DIY Voyager power amp Build

[337alant]

Finally got round to starting my build of a pair of monoblock amplifiers based on the Avondale Voyagers
I have been using the NCC200 amplifers for a few years now and also builts some voyager clones by Hacker ( the Hackernap amplifirer).
All of these amps are based on the 1960s RCA power amplifier circuit that NAIM also used in all of their Chrome Bumper amplifiers
Its a tried an tested design that provides an excellent solid state power amplifier that sounds fast clean with high transient performance, the sound can be tailored to your taste particularly by the choice of components with the feedback and input cap having a significant effect on the voicing of the amplifier., NAIM chose solid tantalum capacitors for these caps and that gave their amps that fast clean sound with an upfront presentation, some find their sound initially impressive but fatiguing in the long term, if you use film caps the sound will be a lot smoother and sweeter but can lack the excellent bass impact of the tantalums. My own preference is to use a Military spec Wet tantalum capacitor bye passed with either a 100nf polypropylene or polystyrene capacitor this retains all the speed and dynamics of the solid tant but sweetens the treble and still retains the excellent bass performance but also with a 3 dimensional image.

So for this build the amplifier modules are the excellent Avondale NCC200 amplifiers built using Dale RN60 resistors throughout except for resistors in the signal path which are Audio Note tantalum resistors, matched transistors are used throughout and Capacitors are all high quality Polypropylene, polystyrene, silver Mica and military spec wet tantalum types.
The Power supply is divided into two sections the input & VAS section and the output section which ideally have different needs in a 3 stage power amplifier, some amps just supply a raw supply to all 3 states such as the Naim Nap 90,110,140,160, 180 range which used the same power amplifier bord with different power supply’s, or a regulated supply to all three stages such as the Naim Nap 250 but neither of these is ideal and the fornt end requires a quiet Regulated Constant current supply but the output is ideally supplied with a raw high current delivery supply.
So on this amp the input section has a 42-0-42V x 50va C core transformer, followed by rectification and smoothing from a Cap 6 module using Q-speed 6amp ultra fast Diodes and 6 x 4700uf Rubicon smoothing caps with a 6.8ohm-2W resistor in between to provide ripple reduction, the front end needs a regulated constant current supply so a VBE regulator supply is used

The output section needs an raw unregulated supply to provide high current delivery this provide the speed, dynamics and transient performance so no regulation is used here as this can strangle transient performance. The output is supplied from a 35-0-35V x 500VA C core transformer, with rectification and smoothing supplied again by a Cap6 module using Q Speed 30A rectifiers and 5 x 6800UF Kendiel Capacitors with a 10mh inductor between them.
Speaker protection is supplied by the velleman K4700 modules
Everything is housed in the excellent Modushop all aluminium pesante dissapante cases http://www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/cat079_l2.php?n=1

Hopefully I will get most of this done this work done this week before I have to go back to work but I am still waiting for some parts so ? :rolleyes:

basic layout in the case and there is loads of space
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14775784828_71900b03e6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ovFL3Q)IMG_1310 (https://flic.kr/p/ovFL3Q) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14775699200_a270ed7039_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ovFjAu)IMG_1309 (https://flic.kr/p/ovFjAu) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

This where I am up to with the amplifier modules, I am still waiting for all of the transistors and some caps.

I may be being a bit anal here but I have 3 different 100uf / 100v caps to use for the power rail decoupling, by Elna, Panasonic FC and the rubicon ZL all are very good with the Rubicon has the lowest ESR and fits perfectly any preference on which I should use?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3908/14962373825_b4e4f91376_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oNb5sv)IMG_1324 (https://flic.kr/p/oNb5sv) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3883/14776634478_059236f8c2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ovL7BY)IMG_1325 (https://flic.kr/p/ovL7BY) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


Will update as I make progress :D

Alan

[Firebottle]

Wow, attention to detail :youtheman:

:cool: Alan

[337alant]

Yes thanks Alan, I have found it makes a difference in the end result and may as well do it as I build that wishing I had done it later

Alan

[337alant]

Made some more progress on the NCC200 boards today and almost populated now but I am short of the heat sinks for the output drivers I had 2 but cant find them anywhere ?, ordered some more from Les

