I"m sure members will help.
I imagine the ACA full kit is quite fun to build. If it's appropriate for
your speakers then that would be a nice choice.
Cheers,
Dennis
I certainly appreciate your apprehension about the parts list but it actually isn't
too bad. Aspringv is absolute right about the ebay parts being generally
untrustworthy, especially if you're talking about the discontinued jfets.
As this point, I suggest that you consider which amp might be more appropriate
for your system and not worry about the ordering of parts. When it comes
time to order parts, if you get stuck, just ask and I"m sure members will help.
I imagine the ACA full kit is quite fun to build. If it's appropriate for
your speakers then that would be a nice choice.
Cheers,
Dennis
No offence taken here - my first build was a clone f5 purchased off ebay. I know better now! :dunce: I had a bit of fun playing detective on fake parts off ebay, and my hit rate is about 50% That said my goal was learning about jfets, so the dud's were not really a concern to me (and will end up being current sources or similar)
Happy to help if you want advice on a build - probably best to think about the power you need and the heat you're happy to manage in a build and go from there. I have built an ACA (as something fun to do with my significant other! She is still a bit proud of that) and it's a good project.
Oh, and (rare) semi's are best bought here from the store or from members selling them here at diy.
Happy to help if you want advice on a build - probably best to think about the power you need and the heat you're happy to manage in a build and go from there. I have built an ACA (as something fun to do with my significant other! She is still a bit proud of that) and it's a good project.
Oh, and (rare) semi's are best bought here from the store or from members selling them here at diy.
Decide which amp to build (and just to get the ball rolling, how about the Aleph J...)
Buy the appropriate Deluxe chassis (a 4U for everything except an F5T, which needs a 5U) The amp PCBs, Jfets, PSU board, etc...
After that it's pretty easy, just ordering parts and putting them all together. Shoot me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction for the various parts. Mouser has everything, but sometimes it's a mystery what they call it. 😀
Buy the appropriate Deluxe chassis (a 4U for everything except an F5T, which needs a 5U) The amp PCBs, Jfets, PSU board, etc...
After that it's pretty easy, just ordering parts and putting them all together. Shoot me a PM and I'll point you in the right direction for the various parts. Mouser has everything, but sometimes it's a mystery what they call it. 😀
maybe DIY Audio store should have a complete parts kit for the "beginner" amps, like the F5 and Aleph J. That would make it easier for the beginners not to go for cheap E-bay rip off kits with fake parts.
That's an interesting suggestion. The store already carries transistor kits and
I wonder how much of an effort it will be to develop full kits. (Certainly
the F5 parts count is particularly low.)
In the meantime, can something like public projects/carts on mouser
(or digikey?) be created, which contains the rest of the parts not covered by
the diyaudio store PCB and transistor kits. Members should then be able to import
those projects in their own mouser/digikey shopping carts.
Thanks,
Dennis
I wonder how much of an effort it will be to develop full kits. (Certainly
the F5 parts count is particularly low.)
In the meantime, can something like public projects/carts on mouser
(or digikey?) be created, which contains the rest of the parts not covered by
the diyaudio store PCB and transistor kits. Members should then be able to import
those projects in their own mouser/digikey shopping carts.
Thanks,
Dennis
I believe most boards offered have a BOM and most also have options for transistors at the store. Click on transistors at the store. The V-fet build does have an optional kit with everything you need to complete the amp other than the J-fets which the store sells as matched pairs.
Maybe one day the store will offer a complete all in one kit including chassis but you must remember they would have to believe enough of them will sell to make some kind of profit for the effort involved.
Maybe one day the store will offer a complete all in one kit including chassis but you must remember they would have to believe enough of them will sell to make some kind of profit for the effort involved.
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You have to remember that the scariest part of the build for a beginner is the parts order.
There is a jungle of parts out there. Lots of parts seems to be the same to an untrained eye.
That is often the reason that beginners go for E-bay kits instead. And that will definitely not make DIY Audio any money 🙂
They did it for the ACA amp. why not F5 and Aleph J also?
There is a jungle of parts out there. Lots of parts seems to be the same to an untrained eye.
That is often the reason that beginners go for E-bay kits instead. And that will definitely not make DIY Audio any money 🙂
They did it for the ACA amp. why not F5 and Aleph J also?
I suspect the logistics of keeping multiple kits can potentially be problematic.
Let's face it, the store probably doesn't have very high volume.
Ordering parts can definitely be a bit overwhelming. I personally have a lot
of trim pots that point he wrong way with the boards we have. 🙂
I still think there is some utility in public project/BOMs on mouser or digikey
where people can easily click and copy to their cart. Not quite one-stop shopping,
(since the other parts will come from the electronic distributor) but hopefully can
still take some of the guess work out for inexperienced builders.
In fact this is something members can do, without the store being involved.
Perhaps I can create a couple based on projects I've built and see if anyone
finds it useful.
Dennis
Let's face it, the store probably doesn't have very high volume.
Ordering parts can definitely be a bit overwhelming. I personally have a lot
of trim pots that point he wrong way with the boards we have. 🙂
I still think there is some utility in public project/BOMs on mouser or digikey
where people can easily click and copy to their cart. Not quite one-stop shopping,
(since the other parts will come from the electronic distributor) but hopefully can
still take some of the guess work out for inexperienced builders.
