Amp Kit

[vcautokid]

Bottlehead is cool. Do they still have that long turnaround though?

[pedrocols]

Feb 26, 2015 23:24:18 GMT -5 leonski said:

No mention of Allied Knight Kits? I had a Star Roamer when I was a kid and later built a VTVM (vacuum tube volt meter) which had the advantage over the VOM of having a VERY high input impedance and thus minimal circuit loading.

My friends had a Heathkit Color TV which the WIFE assembled. Great set. The FIRST thing assembled was a built-in METER to ease further assembly.

Hope you realise this thread is two years old and that the OP hasn't reply to any of the posts.

[vcautokid]

Always also remember you build kits for fun, and modifying it to be your spec component. You cannot beat cost wise what a quality component already built is, but like I said depends on what you want in your components. Kits can run allot of money.

[leonski]

I'd LOVE to build a new version of the Dynaco Stereo 70. This is a classic design with dozens if not hundreds of modificiations available and published.
You can even replace the tube rectifier with a complete SolidState sub-assembly. I think you can get different tubes for it, too.

www.kandkaudio.com/power-amplifier/

Here is just ONE of PAGES of sites with changes, mods, alterations and outright craziness. I mean, this amp is 50 or so years old, if a day. And it continues to have
quite a following.

vc? You there? Want some FUN? this might be the ultimate expression of 'fun with an amp'. And yes, you're gonna need some DEEP pockets if you go all-in.

[pedrocols]

You can built these babies and some other amp kits including the st-70...they sound fantastic! Amp Kits

[novisnick]

Jun 27, 2013 17:28:13 GMT -5 meldhache said:

You know you are not allowed to sleep etc lol

Sleep is highly over rated,,,,,,,and as everyone already knows! ,,,,there's plenty of time to sleep when your dead!!!       

[vcautokid]

Jun 28, 2013 10:16:02 GMT -5 mgbpuff said:

Jun 28, 2013 10:08:35 GMT -5 @rlw said:

>> Heathkit was entirely kits...<<

Heathkit would factory-build your kit for an additional charge. I built an AR-15 receiver when I was 12 years old. It was a VERY ambitious project for me (hundreds of parts, LOTS of point-point wiring) and I almost sent it into the factory for them to complete. Fortunately, my Dad (a VERY accomplished EE) came to the rescue and bailed me out. Won't do that again...

-RW-

Didn't know that. I built the 27' Color Tv in a huge console. It lasted 12 or 13 years as our main tv. There was a Heathkit store in Parma, Oh. in the 70's when I lived in Cleveland.

I had an old Technics isoloop reel to reel and made piano black end caps for it. Not really hard, but you have allot of prep,to make them just right though, before paint.

[wizardofoz]

If you like the idea of diy try getting the wife to connect your gear up after you disconnect it all for a rewire..that should give you an idea of the support issues. Might also help with the WAF when she complains why all this upgrading and stuff....you can say see im at home playing hifi instead of down the pub/track/sports venue...hehehehe

I remember Tandy and RadioShack and we had a few more to boot in nz and oz that most of you would never have heard of too. Dick smith and jay car to name a few that actually still exist but in far less of a diyer's paradise.

[leonski]

PEDROCOLS: MAN, What a pair of Beauties! Spectacula, even. I'd love to see the build quality from UNDER, where ALL the nasty stuff lives.
I'll bet heavily your Panels LOVE those amps.

And as for MY WIFE doing anything mechanical? Good and Best of luck. Her entire FAMILY has near-zero mechanical / electrical aptitude. The tool limit for that bunch is somewhere
arount Butter Knife and Bludgeon.

[audiobill]

The best kits, preamps and amps are to be found at tubes4hifi.com.

Pedrocols and Blumeanies have heard them, for testimonials.

[pedrocols]

Feb 28, 2015 12:22:23 GMT -5 leonski said:

PEDROCOLS: MAN, What a pair of Beauties! Spectacula, even. I'd love to see the build quality from UNDER, where ALL the nasty stuff lives.
I'll bet heavily your Panels LOVE those amps.

And as for MY WIFE doing anything mechanical? Good and Best of luck. Her entire FAMILY has near-zero mechanical / electrical aptitude. The tool limit for that bunch is somewhere
arount Butter Knife and Bludgeon.

I have made some changes but this is how they looked when I first built them.

[audiobill]

Feb 27, 2015 9:44:44 GMT -5 vcautokid said:

Always also remember you build kits for fun, and modifying it to be your spec component. You cannot beat cost wise what a quality component already built is, but like I said depends on what you want in your components. Kits can run allot of money.

Just not true at all.  Here's one I just did for someone:

Attachments:

[leonski]

Good workmanship. Nice organization. Maybe, would better use of color in the wiring help any later troubleshooting?
I'm glad to see some DIY guys around here.
I'll check out the linked sites for any active crossovers to build.

[pedrocols]

Feb 28, 2015 22:15:51 GMT -5 leonski said:

Good workmanship. Nice organization. Maybe, would better use of color in the wiring help any later troubleshooting?
I'm glad to see some DIY guys around here.
I'll check out the linked sites for any active crossovers to build.

Precisely. However, the instructions are very thorough and once you build the amp you basically know where everything connects to.