The transistors and Polistyrene caps arrived this morning so measured them all and installed them
Made up the output inductors, 16 turns of transformer wire on a 6mm drill, and 15 Ohm x 2W Kiwame resistor used
The output inductor is the part that Naim omitted ?, this makes the amp stable into all speaker loads, but I guess Naim allways planned on selling hundreds of thousands of meters of speaker cable to compensate :eyebrows: good business plan I guess :D
http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/kiwame.html

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3926/14972570652_a6dd11c040_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oP5kBS)voyager 2 (https://flic.kr/p/oP5kBS) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Fitted the output transistors to the VBE boards

Found some Nichicon Fine Gold 100uf x 63V caps for the rail decoupling caps so fitted them as well

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5595/14786229959_759986ea01_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/owBi2i)voyager 1 (https://flic.kr/p/owBi2i) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr
Ill have to start doing some case work tomorrow

Alan

[337alant]

No progress yesterday as the mains cable to our house burned out during the night so I had no power all day and my drive way had to been dug up :steam: ,
Power back on now but it took them all day

Alan

[CageyH]

Sounds like a complete nightmare.

[dowser]

No progress yesterday as the mains cable to our house burned out during the night so I had no power all day and my drive way had to been dug up :steam: ,
Power back on now but it took them all day

Alan

Caused by you Alan? :)

Nice build

[slate]

Caused by you Alan? :)

Nice build

First test run of the amp?!

[337alant]

Caused by you Alan? :)

Nice build

Hi Richard
LOL yes more than likely, that much HIFI gear switched on 24/7 in my house :D

Alan

[RichB]

Nice bit of work Alan.

You builds are second to none based on what I've seen and heard. This looks to be no exception.

[337alant]

Thanks Rich, I have high hopes for these mono blocks, if they are a success Ill bring them to the NEBO 5

Alan

[337alant]

Knocked up the Vellaman 4700 speaker protection modules total and I have decided that the layout below works for me and the final layout.
VBE and NCC200 module will be bolted directly to the side panel heat sink

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3894/14970262296_e520d79be1_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oNSvqC)voyager 3 (https://flic.kr/p/oNSvqC) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

I still don't have the NCC200 output driver heat sinks so In cant test the boards or fit the output transistors


Alan

[337alant]

Progress today
Well bit of a life saver today, thanks to Les, as he sent me 4 new output driver heat sinks as I couldn’t get any further with the NCC200 boards without them :)
So fitted them and the output 753/653 drivers, Its best to try your boards before actually fitting the output transistors as per MisterC6 sound advice this way if there is anything wrong you are less likely to fry the board and take out the Output transistors and a few other parts in the process :rolleyes:
I temporarily connected up the front end of the boards with the Diode and 220r so I could try them in one of my old NCC200 amplifiers
So I hooked everything up and then got that switch on moment :rolleyes: :o took a step back and rechecked everything again, and good job I did as I realised I hadn't fitted TR6 ?? WTF

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/14815939099_0710b18f06_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/14815939099/)
Voyager 6 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/14815939099/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

just goes to show check everything twice then check it again :D after that it all checked out OK so hit the big switch on, then off in a second :D Mmmm no blue smoke so ; left it on and checked between TP3-4 and got the required 1.6-7v which was adjustable via bias resistor so all looks OK Phew that’s a relief.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/14816123517_3b85cdaeb4_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/14816123517/)
Voyager 5 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/14816123517/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr


On to fitting the output transistors but I realise I don’t have any Mica washers FFS, I only the blue PTFE type so will wait until I get the Mica type and not sure how good they are as I bought them from Ebay ?
Some good info here by the way
http://www.ti.com/lit/an/sboa020/sboa020.pdf

BTW feed back and input cap at present are Mil spec wet tant with 0.5% Sochin 10nf polystyrene film cap bi pass

Anyway under instruction from SWMBO we’re off to the caravan for the week end to chill out so no time to finish of even one amp :mad:
Present layout status :)

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15002645235_be37984643_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15002645235/)
Voyager 4 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15002645235/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

BTW there is a group buy going on for an order of VBE boards on PFM at the moment, this will probably be the last time these board will be available

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=160891

Alan

[337alant]

Progress
I picked up 4 Mica insulators for T03 from Maplin and this allowed me to complete the installation of the output transistors and heatsinks on the Ncc 200 boards
I bolted the NCC200 and VBE boards directly onto the side heatsink

