I don't think it would be wrong to ask someone to build an amp for you as long as they only charge x hours for the work. It's like asking a technician to repair an amplifier. He will gain some money, but won't profit from the design, just from the labour he had. If the buyer buys all the required parts himself, brings them to a technician who does the soldering and assembly/ bias, that guy isn't profiting from the design.
Suppose that same tech guy does it 10 times, 100 times, or 1000 times.
The o/p didn't ask for a repair man in post #1.
He merely asked if someone wants to build him 3 monaural power amplifiers, and how much it will cost.
A : that's solliciting for commercial enterprise, of a design with IP.
B : the willingness to buy custom order from a copy-cat, who makes money of it.
If one asks a technician to repair an amplifier, the model amplifier is known, it already exists, the IP-owner manufactured it and got a return on the IP.
Someone who builds for others, on a commercial basis, should ask permission to the IP-owner. (and possibly pay a fee)
The o/p didn't ask for a repair man in post #1.
He merely asked if someone wants to build him 3 monaural power amplifiers, and how much it will cost.
A : that's solliciting for commercial enterprise, of a design with IP.
B : the willingness to buy custom order from a copy-cat, who makes money of it.
If one asks a technician to repair an amplifier, the model amplifier is known, it already exists, the IP-owner manufactured it and got a return on the IP.
Someone who builds for others, on a commercial basis, should ask permission to the IP-owner. (and possibly pay a fee)
I'm pretty sure that OP can ask boyz at Reno Hi Fi
they certainly have few PL lookalike amps for trade
they certainly have few PL lookalike amps for trade
Just to clarify, is everybody here paying for the right to build themselves a Pass amp?
Pardon my ignorance, I though it was a long standing project on this DIY forum.
I think it would be wise for a beginner who is not necessarily comfortable with assembly a potentially expensive and dangerous project to hire someone @ DIYaudio to help him out with the soldering etc.
Pardon my ignorance, I though it was a long standing project on this DIY forum.
I think it would be wise for a beginner who is not necessarily comfortable with assembly a potentially expensive and dangerous project to hire someone @ DIYaudio to help him out with the soldering etc.
ask , collect all parts
then - if you are not having enough skills/experience - find a friend or pay someone's time
but - what's major part in project being a DIY and not commercial one is - dreaming it and investing mental work in it .
then - if you are not having enough skills/experience - find a friend or pay someone's time
but - what's major part in project being a DIY and not commercial one is - dreaming it and investing mental work in it .
Whether it is "right" or not comes down to why Mr Pass has made his designs and expertise available to us. I am not sure why he does this, but I am grateful.
From what I gather, he wants to encourage others to have the fun and excitement of building electronic gear, to experiment & modify, and perhaps to learn a bit along the way.
Are these goals captured if someone buys the parts and hires out the assembly? I don't think so.
From what I gather, he wants to encourage others to have the fun and excitement of building electronic gear, to experiment & modify, and perhaps to learn a bit along the way.
Are these goals captured if someone buys the parts and hires out the assembly? I don't think so.
Not exactly identical to not even knowing the exact amp model, but merely asking what a finished one (3) would cost.
Single explanation for such an approach, instead of buying new/used, is saving money.
Does handing someone the exact required paint and canvas, to copy a painting in exchange for cash, not count as art forgery ?
Just how does the 1st line of this thread sound to you ? : "Would like to Buy Pass Labs Amplifiers".
Sorry guys I did not realise this would cause a stir with members here. I just thought I would ask if possible someone who may able to make it for me. I don’t have the skills in electronics and the confidence to start my own project. I don’t mind buying the parts. I don’t want to break any rules or cause problems here. Never realised this sort of request will be counted for as Theft!!!
Getting back to the main thread.
You will find it difficult to find someone to build one for you. Culpability and Liability come to mind. When you build your own you take on the responsibility of something going wrong.
It's human nature to blame someone else when something goes wrong. If X were to build an amplifier for Y and then Y's house were to burn down because of a fault, X would be liable.
Even repairers these days have to have pretty hefty Third Party Liability Insurance and they are bound to replace any safety critical components with "exact compatible" components in any repair.
The whole DIY game is open to conjecture, we have the freedom to choose how we implement the designer's design. There is no control over the finished product and safety is down to how the design is built.
You will find it difficult to find someone to build one for you. Culpability and Liability come to mind. When you build your own you take on the responsibility of something going wrong.
It's human nature to blame someone else when something goes wrong. If X were to build an amplifier for Y and then Y's house were to burn down because of a fault, X would be liable.
Even repairers these days have to have pretty hefty Third Party Liability Insurance and they are bound to replace any safety critical components with "exact compatible" components in any repair.
The whole DIY game is open to conjecture, we have the freedom to choose how we implement the designer's design. There is no control over the finished product and safety is down to how the design is built.
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Consider trying the DIY thing! Buy the ACA amp kit, a soldering iron, a cheap multimeter, and follow the wonderful illustrated guide.
