Grey, you must be more 'in the know' that most of us. I'm certainlly interested in the XA.5 (and the X.5 for that matter) but rather assumed we couldn't discuss as these are shipping product. It is great if that is not the case.
Usually, Mr. Pass doesnt mind a bit of discussion. I think the XA was shipping from Pass Labs, when the AX board GP was done.Ian Macmillan said:
There was a little talk about the XA100.5 here, before GL didnt find it on "frequency" with his thread (and I think he was right about the noise!).
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1216084#post1216084
It would be more than interesting, to see something similar to the .5😉 The AX is a great amp, and I am sure if a working J-fet front-end was made, the AX would be a stunning amp🙂 Having followed some AX threads lately, with the attempt to implement J-fets, it seems it is not so easy a task, as it may seem.
Steen🙂
I think any update that had some advantages over the Aleph-X would be viable. Yes, there are the Steens and Cvillers that can whip out the latest and greatest before the solder is cold on your circuit, but there is also a large group working on mini's, A-75's, Zen 5's etc.
Happy birthday Aleph X.
JJ
First let me add my happy birthday greetings to Grey, this thread, and the Aleph-X project.
Second I would like to agree with Steen. There are lots of things that can be done to improve the Aleph-X. That's where tyhe DIY energy will have the greatest payoff.
If there is a 389/109 combo in the front end of the XA.5 then I don't think that that unit is a practical model for the AX 2.0.
The XA.5 series seems to be a fully class A version of the X.5 topology. Yes there is a whole new UGS module - the UGS5. And yes there is a new output device being used. I'm sure that the XA.5 has lots and lots of carefully thought out refinements. I'm also sure that it represents a major improvement in terms of sound. But I believe that the first sentence of this paragraph sums it up.
All that being said, the NP himself has promised an upgrade to the AX if no else steps forward. With the XA being replaced by the XA.5 perhaps he will reveal things that will allow us to make improvements in the AX amps we all have built.
Cheers,
Graeme
Second I would like to agree with Steen. There are lots of things that can be done to improve the Aleph-X. That's where tyhe DIY energy will have the greatest payoff.
If there is a 389/109 combo in the front end of the XA.5 then I don't think that that unit is a practical model for the AX 2.0.
The XA.5 series seems to be a fully class A version of the X.5 topology. Yes there is a whole new UGS module - the UGS5. And yes there is a new output device being used. I'm sure that the XA.5 has lots and lots of carefully thought out refinements. I'm also sure that it represents a major improvement in terms of sound. But I believe that the first sentence of this paragraph sums it up.
All that being said, the NP himself has promised an upgrade to the AX if no else steps forward. With the XA being replaced by the XA.5 perhaps he will reveal things that will allow us to make improvements in the AX amps we all have built.
Cheers,
Graeme
Ian Macmillan said:
For better or worse, this isn't so. I don't work for Nelson, nor am I his confidant. (And I'm certainly not him posting under a different name--a rather bizarre idea that gets floated from time to time. ) If I were a different sort of person, I might consider encouraging the myth, but when all is said and done I'm still just me--a fellow with a couple of ideas that annoy me in the wee hours of the night. The only way I can get any sleep is to write them down if the idea is a story, or build it if it's a circuit.
(Actually, the kids are the best ideas I ever had, but that's a different kind of not sleeping; a concept more quickly conceived, if less quickly brought to maturity. Logan says "Hi," by the way. He's waving at the screen.)
I've only ever spoken with Nelson once, though I e-mail him about things from time to time. Sometimes I hear him laughing out loud all the way from California if I've proposed something particularly foolish, though the answering e-mail is invariably polite.
As a general rule, I dream up something then Nelson says something, either in e-mail or online, that strikes a spark and I look at the idea in a different light. In that sense, there's some cross-pollination going on--pretty much one-way, I'm afraid--and I go on to build a circuit.
The Aleph-X was nothing more than a succession of fortuitous accidents. He did the work. I just played with the building blocks.
And the seagulls continue to circle overhead, uncaring...