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/14836985080_2fdf1940b8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oB6qKA)voyager 10 (https://flic.kr/p/oB6qKA) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

I made up some temporary leads to test the power supplies before connecting to the NCC200

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/15022323445_f42fe57839_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oTtkoD)voyager 6 (https://flic.kr/p/oTtkoD) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

For the front end supply after rectification I am getting 71 volts from the 44-0-44V transformer

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/15019258251_1b77174c6e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oTcCdt)voyager 9 (https://flic.kr/p/oTcCdt) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

This is before the VBE but that's a little high for me as the output from the VBE is still giving me 64-65V :o

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5576/14999328176_724d0849db_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oRrtGu)voyager 5 (https://flic.kr/p/oRrtGu) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

This VBE doesn't have any Zenner diodes fitted so I could fit some 56V zenners but that would be a drop of 9V not sure if that is ok reading LesW warning on the schematic ?.
I don't have the correct Zenners anyway
I could fit higher value resistors in line on the Cap 6 boards ?

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14835601359_df9e49121d_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oAYkqk)voyager 4 (https://flic.kr/p/oAYkqk) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/14835800167_d6437c7f8a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oAZmw4)voyager 7 (https://flic.kr/p/oAZmw4) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

The output stage Power supply is giving out 53V as expected for my 250V house mains,

Tim, your right the Transformers are dead silent ;)

Back to work tomorrow so will have to park this tread for a few weeks, I would have liked to have got both amps temporarily hooked up and been able to leave them soaking for a few weeks but I have run out of time I am afraid :(

Alan

[337alant]

Ok received some SMD 56v zeners so fitted them and a wire link back to ground, now getting a healthy +/- 54.5v from tthe VBE supply

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/15226209171_77120b1fe4_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15226209171/)
VBE zener (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15226209171/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

Done a temp wire up for one amp and switched on:o, no blue smoke so thats a relief.
DC offset 30mv and tried to set the bias but not getting what I expected?, now realise that we have 2 seperate supplies to the amp so a little confused TBH as to how the bias should be adjusted :confused:

I set the bias in the Hackernap fashion by adjusting the voltage accross the 0r22 resistor to 3.5mv

Will have another go at setting the bias in the Avondale method tomorrow by connecting 2 meter's to both the FE and OP +ve connectors, I guess I should add them both together. Any advice on this appreciated ?.

Alan

[337alant]

Ah that's more like it put a new battery in one of my meters :rolleyes:

Connected a meter to the front end and one to the output supply.
The front end has a steady 12.67ma and the output has an adjustable supply via the bias pot which I have set to 22ma, this gives an overall total of 34-35ma which is what I normally set these amps too
Happy bunny now as the amp seems fine and stable :)
Excuse the wiring its just a temp lash up :D

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5569/15214551806_0e91f446ea_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pbsybJ)voyager 12 (https://flic.kr/p/pbsybJ) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[awkwardbydesign]

Ah that's more like it put a new battery in one of my meters :rolleyes:

Alan
:lol: Confusing, ain't it?

[Puffin]

I hate it when that happens. Why can't DMM's have a beep facility when the battery is US!

[337alant]

Confusing, ain't it?


I hate it when that happens. Why can't DMM's have a beep facility when the battery is US!

It sure is, and I am glad I checked them both before starting to rip the amp apart :doh:

Been baby sitting the grand kids today so not much progress, did get a start on tidying up the wiring and hope to finish the case work and wiring on Amp No1 tomorrow :)


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/15251979235_f623120176_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/peLo4e)voyager 13 (https://flic.kr/p/peLo4e) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[337alant]

Well Amp No1 is complete and playing music :)

Plugged the amp into my old passive pre and a Hitachi Tuner and its playing music sounds great :D

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3914/15073600258_0a24f8186c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oY19cC)voyager 17 (https://flic.kr/p/oY19cC) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Extended the LEDs from the Speaker protection device to show the yellow LED during the switch on delay and if there is any DC present the red LED display's
Also took a green LED from the OP Cap6 to show the on/off status

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/15260169115_d0aedfe850_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pfumC4)voyager 15 (https://flic.kr/p/pfumC4) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Just used a captive lead for the mains and also fitted a XLR and Phono input

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5575/15073472450_69697ed9d2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/oXZud3)voyager 16 (https://flic.kr/p/oXZud3) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5589/15237163776_7c4fddaf0e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pdsrWh)voyager 14 (https://flic.kr/p/pdsrWh) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


Now all I have to do is do it all again for amp No2 :rolleyes:

Alan

[337alant]

Stuck a better speaker on it and played a bit of Keb Mo via my S3 phone :eyebrow

IJfuDiUPgiM


Alan

[Paul Lange]

Great build and looking good too as well. I have not so fond memories of that bum cheek flapping moment when the amp is switched on for the first time. Luckily I never had anything happen that caused me evacuate my bowels on an initial power up. All the best for number 2 amp.