Small investment, lots of fun, you might even get the bug. Then investigate the DIY possibilities matching your needs
Most of the Pass stuff is aimed at quality watts, not quantity. Not that the excitable DIYers here don't experiment on the circuits, and push the boundaries hard at times.
I would also suggest you watch the Pass Labs site, and give them a call. Ask your question there. Used Pass gear can be found on the various used audio gear sites.
If you embark on the DIY journey, you will find all sorts of help here, pre made circuit boards, hard to find components etc. You will also them/us somewhat protective of Nelson Pass, who not only designs his ultra high end gear for sale, he gives us the designs at some point, and actively helps us build them. Other entities have copied his gear commercially in the past. This caused further delays in Pass's release of his commercial schematics.
I put that in so you might understand how the folks feel here.
Small investment, lots of fun, you might even get the bug. Then investigate the DIY possibilities matching your needs
Most of the Pass stuff is aimed at quality watts, not quantity. Not that the excitable DIYers here don't experiment on the circuits, and push the boundaries hard at times.
I would also suggest you watch the Pass Labs site, and give them a call. Ask your question there. Used Pass gear can be found on the various used audio gear sites.
If you embark on the DIY journey, you will find all sorts of help here, pre made circuit boards, hard to find components etc. You will also them/us somewhat protective of Nelson Pass, who not only designs his ultra high end gear for sale, he gives us the designs at some point, and actively helps us build them. Other entities have copied his gear commercially in the past. This caused further delays in Pass's release of his commercial schematics.
I put that in so you might understand how the folks feel here.
75% of the work of an amp project is building the case(s), which has nothing to do with "dangerous'' electronics.
The amp case is also the biggest hurdle to take for most audio DIYers, usually due to both lacking mechanical skills/routine and the proper tools.
(reason for Jason to squeeze some bucks out of the suckers, by offering ready-to-go drilled/tapped amp cases)
It would be a somewhat different story if someone made amp cases himself, did all the preliminary labor, then have someone else solder the boards and do the final assembly/testing (for a fee).
It's also not smart to place an ad for complete custom-built amps, chances are higher that it will draw the likes of a Tim Rawson, than individuals with amp-le mileage to pull off a quality project.
In which case, both Pa and the amp clone buyer get shafted. (rough estimate for 3 class A amps would be in the $10k ballpark)
The amp case is also the biggest hurdle to take for most audio DIYers, usually due to both lacking mechanical skills/routine and the proper tools.
(reason for Jason to squeeze some bucks out of the suckers, by offering ready-to-go drilled/tapped amp cases)
It would be a somewhat different story if someone made amp cases himself, did all the preliminary labor, then have someone else solder the boards and do the final assembly/testing (for a fee).
It's also not smart to place an ad for complete custom-built amps, chances are higher that it will draw the likes of a Tim Rawson, than individuals with amp-le mileage to pull off a quality project.
In which case, both Pa and the amp clone buyer get shafted. (rough estimate for 3 class A amps would be in the $10k ballpark)
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isn't that ooking same as I wrote :
I'm doing that here and there ( say 2-3 per year ) and not loosing my sleep and feeling ungrateful to Pa .
especially taking in account that I'm usually helping with advices ad hoc , in collecting da hardware
A : You're Pa's adopted freak show
B : I don't listen to you, never will
C : You've already inhaled so much Drina that you're a goner anyway
D : Building 20'' deep amp cases is not identical to ''collect all the parts''
E : Doing it 2-3 times a year is not identical to doing 3 biggies in one go.
B : I don't listen to you, never will
C : You've already inhaled so much Drina that you're a goner anyway
D : Building 20'' deep amp cases is not identical to ''collect all the parts''
E : Doing it 2-3 times a year is not identical to doing 3 biggies in one go.
Have a look at the threads on "Pictures of your (amplifier)", the possibilities are almost endless.
Better than a First Watt....
With all due respects..... a First Watt or Pass Labs amp sounds magnificent.....
But for some reason the VERY SAME amp--constructed by the owner as a DIY project--sounds about "3dB better". Call it pride in accomplishment.
If you don't have the talents to build a DIY Pass Amp now, take the time to develop the skills and THEN build the amp yourself. A basic F5 is a very easy project--follow the related threads. You'll learn a lot, potentially make friends with other DIY'ers.....and I guarantee that finished AMP will sound superbly-magnificent, because you can claim you did-it-yourself....!
With all due respects..... a First Watt or Pass Labs amp sounds magnificent.....
But for some reason the VERY SAME amp--constructed by the owner as a DIY project--sounds about "3dB better". Call it pride in accomplishment.
If you don't have the talents to build a DIY Pass Amp now, take the time to develop the skills and THEN build the amp yourself. A basic F5 is a very easy project--follow the related threads. You'll learn a lot, potentially make friends with other DIY'ers.....and I guarantee that finished AMP will sound superbly-magnificent, because you can claim you did-it-yourself....!
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