DIY Power amp

[nomismo]

Hi, I am relatively new here, i am looking for ideas for a high quality power amp/mono blocks to replace my aging Meridian 557s.
Obviously some thing with plenty of current would be ideal, the speakers to be driven are a pair of Kef ref 203's mk2.
So any thoughts please.

[walpurgis]

Hi nomismo.

What do you mean you're "relatively new". You've been a (rather quiet) member for over four years. :D

Can you please add a name to your profile, so we know who we're addressing. Thanks.

As for the Meridian 557s, well I think you'll have to go some to better those. They are fine amps.

Are you asking for a kit recommendations to build your own amps? I'm asking, because this is the Drawing Board section for projects. If you just want recommendations for already built manufacturers amps, then this post could really go in the Blank Canvas area where more people will see what you want and answer you. Let me know and I can move it if need be.


Geoff.

[DSJR]

+1 on the 557's...

[walpurgis]

Thanks for putting your name on Simon.

[337alant]

If you are looking to DIY build 2 new mono blocks the Avondale audio Voyagers are superb
You would need to contact Les Wolstenholm for circuit boards
You would need
2 x NCC200 amplifier boards
2 x VBE boards for the front end supply
2 x minicap 6 rectifier and smoothing boards for the front end supply.
2 x Cap 6 smoothing & Rectifier boards for the output supply
2 x cases
2 dual supply transformers or 4 x seperate transformers to power input and output supply each amp.
There is a group buy for some of this stuff at the moment on PFM

Another good amp is the Hackernap amp from PFM

Here is a picture of my build of both of those amps, the one on the left is the stereo Hackernap and the one on the right is a single mono block Voyager

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7523/16341453552_7577391cf3_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qU3dPb)IMG_2232 (https://flic.kr/p/qU3dPb) by Alan Towell (https://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan

[Audio Advent]

How about very simple builds using Class D amplifiers? Normally they need nothing more than connecting a ready-made power supply to a ready-made board and the rest is about sorting out cabling, cases and connectors etc. Some even have their own power supplies on board so you just plug in the mains and input connectors.

Some people speak of Hypex as being the very best amps whatsoever with their NC400 boards for example. Or there are IcePower boards which are used in some high-end products like Jeff Rowland (that's a high-end brand anyway, so I guess you can say they judged the Icepower boards as good enough for their reputation).

Then some say they don't like class-D at all... such is subjectivity.

[r100]

What about a Gainclone kit from Peter Daniel (http://www.audiosector.com/lm3875.shtml) or from Chipamp (https://chipamp.com) ? They are quite cheap, very easy to build and sound fantastic IMHO. You'll need to add a toroidal transformer or two and a case . It is also possible to use a SMPS (see http://www.decdun.me.uk/gainclonesmps.html) ... I've had hypex amps which also sound very good but they are more expensive to build. Also Quad, NVA, various Class-D amps, etc. to compare to but considering the price the Gainclone is a very, very good little amp.

Greets :)

[Puffin]

You can't really go wrong with the Peter Daniels boards. I have built many GC's, one was a PD (Audiosector) one. They sound very good for the money. Of course you have to source all the components (unless he now sells full kits) and transformer.

I have built GC's point to point (i.e not PCB based) using the info on Decibel Dungeon (Nick Whetstone who made the site reviews for TNT Audio)

Have you seen this by the way?

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?38054-What-are-your-HiFi-2015-projects/page10

[r100]

Absolutely, my experience as well :)
I have one from Audiosector (image below) and one from Chipamp and both sound fabulous to my ears. I'd like to build one point-to-point without a PCB as you did. Is the SQ better than the ones build on top of a PCB ?

15038

[Puffin]

I always felt that the P2P one's I built sounded better simply because I have put more effort into them :). I built some P2P LM3875 monoblocks with the regulated ps modules, IMO they sounded the best of all. I also built some Bridged LM3886 amps which give in excess of 100w per channel. IMO the LM3886 is a brighter (harsher?) sounding chip to the 3875.

[DSJR]

Just found this thread again and want to confirm (again) just how good the meridian 557's are. Kit amps are huge fun though, but DON'T replace the 557's just yet ;)

[r100]

:) probably not ! but its price is about 10x higher :eyebrows: as far as I can see. Power consumption is probably much higher as well. But that having been said, the Meridian 557 looks a fine piece of kit.. greets

[Colin Wonfor]

He is a nice P-P A Class I did a few years back and it works well in Bridge giving with the right PSU 400W into 2R, as a non bridge amp the PSU volts can be pushed to +50V,-50V and it is a beast. And not using FET's which is a change for me, as get all goose bumps when I read FET Spec. brrrrrr

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o580/colinwonfor1/monster%20amp_zpsjyitirxy.jpg

[Drenalin]

Hi.

If you have the possibility to listen to a first watt f5 turbo? Go try it.
That would be if a 100 class A watts is enough for your needs.

[Colin Wonfor]

Hi Drenalin,

I have nice amp but power hungry and not my sound I like.
Nelson Amps are lovely, the Iridium was compared with one of his I think on "Six Moons".

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/telluriumq/1.html

My friend Alan has a Nelson Amp again lovely sound.

Best Col

[Audio Advent]

He is a nice P-P A Class I did a few years back and it works well in Bridge giving with the right PSU 400W into 2R, as a non bridge amp the PSU volts can be pushed to +50V,-50V and it is a beast. And not using FET's which is a change for me, as get all goose bumps when I read FET Spec. brrrrrr

http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o580/colinwonfor1/monster%20amp_zpsjyitirxy.jpg


Many thanks Colin for sharing that! I shall squirrel away the image for a future date perhaps.