[337alant]

Great build and looking good too as well. I have not so fond memories of that bum cheek flapping moment when the amp is switched on for the first time. Luckily I never had anything happen that caused me evacuate my bowels on an initial power up. All the best for number 2 amp.

Thanks Paul, I know what you mean about the switch on moment it really is quite a nerve racking moment.
On one of my first amplifier builds years ago I got the magic blue smoke from one of the output transistors and it was a massive anti climax. I just switched it off and walked away, I remember thinking WTF do I do now ?.
Anyway I got some good advice from PFM about testing the circuit and I managed to fix the problem which was a mistake by me on the build so it was happy days in the end.
Amp No2 drilling of case ongoing, watch this space

Alan

[337alant]

Getting pretty close with Amp No2 just the back panel to drill

Temp connected up the Front end supply and all was well
Connected up the NCC200 with just the output supply and jumper leads powering the whole board but the speaker protection circuit cut in immediately showing DC on the output from the board Damn
Weird thing is I checked this board a week ago and it was fine?

Removed the board and installed a known good working NCC200 and that worked ok so nothing wrong with the supply or wiring
De-soldered the output transistors from the sick board and they both tested OK ?
Started checking around the board and all resistors are ok but found the output diode on the neg channel was short so changed that
Fired the board back up without the ouput transistors and it adjusts ok to 1.7v across TP3-4 with the Bias pot but there is still rail voltage on the speaker output
I will remove the output drivers tomorrow and test them

Alan

[337alant]

Removed the output drivers TR7, TR8 and also TR6 but all tested perfectly ?
Strange that I have 45v on the output but it doesent blow the output transistors or the 0R22 resistors
As the rail voltage is 52V this leakage must be coming through the board through some resistors to be a lower voltage and the current flow must be low enough not to blow anything ?.
Checked around the board with a strong magnifier and light for shorts between tracks but all was ok.
I have tested all of the resistors and all are the same as the circuit diag or a known working board and all caps appear to be working properly and blocking the flow from the diode tester.
So I started testing around the front end and VAS transistors with a diode tester and noted TR1 has a reading of only 10ohms between the Collector and Emitter so removed that from the board and tested it with my Atlas comp tester and Bingo TR1 is faulty
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/15180326278_b054bef5a3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p8r98q)TR1 (https://flic.kr/p/p8r98q) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


removed TR2 and that tested ok so will match up a new pair of transistor's with the 10% offset and reinstall

This should be the fault that is causing the High DC offset and hopefully I can get this amp up and running this week end

Alan

[337alant]

its working now and I have it connected it up with just to output supply connected and the jumper leads to the front end so I can set the bias in the Avondale fashion
Set it to 34ma and leaving it with the lid on the case for half an hour then will reset as bias is climbing steadily as it is warming up
I still have a bit of wiring left to do on the back panel
Ok getting back to the Bias setting, the Bias settled down at a worshop temp of 22C / 38ma so I tweeked it back to 34ma.
I then disconnected the links to the front end and then connected up the VBE FE supply
the resulting readings on start up and again warm up were
Workshop temp 22 C
Front End Constant Current draw = 12.7ma
Output Bias Current = 24.4ma
This did rise to 25.8 as the temp rose to 23C but overall quite stable
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15349224996_90deeaca42_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15349224996/)
IMG_1452 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15349224996/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

Off to the Caravan for a couple of days left the amp swiched on and cooking, hope it doesent burn the workshop down :rolleyes::D
Looking forward to giving them a blast next week
Alan

[Macca]

Alan I don't understand much of the electronics but nice work with the yellow and green LEDs :)

Was it some of your amps we heard at NEBO, with the aluminium fascias? They were pretty good.

