I'm a hard-core DIY builder. And by hard-core, I mean completely bonkers... 😀 😀 😀
For approx. the last 4yr I've been making build guides (here at diyaudio.com and elsewhere) for people interested in these projects. I've found that most interested parties can get one of these done with a bit of patience, guidance and a decent set of photos. So I've been doing that. It's a blast, and I've had the honor of taking to people (Email, phone, skype) all over the world about their projects and our hobby.
Most of these guides are Nelson Pass designs, but I will tell you that there is a reason his projects are so incredibly popular. Take a look -
Pass/Firstwatt F5 (My first big guide, and this is still the most popular project in DIY land) An illustrated guide to building an F5
The B1 preamp, this post got re-formatted and kinda screwed up, but still not bad. B1 preamp build thread
The incredible Pearl 2 phonostage - Building a Pearl 2
The F5Turbo amp (this one looks very clean, I'm quite happy with it) - F5Turbo Illustrated Build Guide
The legendary Aleph J amp, (what I've been listening to for quite some time) -- http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/241729-aleph-j-illustrated-build-guide.html
The Pass "Amp Camp Amp", this amplifier and guide is intended for the complete beginner, and so shows essentially everything -- ACA illustrated build guide
The Pass Burning Amp BA-3, this one has a video I really like in post #3 -- BA-3 Amplifier illustrated build guide
The front-end board from the BA-3 is a fantastic preamp, and currently in use in my system, here -- http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/258022-ba-3-preamp-build-guide.html#post3968063
The Pass F4, this is amongst my most favorite guides -- A guide to building the Pass F4 amplifier.
The wonderful Amp Camp Amp v1.0 ACA illustrated build guide
The F6 amplifier F6 Illustrated Build Guide
And a few non-Pass projects;
The O2 headphone amplifier -- Building the O2 Headphone Amp
Hagerman Bugle 2 phonostage - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/237627-hagerman-bugle-2-a.html#post3605491
SL-1200 DC PSU -- SL-1200 DC Power Supply DIY
SL-1200 tonearm rewire -- Rewiring SL-1200 Tonearm
A guide to the universal chassis from the diyAudio store - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/245959-illustrated-guide-4u-deluxe-chassis.html#post3704810
And the universal PSU guide - diyAudio Power Supply Circuit Board v3 illustrated build guide
Gawd, that's a lot of things when listed like that. 🙂 I've never actually made a list as such. (And I haven't gotten any of my Valve project guides completed...)
My apologies, now that your eyes are bugged out from looking at all that, I suppose you would like to know a bit more about me... Here's everything you need to know about me in regards to DIY projects, a (literally) 5-min talk at Burning Amp Fest '13 -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5eOnuQJ3ww
For approx. the last 4yr I've been making build guides (here at diyaudio.com and elsewhere) for people interested in these projects. I've found that most interested parties can get one of these done with a bit of patience, guidance and a decent set of photos. So I've been doing that. It's a blast, and I've had the honor of taking to people (Email, phone, skype) all over the world about their projects and our hobby.
Most of these guides are Nelson Pass designs, but I will tell you that there is a reason his projects are so incredibly popular. Take a look -
Pass/Firstwatt F5 (My first big guide, and this is still the most popular project in DIY land) An illustrated guide to building an F5
The B1 preamp, this post got re-formatted and kinda screwed up, but still not bad. B1 preamp build thread
The incredible Pearl 2 phonostage - Building a Pearl 2
The F5Turbo amp (this one looks very clean, I'm quite happy with it) - F5Turbo Illustrated Build Guide
The legendary Aleph J amp, (what I've been listening to for quite some time) -- http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/241729-aleph-j-illustrated-build-guide.html
The Pass "Amp Camp Amp", this amplifier and guide is intended for the complete beginner, and so shows essentially everything -- ACA illustrated build guide
The Pass Burning Amp BA-3, this one has a video I really like in post #3 -- BA-3 Amplifier illustrated build guide
The front-end board from the BA-3 is a fantastic preamp, and currently in use in my system, here -- http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/258022-ba-3-preamp-build-guide.html#post3968063
The Pass F4, this is amongst my most favorite guides -- A guide to building the Pass F4 amplifier.
