What to do with a couple of old heatsinks laying around from an old home made LED lighting system for an aquarium and a piece of left over red gum sleeper, make what I think has turned out to be a monster of an amp, an F5.
My first Pass amp but I know it will not be my last, as I truly reckon it ROCKS, maybe a bit clinical sounding but the tight and fast bottom end is awesome.
Critique welcome.
My first Pass amp but I know it will not be my last, as I truly reckon it ROCKS, maybe a bit clinical sounding but the tight and fast bottom end is awesome.
Critique welcome.
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Disclaimer: originally posted in the build thread not knowing this one existed.
#095 Vfet (N-channel) is up and running!
Has approx 1mV DC on the outputs with inputs shorted. Bias set to 14V. Gets warm but I don't need to let go of the heatsinks. Draws about 1 amp cold or warmed up.
Sounds great! No noise, hum, anything on the speakers. A really fun build.
#095 Vfet (N-channel) is up and running!
Has approx 1mV DC on the outputs with inputs shorted. Bias set to 14V. Gets warm but I don't need to let go of the heatsinks. Draws about 1 amp cold or warmed up.
Sounds great! No noise, hum, anything on the speakers. A really fun build.
Fugly!

- there can't be any DC Offset at output, output coupling cap is blocking DC; what you are seeing with your measurement is nothing else than confused DMM

- there can't be any DC Offset at output, output coupling cap is blocking DC; what you are seeing with your measurement is nothing else than confused DMM
I like the ring terminals holding the wiring. Very nice build. I have an Apt/Holman preamp also, I bought it in 1979, my first audiophile preamp.
Very nice!
(Although, to be finicky, the vertical alignment of the amp-board isn’t as good as a horizontal alignment—the temperature won‘t be spreaded as nicely, and the upper fet has to take more heat…)
Beautiful wood panels!
Agree that the amp boards would be better mounted horizontally.
@speakes1: Very nice build! 👍
As the sinks are split horizontally, I think it is the right way to mount the boards. 🤔
Yes, the sinks are split horizontally, measuring 100mm X 300mm each, 2 on each side. Each fet is about 1/3rd of the way up from the bottom of each sink. It is a bit unconventional, I have no accurate way of measuring each fet temp except for my fingers, but I think it works ok🙂
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I like those feet too. Why? - Because I have a strange addiction to these kind of aluminum profiles... 
Cheers
Dirk

Cheers
Dirk
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Thanks, all.
The ACA Mini is a cute little amp, but sounds very sophisticated. Definitely in the family with the other Pass amps I have.
I haven’t spent much time with it yet (crazy busy week), but hope to compare it with the VFet in the coming days. Since it’s the most recent amp I’ve built, I think it may be the best. 😎
The ACA Mini is a cute little amp, but sounds very sophisticated. Definitely in the family with the other Pass amps I have.
I haven’t spent much time with it yet (crazy busy week), but hope to compare it with the VFet in the coming days. Since it’s the most recent amp I’ve built, I think it may be the best. 😎
Good evening!
My IXYS-Mosfet-Monoblocks are running nicely. All is stable and sounds really good...
Now it is time to send them to the 'Beauty-salon'.
They will not be the women in red - more the women in black.
I have added two layers of different materials ('plexiglas' dark grey translucent and 'dibond' - a material made of plastic and two thin layers of aluminum). In the mid a 'porthole' to have a look to the transformer.
No analog-meter for bias - sorry!
Cheers
Dirk 🧐
My IXYS-Mosfet-Monoblocks are running nicely. All is stable and sounds really good...

Now it is time to send them to the 'Beauty-salon'.
They will not be the women in red - more the women in black.
I have added two layers of different materials ('plexiglas' dark grey translucent and 'dibond' - a material made of plastic and two thin layers of aluminum). In the mid a 'porthole' to have a look to the transformer.
No analog-meter for bias - sorry!
Cheers
Dirk 🧐
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