Another shot of inside. Very clean build.
@Fast14riot - for the sake of practice and getting your hands dirty with electronics, maybe an inexpensive kit from AliExpress or Ebay might be the way to start out. I searched for "tone board diy kit" on AliExpress and this suggested a couple of very basic options. They are not going to compete with the doug self preamp or any of the designs on this forum, but these only cost a few dollars for the boards and all the components, you'll need a power supply and a case of course too and these will cost a multiple of the kit price. These case and PSU may be re-usable with other boards. I built a few Ali Kits for practice and they worked ok for the price paid. You'll probably enjoy testing it out and will learn a bit about how to avoid ground loops and all that too! Then move on to a better design. Just a thought!
Jeff.
Jeff.
If looking for a tube preamp. I am happy with mine (I built 2).
Four inputs and two out. Remote volume/balance. Second unit has two different B+ options.
Easy to build, well I had difficulty lining up the attenuators with the holes I drilled in the faceplate.
Sorry for thread jacking if you wanted only solid state suggestions.
Four inputs and two out. Remote volume/balance. Second unit has two different B+ options.
Easy to build, well I had difficulty lining up the attenuators with the holes I drilled in the faceplate.
Sorry for thread jacking if you wanted only solid state suggestions.
Attachments
I have looked at many of those but just wasn't sure of the quality. I may do that. I have done some minor repairs on factory stuff, can solder well and use a DMM, but don't have an o-scope/tone generator yet. Just looking to get a better working knowledge to understand designs.
I recently built an ACP+ into a simple chassis, and am happy to report that it's my most listened to preamp since. It sounds absolutely fantastic. No tone controls, but does have a headphone jack which is nice.
https://diyaudiostore.com/products/acp-amp-camp-pre-amp
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/amp-camp-pre-headphone-amp-acp.344836/
I also added the P089ZB power supply filter which I wholeheartedly recommend. https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/power-supply-kits/products/smps-dc-filter-p089zb-kit
https://diyaudiostore.com/products/acp-amp-camp-pre-amp
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/amp-camp-pre-headphone-amp-acp.344836/
I also added the P089ZB power supply filter which I wholeheartedly recommend. https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/power-supply-kits/products/smps-dc-filter-p089zb-kit
Only concern i have is when I use my current headphone amp with my main amp and at 6db I loose a lot of head room, but when switched to 18db I loose all the bass and get the headroom back. My speakers aren't terribly efficient, either. So im unsure if thats due to the design of my headphone amp being opamp or just how it goes.
Its a Schiit Magni 3 heresy. Amp is an Aleph 30 into EPI 100 speakers (roughly 87db sensitivity)
That should work nicely.
Interesting that you perceive a difference with the gain settings, in theory the only difference would be volume knob position.
I think ACP+ will work very well in your situation, you’ll have more than enough gain.
Interesting that you perceive a difference with the gain settings, in theory the only difference would be volume knob position.
I think ACP+ will work very well in your situation, you’ll have more than enough gain.
Someone on the forum built a Sony v-fet preamp (not amp). I have been looking for that build trying to find it again and I can't seem to find it for the life of me.
Its an incredibly noticeable difference, my not interested in audio teenage kids notice it, too.
Yeah, it really surprised me too! Its great as a headphone amp, and it now has a parking spot on my computer desk with my vintage Pioneer still working as preamp to the Aleph. Being a first generation SS design, it really has a nice warm, musical sound as they were trying to replicate tube sound! But, I know that at 55 years old my Pioneer is in need of service sooner than later, so thats my interest in getting a new preamp.
That's because you're in the wrong forum. Try Analogue Line Level.
If you can find a stereo or even mono preamp that isn't Class A it would be astonishing (op-amps excluded).
Well, as stated at the beginning of this, I'm a relative noob. Didn't realize that preamps were in the analog line level section, I just knew I liked solid state. My request for class-A was specifically in relation to opamps, as I have one now and really don't like the sound.