You first choice of ultimate amp to build?

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Insanoff

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Joined 2008
#1
Hi folks!

I would be happy to hear your suggestions choosing the right amplifier for my next build.

I have already build couple of chip and discrete amplifiers back in the day. But I never build something "hi-endish", they were just amplifiers.

In the past... Once I started to save for Holtons NXV200, even I bought 2x35VAC 625VA transformer (must be laying somewhere). Then unfortunately forgot about it. (Now I see Holtons modules are really expensive. I don't remember if they were cheaper either.) I was also interested in Nelson Pass designs, but never managed to build one. (Life is hard!)

Now... My current setup is simple. I own a pair of dFonken125 and modified TK2050 amp. Not for audiophiles, but it is enough for daily non-critical listening. (I really don't like it's harshness. ) My sound source is a 13' Macbook Pro. 😀

My abilities... I can hold a soldering iron, using multimeter since 20 years.

Regarding to my ears... I am living in a small town where you hardly face any audiophile here. Besides of that, we don't have any HIFI store where you can listen and compare different gears. So I am not sure how a better sounding system could be. A couple of times when I was abroad I took a chanse to listen, have ordered some setups to compare ( thanks to kind guys). And it was waay back then.

Shortly speaking... My taste of good sounding system is abstract. I mean, my ears might be not fully developed in comparison to your ears. I have learned everything from internet and have a little experience. If I could listen different DIY amps, it could be way more easier. And I am not an audiophile guy who spends a lot of money for commercial systems and buys expensive speaker cable. I prefer to keep things in a budget and being an engineer I like to build myself.

What I want... I plan to build more speakers in the future, so don't take my dFonken as a reference. I would like to build my first "ultimate amplifier". What would be your first choice of must build and must listen amplifier?

Thanks!

P.S. It does not necessarily have to be a solid state, can be a chip amp.
 
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#2
If you're not sure what you like, and you're not sure what you'll be driving with it, then you want to stay pretty middle-of-the-road, general-purpose. I might suggest an Aleph-J.

BTW, some of the harshness is from using the DAC in your Macbook Pro. You'll probably get good mileage upgrading to an external DAC. Something like Schiit's Modi 2 would fit the bill nicely (even better if you can swing for the Multibit version, often known as Mimby or Momby).
 
#4
I can highly recommend this amp - I have built 4 variants allgreat sounding. Sounds superb with most speakers and can drive multiways or fullrange well. I have several Pass amps to compare with and this amp is among the best. Drives speakers effortlessly and has a similar sonic signature to good Class A amps but without the heat. 50w/ch no exotic parts. Easy to build.

Very simple quasi complimentary MOSFET amplifier
 
#8
ApolloZhang said:
The beta 22 already requires a tremendous amount of component matching, Jfets MOSFets, even the CRDs.
Click to expand...


Really not so much as it seen from far.
JFETs must be buyed already matched, BJTs and MOSFETs doesn't demand matching, CRDs can be easily replaced with much cheaper parts.
So most of the price is hidden in good case, powerful trafo, power capacitors and power resistors like any other amp.

ApolloZhang said:
Cant imagine what will the beta 24 look like...
Click to expand...


Official boards can be seen at provided link, unofficial approach and some thoughts can be found there:
AMB Laboratories DIY Audio • View topic - Understanding Beta
 
#10
BesPav said:
Really not so much as it seen from far.
JFETs must be buyed already matched, BJTs and MOSFETs doesn't demand matching, CRDs can be easily replaced with much cheaper parts.
So most of the price is hidden in good case, powerful trafo, power capacitors and power resistors like any other amp.

Official boards can be seen at provided link, unofficial approach and some thoughts can be found there:
AMB Laboratories DIY Audio • View topic - Understanding Beta
Click to expand...
Highlighted text must be taken into high regard.

I bought an amp kit for about $80, but the end result costs roughly $220.
 
#11
It will be much harder than I thought it would be. 😀 I don't know what to say.

Maybe I should start with F-5 Turbo? Aleph J could be also, but I think more power will not hurt, somewhere between 50W to 100W. I like the simplicity of Pass amps. Only efficiency a bit an issue for me. When I think of the chassis for First Watt, something like HoneyBadger, VHEX+ comes into my mind.


P.S. Planning to upgrade to an external DAC.
 
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#12
BesPav said:
Really not so much as it seen from far.
JFETs must be buyed already matched, BJTs and MOSFETs doesn't demand matching, CRDs can be easily replaced with much cheaper parts.
So most of the price is hidden in good case, powerful trafo, power capacitors and power resistors like any other amp.



Hi BesPav,


yes, I agree with you, getting the amp to be usable doesn't require much effort in transistor matching, and parts like trafo really make up most of the budget.


But I had done some subjective comparison over tightly matched / loosely matched transistors in IPS, and the difference is more than subtle. A fully differential amp like b22 and b24 could be more dependent on parts matching. Copied and re-Layouted B22 had been very popular back home,
however they just sound not that good, compared to their relative complicated BOM. And I tend to distrust the matching condition in these builds.


Personally I'm planning to adopt Linear System Jfets and build a somewhat newer B22, and like you mentioned, using other CCS instead of CRDs seems inevitable due to the price and counterfeit.


Z
Click to expand...
 
#13
Insanoff said:
It will be much harder than I thought it would be. 😀 I don't know what to say.

Maybe I should start with F-5 Turbo? Aleph J could be also, but I think more power will not hurt, somewhere between 50W to 100W. I like the simplicity of Pass amps. Only efficiency a bit an issue for me. When I think of the chassis for First Watt, something like HoneyBadger, VHEX+ comes into my mind.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Pass amps are nice. However, while the amp circuits are simple, building them is another thing. The Class-A babies need big chassis and heatsinks, and big power supplies. The Class-AB amps may have more complex circuits, but I think they are easier to build overall. Also, Class-A amps like easy loads, whereas the Class-AB amps tend to be more universal in this respect. Oh, aehm, well, by the way, when it comes to sound quality, I totally prefer my Honey Badger over my F5.
 
#17
JeffYoung said:
If you're not sure what you like, I'd choose the Aleph J over the F5 (or F5T). The F5s are a bit more specialist: they can be very uncompromising on some speakers.
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JeffYoung, Aleph J would be a good point to start.
I love listen music at moderate levels. Do you think it will be enough to drive pair of Fostex FF125WK? I mean, I would like to be able to leave a little bit breathe room for the amplifier.
 
#19
Insanoff said:
JeffYoung, Aleph J would be a good point to start.
I love listen music at moderate levels. Do you think it will be enough to drive pair of Fostex FF125WK? I mean, I would like to be able to leave a little bit breathe room for the amplifier.
Click to expand...

How big of a room? The Aleph J will certainly drive the FF125WKs to moderate levels in a small room; probably even in a medium-sized room.

How does your TK2050 do? It takes double the power for each 3db, so the Aleph J will be about 3db quieter. If your volume control when using your TK2050 is at 1 or 2 o'Clock or less, then you should be fine. If it's near pegged (4 or 5 o'Clock), then probably not.

Cheers,
Jeff.
 
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