In fact this is something members can do, without the store being involved.
Perhaps I can create a couple based on projects I've built and see if anyone
finds it useful.
Dennis
One problem is where do you pitch the BOM?
There will always be some that want to save pennies and low spec everything.
Then also the over spec, Bootique buyer.
There will always be some that want to save pennies and low spec everything.
Then also the over spec, Bootique buyer.
I have a love/hate relationship with BOMs. They have a tendency to go stale pretty quickly as part numbers change over time. The trick is to show WHY a particular component is chosen, (usually for fit on the PCB) and go from there. However - I'm all for people helping out in any way when it comes to BOM.
Yes, ordering parts is absolutely the biggest pain of these projects.
Full kits probably won't happen, because the cost of shipping and packaging rapidly spirals into the stratosphere... Particularly as things get heavier.
Individual items need to be shipped to whomever will make the kits,
the kits must be made,
the kits must be individually packaged in a way that the fulfillment company can't screw anything up and will survive the shipping process,
those packages must be then shipped to the fulfillment company,
and finally the kits hipped off to the end user.
Shipping gets really expensive, as it has to move at least 3 times.
But, all that said, there has been discussions about parts kits for certain amps.
Yes, ordering parts is absolutely the biggest pain of these projects.
Full kits probably won't happen, because the cost of shipping and packaging rapidly spirals into the stratosphere... Particularly as things get heavier.
Individual items need to be shipped to whomever will make the kits,
the kits must be made,
the kits must be individually packaged in a way that the fulfillment company can't screw anything up and will survive the shipping process,
those packages must be then shipped to the fulfillment company,
and finally the kits hipped off to the end user.
Shipping gets really expensive, as it has to move at least 3 times.
But, all that said, there has been discussions about parts kits for certain amps.
So I've decided to go ahead with the great resources and advice (thanks 6L6) available on this site and begin sourcing out components for an Aleph J build! I've ordered the amp boards and JFets from the DIY Store, and am compiling my list of items to order from Mouser. I'd like to know if anyone has a source(s) or web store for the 300va toroidal transformer in Canada, more specifically if possible in the Toronto or area. I've done a google search and found a couple of places but would like input on where some of our members have sources parts like this out.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Having links to a canned Mouser or Digikey (or whomever) BOM on the store pages would be a great help, even if they inevitably get stale from out of stock or EOL issues. I presume those suppliers still have that web site feature (shareable BOMs.)
I have a friend that would love to build a Pass amp, but the lack of a kit is a major roadblock. He'd be OK with a solid BOM. He wouldn't know where to begin picking the right 220uF cap (of which there are 4674 different kinds at Mouser right now). Even experienced people need to get the boards in hand 1st to see what the lead spacings are and such, making build times grow.
So I agree the logistics of a full kit are a bit much to ask for, but a good BOM is nearly as good. There's a lot of work involved in that of course.
I have a friend that would love to build a Pass amp, but the lack of a kit is a major roadblock. He'd be OK with a solid BOM. He wouldn't know where to begin picking the right 220uF cap (of which there are 4674 different kinds at Mouser right now). Even experienced people need to get the boards in hand 1st to see what the lead spacings are and such, making build times grow.
So I agree the logistics of a full kit are a bit much to ask for, but a good BOM is nearly as good. There's a lot of work involved in that of course.
Hi JSA,
Are you looking for a 300VA 2x18VAC transformer?
Two local places I can think of are Plitron (Plitron Manufacturing - Engineered to Perform Like No Others) and
Primrose (SumR) Primrose Audio - toroid power transformers for audio builders
Plitron I believe has a $250 min order. 🙁
Strange as it may sound, it's feasible to order from Antek in the US. Their transformers are very reasonably priced but shipping does eat into that.
Cheers,
Dennis
Are you looking for a 300VA 2x18VAC transformer?
Two local places I can think of are Plitron (Plitron Manufacturing - Engineered to Perform Like No Others) and
Primrose (SumR) Primrose Audio - toroid power transformers for audio builders
Plitron I believe has a $250 min order. 🙁
Strange as it may sound, it's feasible to order from Antek in the US. Their transformers are very reasonably priced but shipping does eat into that.
Cheers,
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
Yes that's exactly what I'm looking for. I did see the Plitron site and they are also around my areas of work so that's definitely an option. Thx!
Yes that's exactly what I'm looking for. I did see the Plitron site and they are also around my areas of work so that's definitely an option. Thx!
Lol, no they're on my list. Just budgeting and buying the supplies as I can. Going to be ordering my parts from Mouser soon. As for the transistors I believe the diy store says they're sold out, so it looks like I'll have to get them from Mouser as well. Maybe Santa will bring me the chassis for Christmas! 😬
I purchased 4 x ACA full kits for an active multi-way system. Love the looks of the Ferrari red chassis and of course the sound 🙂 I would also purchase an F5 or Aleph J if it was offered as a full or parts kit as well. For me, it is about the time saved/convenience.
I know shipping is costly and maintaining BOM's a pain, but anything to lower the barrier to get a parts kit or simplify the ordering process for parts would be welcome.
Cheers, Mitch
I know shipping is costly and maintaining BOM's a pain, but anything to lower the barrier to get a parts kit or simplify the ordering process for parts would be welcome.
Cheers, Mitch
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