[leonski]

Sometimes I wish I had some fairly sensitive speakers with low reactance and a fair impedance curve. That way i could experiment with some tube stuff.
That '70, above is nice, too. And with some modern touches.
And in a quick look around, there must be half a dozen or MORE places to get the Stereo 70 KIT, complete, mods or anything ELSE you may need. I even saw one where the
rectifier part was replaced with Solid State!

[audiobill]

IMO, with good tube amps, you don't need insane power, it's all about the sound quality.

Tubes4hifi.com

[leonski]

Tell that to my Panels. Mid/low 80's for sensitivity. And while Magnepan, up in White Bear Lake, uses some fairly low powered stuff in the Office, you can't get away with that in your house.
Normal listening levels and all. I took some measures once and if I can believe them (cheap DVM, no scope) I was around 15 to 20 watts per speaker.
Tube gear? SURE! Your 125 a side amps should work. Atmasphere and AR are frequently mentioned. I just think the Stereo 70 would be pushing it. My buddy was using a tube amp (per side)
for his MG20 BIAMP setup using an EMO mono per speaker and keeping the frequencies apart with a Marchand Crossover. VERY nice and no lack of juice.

[audiobill]

Well, my 1.7's sang with my M-125s, in an 16,000 cubic foot room....that's 20'wx20'hx40'l.

[leonski]

No surprise. I like it LOUD once in a while. I take requests from the neighbors! In the old days, my MG-1 (late 70s vintage) would pretty much drain a Carver M-400t of 200x2 @8. A little better into the 5 ohms of the now retired Maggies.
Room also is a BIG contributor. If you have a HUGE room, I'd wager the 125 would come up a little short with 1.7s, unless your preference was to the lower level end of the spectrum.
I could see them working for me, too, in a smaller space or an apartment where annoying levels would get my lynched.
Today? I have a PAIR of Parasound A23, one per speaker. That's 200x2@4 PER panel.

I sort of wish I COULD mess with tubes. If I had speakers of 88db or greater sensitivity, I'd be forced to give 'em a try!

Glad your 1.7senjoy those M-125s. Good job.

[bluemeanies]

This is a small testimonial about tubes amps that I have experience recently.

I had always in my search for that near perfect sound been willing to spend a little more than what I originally proposed for my budget. It's human nature.
Over the years I have spent enough money for several systems always wanting improvement both in my equipment and listening experience.
It took me a long time to realize how quickly I become disappointed after purchasing a piece of audio equipment (speakers, amps, processor) since sound quality quickly disappears once I set things up in my room. My room is ascouticlly balanced and was designed NOT to be the perfect square or rectangle for both HT and 2channel listening. Yet I have never quite experienced the same quality in sound in my home as I have in a Home and Audio B&M store.
On my recent quest for attaining the live experience, the movement of a guitarist's hand moving back and forth on the frets of a guitar, the clear sound of Diana Krall's walking her fingers up and down the keyboard I thought I would consider stepping up my speakers to a higher level. Thinking that is what I will have to do to attain a higher quality of sound.

I had spent many hours searching and listening to all kinds of speakers. I was discouraged but determined. The speakers that I was listening to and comparing with my B&W804S were IMO not worth trading in and having to spend additional funds. After more than one demonstration I sat and listened to what I have and realized the value I would receive in a trade to own a better pair of speakers was not worth it in dollars.
The search was still on.
I later became friends on another forum with a generous gentleman who decided to lend a hand an guide me to what we both agreed we wanted to hear from a recording and how he had attained his dream system. He invited me to take a listen to his partially handmade, hands on 2channel system.
It was comprised of Bob Latino's m125 mono-blocks driving a pair of Dynaudio Gemini speakers using a Grace Design m920 high resolution monitoring system. The speakers came in a kit and are not available at present. The m125's need no explanation.

From the first recording which by the way came from Tidal, the recording was very open and spatial. It much sounded like a live recording with the artist in the room center stage and I, seated in the front row. Every note played was as if the artist was there in the room and for the first time in my audio experience I found out what is meant by the WARMTH presented in listening to TUBE AMPLIFIERS, Bob Latino' m125's were exquisite to the taste of my music palate.
The physical appeal to the m125's were industrial. The power was INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH! The transformers were painted black and as I was told I would be able to paint them any color I would chose....FERRARI RED?...a thought. Looking at the chassis of the m125 (16 gauge are my thoughts) I would compare its build quality to a military tank made from brushed stainless steel. Rough, tough and ready.
I have found that my 500 watt mono-blocks while having the power and giving me plenty of headroom have cheated me with presentation, sound quality and nuances that I have experience with the m125's
Sonically the m125's are fast and open.
IMHO when it comes to any audio products it boils down to parts, tubes or solid state. The quality of parts put into the m125's are without reproach. Like many I have spent countless hours on AUDIOGON and Audio Mart searching and re-searching for a quality piece amplifier while having Bob Latino's masterful amplifiers right in front of my face.
I also understand the allure for such amplifiers such as McIntosh which are very well constructed and thought out in engineering design but have always thought that there are other manufactures out there that are not nearly as costly and give a better bang for the buck.
The Dynaco m125 tube amplifier delivers that approach and in its first performance in MY presence delivered clarity, detail and warmth for a fraction of the cost of what McIntosh and many others deliver.

I finally found my Golden Fleece.