Hi,
I went to a local hifi shop in Bangkok to look for new speakers to match my DIY 3886. Some are quite interesting such as, Polk R200, Triangle BR03, some Wharfedales and Dali, ...
The things is, I found lots of commercially available LM3886 amps. The shop use Quad Vena II Play for demos, I notice slightly warm and slightly bassy on the Quad (and I felt my DIY amp is tighter in bass). The shop also offers Leak 130 and Cambridge Audio AXA35 which I believe that all use 3886, albeit, different configuration and implementation.
Anyone has objectively tested those amps? Or maybe subjectively demo them? What's your thought, some of them offer great value when think about feature set (I wish to add remote to my DIY!) in neat package. They certainly lack of customizability and fun though. No adding oversize power transformer here! The most expensive is Leak Stereo 130 which I think it uses a 200VA transformer.
Best,
AP
I went to a local hifi shop in Bangkok to look for new speakers to match my DIY 3886. Some are quite interesting such as, Polk R200, Triangle BR03, some Wharfedales and Dali, ...
The things is, I found lots of commercially available LM3886 amps. The shop use Quad Vena II Play for demos, I notice slightly warm and slightly bassy on the Quad (and I felt my DIY amp is tighter in bass). The shop also offers Leak 130 and Cambridge Audio AXA35 which I believe that all use 3886, albeit, different configuration and implementation.
Anyone has objectively tested those amps? Or maybe subjectively demo them? What's your thought, some of them offer great value when think about feature set (I wish to add remote to my DIY!) in neat package. They certainly lack of customizability and fun though. No adding oversize power transformer here! The most expensive is Leak Stereo 130 which I think it uses a 200VA transformer.
Best,
AP
I think the only thing to say is that if you do it properly - following @tomchr ”done right” there is no reason why a home brew wont be at least as good as the commercial offering, and possibly better. Most ‘features’ are pretty superfluous / marketing ploys. Keep it simple. My amp - one input therefore no switching because I use one source, a volume control because thats all I use. There is a certain beauty in simplicity.
I've had the Neurochrome 3886DR, ESP P19 and Arcam FMJ A19 and would pick the Arcam any day as it's a complete package and sounds great (reminds me a little of the old AKSA 55N+). The DIY LM3886 amps do sound great as well but depends on the active pre amp it is partnered with (I do not like passive pre amps). The Arcam seems to have it's pre section matched to suit the power amp so you seem to get the most out of the chip. Apparently the replacement for the FMJ A19 is supposed to be not as good in the sound but I haven't heard it.
Saying that, I do use the P19 with a small commercial streaming pre amp and sounds very good indeed.
All depends what you want to get out of it like DIY or a ready made solution. Either way you should be able to get satisfying sound.
Saying that, I do use the P19 with a small commercial streaming pre amp and sounds very good indeed.
All depends what you want to get out of it like DIY or a ready made solution. Either way you should be able to get satisfying sound.
No doubt the Arcam is a fine amplifier but its preamp section is straightforward and easily reproduced if that is what you want - they are kind enough to publish their schematics https://www.arcam.co.uk/ugc/tor/a19/Service Manual/L224CT_schematics_2-0.pdf. As @rabbitz says if you want the full package it is a good choice. They were pretty costly in their day though. Put it this way; for the price of new FMJ A19 at that time you could have made yourself a DR chip amp, a perfectly good (and every bit as well 'matched' preamp), bought a good DAC and had enough left over for a decent pair of speakers. It horses for courses. There is no hobby element is buying an (albeit beautifully) finished product. I guess I just like tweaking (messing about!) too much.
And personally I am not a fan of IC based volume control. Seems like an answer in search of a question - But that's just me!
There's a lot of differences between types, just as with opamps, and chipamps.
I've actually experience with IC based volume control which is basically a switched resistor setup, CS3318 type stuff.
I could not detect any negative side effects. Using other IC switches like the DG4 and 74HC series I could.
That's a decade past though.
Jan
Yes you can build a system for the price of the Arcam. Here's a DIY system I tried to give away that's about the price of the Arcam and a very modest performer.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/free-preamp-lm1875-amp-speakers-newcastle-aus.365468/
DIY has only value to the builder and is about the journey and satisfaction. I've been in the DIY game for decades with over 50 electronic projects and a similar number of design and build speakers and I can't design and build a great speaker for the price of the Arcam and if you want a great amplifier like the SAKSA 85, then you need more than the price of the Arcam. There is no value to DIY items and I've had to give most away and at best sell for 10-20% of the build cost whereas I sold the Arcam for 40% of the new price after 7 years.
There's merit in both paths and DIY is about the enjoyment and satisfaction but both are not cheap if you want good results. Most of my best DIY systems would be at least 3 times the price of the Arcam. Recently I've been getting rid of my DIY stuff and most have to be scrapped for parts as they sell better than the finished item.
I have no issue with IC components in audio gear and almost all I have left uses them. I have very little now that uses items like potentiometers or mechanical switches.