[337alant]

Hi Martin
Yes the alloy fronted amps were a Hackernap Stereo power amp and a B4 buffer pre amp
They are a very good pre / power but I am hoping these mono blocks will be better, Im also thinking of a pre amp with a bit of gain to help with my phono stage as the B4 is virtually flat out to get that to sound good

Alan

[337alant]

Glad I listend to advice about using the Vellaman speaker protection as well;)
Never used these before but they work very well and cut in instantly when I got DC on amp2 :cool:

There are a couple of things dont like though those pin connectors for speaker cable are usless IMO, I modified mine to take some spade connectors as shown in the attached photo, you have to scratch away some of the disused tracks to do this but its easy done
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/15355770886_736697aca9_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355770886/)
20140924_150312 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355770886/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15192190578_f7c7e65d9a_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192190578/)
20140924_150247 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192190578/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

I think you could put better quality relays in there as well ?, I also wonder about that couple of inches of pcb track inbetween your speaked lead so not sure if that has an effect on sound quality?

The yellow and red LED indicator are usefull but you would never see them inside the amp with the lid on so I took the opertunity to remote wires using security wiring 6 core to the front panel so you can see if the DC indicator shows I also took a green LED off the output cap6 as a on off indicator
I used 2 x 5w 1.6K resistors which was a bit OTT but these resistors can get quite hot so this makes them run dead cool and they were just spare resisters I had in
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/15355774906_9c886c4e48_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355774906/)
20140924_150214 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355774906/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/15192187558_a4ba289b88_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192187558/)
IMG_1401 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192187558/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15192268627_f3825a4e7b_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192268627/)
IMG_1411 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15192268627/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/15355764206_ace405a4d5_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355764206/)
IMG_1413 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/126702863@N07/15355764206/) by alan.towell1 (https://www.flickr.com/people/126702863@N07/), on Flickr

Alan

[337alant]

F*ck these amps are good, got them installed in my main system now and have been giving them a good thrashing all afternoon, they haven't even broke sweat ;)
A good friend of mine bought me a cracking album by Ray Stinnett called A fire somewhere just sitting enjoying it with a glass of red.


https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15227364398_684b157ebe_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pcAdVu)IMG_1501 (https://flic.kr/p/pcAdVu) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2949/15222339287_efcfe2d0a3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pc9t8D)IMG_1464 (https://flic.kr/p/pc9t8D) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3931/15408532542_e545b45ac5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ptAKUb)IMG_1462 (https://flic.kr/p/ptAKUb) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[underzone]

Excellent job! They look great in your rack.

[Audio Al]

Alan

I am impressed with your ability to undertake and complete builds like this , super job

Thanks also for taking the time with the build thread for us numptys ( well me ) to see how its done

Regards

Allen

[337alant]

James, Allen
Thank you, Im just trying to share some knowledge and maybee encourage some more people to build their own amps, it can be very rewarding and self satifying experience
The Avondale amplifier boards are excellent and can be purchased ready made along with a single minicap6 module just add a 2 x 35-0-35v transformer and you have an amp that will Challenge (and Better IMO) a Naim Nap 110, 140, 160 etc type range

lAlan

[Qwin]

Terrific job Alan, get them along to NEBO5 so we can review them, they should have run in nicely by then. :)

[337alant]

Terrific job Alan, get them along to NEBO5 so we can review them, they should have run in nicely by then. :)

Thanks Ken
If we are down stairs I will bring them, they are rock solid now and sounding very good indeed


Alan

[Qwin]

Yes, Steve has booked the larger ground floor room for NEBO5.

I was very impressed with your previous DIY effort so this pair would be a treat for us all.

I know what you mean about the stairs, lugging the 66's and their concrete plinths up and down was a bit knackering.

[337alant]

Ken Hope you bring your beautiful Techy again, you have made a superb job of that matey, but I do feel it needs a better cart to do it justice

Alan

[Qwin]

I will bring the Techy but doubt I will be able to afford a new cartridge for the January meet as my other projects are taking priority at present.

The Denon 301 Mk II is pretty reasonable quality and hides surface noise well, but I would agree it's holding the deck/arm back. My DIY phono stage is the weakest link and your Paradise Phono showed what the 301 can do at it's best, but it will need to be upgraded at some point.

Went to Owston, just did the Saturday but enjoyed it immensely. Steves (floyddroid) Tascam R to R went down very well, first time they had had a R to R front end, he got a bargain with that one.