The wonderful Amp Camp Amp v1.0 ACA illustrated build guide
The F6 amplifier F6 Illustrated Build Guide
And a few non-Pass projects;
The O2 headphone amplifier -- Building the O2 Headphone Amp
Hagerman Bugle 2 phonostage - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/237627-hagerman-bugle-2-a.html#post3605491
SL-1200 DC PSU -- SL-1200 DC Power Supply DIY
SL-1200 tonearm rewire -- Rewiring SL-1200 Tonearm
A guide to the universal chassis from the diyAudio store - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/245959-illustrated-guide-4u-deluxe-chassis.html#post3704810
And the universal PSU guide - diyAudio Power Supply Circuit Board v3 illustrated build guide
Gawd, that's a lot of things when listed like that. 🙂 I've never actually made a list as such. (And I haven't gotten any of my Valve project guides completed...)
My apologies, now that your eyes are bugged out from looking at all that, I suppose you would like to know a bit more about me... Here's everything you need to know about me in regards to DIY projects, a (literally) 5-min talk at Burning Amp Fest '13 -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5eOnuQJ3ww
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Although I have not start anything on Pass Lab but i had read alot of your post and guide. Bravo! Another helpful diyer.
Thank you very much for your guides. I will be using the F4 and the Universal PSU to go with it. They are very clear, great work.
Thank you for your kind words.
You will like the F4, it's still my favorite Firstwatt amp.
What preamp will you use to drive it?
You will like the F4, it's still my favorite Firstwatt amp.
What preamp will you use to drive it?
I am building it to drive it with a Bottlehead S.E.X. amp. I already tried that driving a Sit2 with the S.E.X., but I do not want to damage the Sit2. The sound is amazing, though, and after some research I decided to go for the F4 and keep the Sit2 working for posterity.
We'll see how it goes, and again, your build guides are invaluable.
Thanks and cheers for diyAudio!
That should work wonderfully - the F4 lets the driver circuit's tone through with almost no change.
People who use flea-watt amps with the F4 report success better then they were hoping for. 🙂
People who use flea-watt amps with the F4 report success better then they were hoping for. 🙂
Thanks Jim, your efforts are the reason I've built the ACA and why I'm starting the Aleph J! ...any plans to construct an illustrated build guide to the F5 lateral mosfets, or does the regular F5 guide suffice?
Is there a single source for an entire kit?
Impressive amount of work you've shared - much in the vein of Mr. Pass himself, of something sown of a passion there is no doubt.
It seems I cannot buy a kit from First Watt. I did a little searching here and, though I'm sure there's more than a few threads that would answer this question, there are WAY more than a few threads to search through.
I'm in Canada. Is it possible to buy a complete kit?
Impressive amount of work you've shared - much in the vein of Mr. Pass himself, of something sown of a passion there is no doubt.
It seems I cannot buy a kit from First Watt. I did a little searching here and, though I'm sure there's more than a few threads that would answer this question, there are WAY more than a few threads to search through.
I'm in Canada. Is it possible to buy a complete kit?
A complete kit? No. But collecting all the parts isn't that hard...
PM me and I'll try to help. 🙂
PM me and I'll try to help. 🙂
Only Nelson Pass Amp Kit Available is the Amp Camp Amp (ACA)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/247361-aca-illustrated-build-guide.html
Out of stock at the store ATM but should be back in about 3 months:
Amp Camp Amp Complete Kit - Parts, Chassis, 2xPower Supplies - Amp Camp Kit - Kits
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/247361-aca-illustrated-build-guide.html
Out of stock at the store ATM but should be back in about 3 months:
Amp Camp Amp Complete Kit - Parts, Chassis, 2xPower Supplies - Amp Camp Kit - Kits