Grey
Pass DIY Addict
Joined 2000
Paid Member
Wow, five years already?!? Happy Birthday to Grey's AX design (and many thanks to Nelson and everyone for their contributions!).
My Aleph-X amps are still incompletely populated boards, a heavy pile of transformers, a few sets of matched MOSFETs, and a few other random parts in a box. I do hope to complete them some day in the next year or two... Just need to find a spare few hundred dollars to get my hands on some appropriate heat sinks and the building will resume again...
After 5 years, I am still interest in finishing mine!
Eric
My Aleph-X amps are still incompletely populated boards, a heavy pile of transformers, a few sets of matched MOSFETs, and a few other random parts in a box. I do hope to complete them some day in the next year or two... Just need to find a spare few hundred dollars to get my hands on some appropriate heat sinks and the building will resume again...
After 5 years, I am still interest in finishing mine!
Eric
I agree, that the powers of the DIY community powers are best used to upgrade the Aleph-X and as you might know by now; I think the Aleph-X needs a J-fet frontend that works. What the 109/389 combo needs to work properly, I have no idea: current sinks? current mirrors? current sources? cascodes?? Something else? Impossible to second guess what Mr. P did.gl said:
Having been lucky/determined enough to build Zen's, stock Aleph's, Babbelfish, Aleph-X and some F amps (+ some more) and even listened to them all, I am sure the single most important upgrade for the Aleph-X is a frontend that gives you a couple more octaves and detail's in the topend. As far as I am concerned, the J-fets will give you just that.
The Babbelfish has the topend, the F4 has it too! Sweet, detailed and a soundstage, like you wouldnt beleive! Only the F4 has a bottom that comes close to the Aleph-X, but its being a beast to drive😉 So, as i have mentioned before: combine the Aleph-X with the Babelfish, and we have a winner.
Oh and Grey; say hello to Logan
Steen🙂
GRollins said:
Watch out for the wet bomblets... it might come with a fresh idea when it hits you on the head..🙂
The DIY AX is 5 years old! Nice! It still seems like the holy grail to me.
I've got a 6 foot tall heat sink that needs to be chopped up, just waiting to be part of the AX. Boards are done.
Too many projects!
Vince
I've got a 6 foot tall heat sink that needs to be chopped up, just waiting to be part of the AX. Boards are done.
Too many projects!
Vince
steenoe said:
Me too, you can imagine!
happy Birthday Aleph X. 5 years, how time flies...
I recall well, one night, reading this, now legendary words : " We'll pick up the story in the middle."
Thx for all Grey
manuel
I think I don't reveal a top secret when I tell you that already the normal XA frontend (without ".5") is a J109.
Thats right, Holger. What would be more interesting is how that dual fet was implemented😀 I dont know if the P-channel frontend can be implemented in the Aleph-X circuit through plain surgery or not, but some of the more experienced A-X DIY'ers around here has tried. If Wuffwaff, Netlist, and not the least: Patrick (EUVL, who is one clever dude, indeed!!) and some others cant figure it out, who can??HBarske said:
I guess most of us, has thrown in the towel long ago
As far as I am concerned, a few breadcrumbs is needed😀 Grey mentioned that things has to looked at in the correct way. Cant agree more!! If you have a J-fet A-X, by all means lets have a look😉 I might build the proto...he-he
Steen🙂
Question to the Mods: Why do I have to log in a hundred+ times, all of a sudden??? When I hit the reply button, everything is fine but when I say submit, it says "no thread specified" Dooh, come on, I just replied to a specific thread
I found out that hitting "Back" 3 times!! in my browser, takes care of it, but!!! When lookin at a pic in some thread, its the same I have to log in for every pic!! Even if I just logged in😕 😕 Probably settings in the user CP, but I cant find it!!
Steen🙂
I found out that hitting "Back" 3 times!! in my browser, takes care of it, but!!! When lookin at a pic in some thread, its the same I have to log in for every pic!! Even if I just logged in😕 😕 Probably settings in the user CP, but I cant find it!!Steen🙂
Steen, clear your browser cache, and check that cookies are turned on. I'm 99% certain the problem is at your end. 😉