I am about to start a write up for the event and will post it on the end of the Owston thread in the Community Network section.

[M6NTL]

What a beautiful, professionally finished build dude - most impressive!

[Mr Kipling]

Just want some McIntosh-style VU Meters.

13576

271573542656 £20
281409737722 £72

Only 2 left of the big ones.

[337alant]

What a beautiful, professionally finished build dude - most impressive!

Thanks you very much M6NTL

Mr Kipling LOL yes that would be very nice< I really do admire McLintosh amps

Alan

[Mr Kipling]

13577
A 600 watter.

They do look neat.

[337alant]

Final Photos, Im leaving them alone now as they are sounding superb and rock solid

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7581/15709780880_2f760e708e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWdJx3)Voy 1 (https://flic.kr/p/pWdJx3) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7468/15871273956_525cf163d3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qbuqNq)Voy 3 (https://flic.kr/p/qbuqNq) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15277444703_7b374a779c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ph1U42)Voy 4 (https://flic.kr/p/ph1U42) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7514/15711052269_b7f8334f8a_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWkftx)Voy 5 (https://flic.kr/p/pWkftx) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8600/15711051839_237d5cf9df_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pWkfm8)Voy 6 (https://flic.kr/p/pWkfm8) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7538/15277495803_57be426740_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ph2af4)IMG_1651 (https://flic.kr/p/ph2af4) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan :eyebrows:

[RichB]

I look forward to hearing these Alan.

What speakers are you running with them? (nevermind, I just read your signature lol)

[Qwin]

"I look forward to hearing these Alan."

+1

Very tidy work, if they sound as good as they look we will be in for a treat. ;)

[Floyddroid]

I had a listen to these babies last week and i can confirm that they are absolutest stunning. Alan's skill and ingenuity as an engineer is beyond reproach. These are without doubt the best power amps i have had the pleasure of listening to.
"I look forward to hearing these Alan." I doth my cap good sir.

+1

Very tidy work, if they sound as good as they look we will be in for a treat. ;)

[337alant]

Wow thanks for the praise Steve, Ken & Rich
I'm really enjoying the amp's I thought the Hackernap amp was good but these monoblocks add a 3rd dimension to the sound and that extra bit of bass clout is certainly very welcome :eyebrows:

Alan

[337alant]

I decided to revisit some of other Power Amplifiers to see how they faired against the mighty Voyagers :D
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8607/15719902834_1fe2201c12_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pX7Bru)IMG_2229 (https://flic.kr/p/pX7Bru) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/16154960850_255f1bb99f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qByp2L)IMG_2228 (https://flic.kr/p/qByp2L) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

All listening was done in my system on my own and didn't blindfold myself so this is all just my own opinion take it or leave it :D
system used, Digital flac files from my silent PC via USB Young DAC and B4 Pre Amp
4mm + 2.5mm Van damme blue Studio grade speaker cable, Tannoy Precision 6.4 speakers B wired, I played the same track called "Exotica" from George Benson's Songs & Stories album and tried to match volume as well as I could
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7571/16156442217_ca4e383e03_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBFZoz)IMG_2224 (https://flic.kr/p/qBFZoz) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


These are the notes I took

Firstly the Voyagers :):)
Wide 3D image, Deep bass with Vice like grip, great detail, very musical, I love them 9.5/10

NCC 200 Amp with single shared 375Va transformer and power supply to the amp boards with no VBE, Hackercap 6s
Very similar sound to the voyagers only you loose some of the sound stage and subtleties, Bass was still very good but not as extended as the voyagers, Had great voice sound very vivid and again musical 8/10

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8627/16154742018_2955b45a50_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBxgYN)IMG_2218 (https://flic.kr/p/qBxgYN) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Hackernap amp
Shared 875Va torroid 4 x Hacker cap boards, soft start but not Vellemen speaker protection
Wow Id forgotten what a cracking amp this is Bass is clean and tight very good detail and imaging but not as wide as the voyager but treable is slightly better though :o again a very musical amp and very good in its own right 9/10

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8651/16341457212_d22a52cde5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU3eUh)IMG_2217 (https://flic.kr/p/qU3eUh) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

NCC200 no soft start (stolen) Avondale cap6, 375Va shared tranny in a 2U case
Considering this amp has been in my garage for the last 2 years it sounded very good, again the same sonic signature as all of the NCC200 and hackernap based amps, this one has a slightly softer sound but still with a stonking bass 7/10
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8673/16156159119_55275829fe_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qBExez)IMG_2216 (https://flic.kr/p/qBExez) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Rotel RB 960BX Mosfet amp again been in the loft for 5 years
Great bass Mid and treble a bit recessed losing some detail so a bit 2D and dark sounding, good amp though I used a pair of these for years and they have black gate caps in them :o 6/10
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/15719905124_5a6f863cc3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pX7C7Y)IMG_2220 (https://flic.kr/p/pX7C7Y) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


Quad 306
Used initially with the B4 pre amp
Jesus the little amp Kick a*se :D its very punchy and dynamic and very transparent but does sound a bit hard and unforgiving but with great pratt, I would say its very NAIM chrome bumber sound. I had to knock the volume back quite a bit as it is very sensitive compared to the other amps
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7544/16342320305_d34a150cac_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU7Etc)IMG_2222 (https://flic.kr/p/qU7Etc) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

With the 34 pre amp
This was a better match and the amp sounded more balanced and smoother but not as transparent in fact a little veiled and could still sound a bit hard. Still a fab little combination though and classic looks IMO 7/10
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7481/16340579801_db3e47e125_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qTXK5v)IMG_2225 (https://flic.kr/p/qTXK5v) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr


So overall and interesting listening session and all the power amplifiers were very good really and transparent. All of the NCC200 based amps have the same sonic signature and one I like very much silky smooth & musical vice like grip on bass and drum, nice 3D image.
The 2 outstanding winners IMO are the Hackernaps and the Voyagers with the Voyagers my overall favourite
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/16341453552_7577391cf3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU3dPb)IMG_2232 (https://flic.kr/p/qU3dPb) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr
Now I just have to put me system back together :rolleyes:

Alan

[Qwin]

Some great skills and attention to detail gone into all those builds Alan :thumbsup:

Nice to see you comparing some off the shelf offerings against your builds.

I was very impressed with the Voyagers when I heard them - Top draw stuff.

Just to point out a typo -You are using Van Damme (Blue) speaker cable which is the "Studio" series not the "Tour" (Black) series, but I think we all got what you meant. :)

[Ali Tait]

Alan, I only see one set of amp boards for sale on the Avondale site, is that what is used in the Voyagers?

[Jimbo]

Alan,

fabulous stuff, very impressed with the Voyager amps at NEBO. I could certainly live with those.

Are you building any to order:)?

[337alant]

Alan,

fabulous stuff, very impressed with the Voyager amps at NEBO. I could certainly live with those.

Are you building any to order:)?

Hi Jim
Thanks for that they are very good amps and I am very happy with them
No I only build them as a hobby for myself, never thought about building them for others ?, the availability of some parts is also not easy to get such as the VBE boards which aren't readily available, the Rcores were bought in a group buy on PFM but they could be replaced with torroids . The NCC200 boards are still available from LesW in Version 1.4

Avondale audio does still build them and also Which Hat Audio I believe

Alan

[337alant]

Alan, I only see one set of amp boards for sale on the Avondale site, is that what is used in the Voyagers?

Hi Ali
Yes that is the NCC-200 Ver 1.4 on LesW web site and what I used in the Voyagers you can build an amp with them alone with a shared power supply to the input and output stage of these amplifiers but the part that makes the voyager amplifiers that bit special is to supply the front end input with a regulated supply Via the VBE boards the first stage of this amp only requires a Quiet 12ma constant current supply, The 3rd stage (output) is best fed with a raw unregulated supply that has good current delivery for best transient performance (welly)

Alan

[Ali Tait]

Cheers Alan. Have to agree with Jim, a very fine sounding pair of amps.

[Marco]

Happy 500th post, Alan - may there be many more, mate! :cool:

Marco.

[337alant]

Happy 500th post, Alan - may there be many more, mate! :cool:

Marco.

Wow didn't realise that, thanks Marco :carrot:

Alan

[szczemirek]

Wow! Excellent job Alan :stalks:

[Colin Wonfor]

Wonderful workman ship great to see, make more please.

[337alant]

Thanks for the compliments guys and the voyagers are still sounding sweet and in daily use :eyebrows:

Alan