Ultra-high end DIY amp recommendations

[mlihl]

Hi everyone,

I currently own a pair of excellent DIY speakers with focal
drivers and ribbon tweeters which are driven by an Accuphase
E-408 integrated amp and a heavily modified Accuphase
CD-Player.

Now I am looking for a recommendation for the ultimate
DIY amp to power highs and mids in bi-amping
(something like Class A or a tube mono). Since I am not a
professional, I cannot develop this stuff by myself.

Is there any true high-end DIY solution rivaling the quality
of Accuphase in terms of quality and performance? I want
the bass to be managed by my Accuphase while the DIY
amp should take care of the higher frequencies. My speaker
is quite efficient so power is not really an issue.

Thanks for your advice,

Michael

 

[cunningham]

Go with tubes, if you can afford it. I am not that experienced in designing tube circuits so if you want to go this route, post on the tube fourum. I do know that a tube circuit would be much simpler to build and have less componants.😉

 

[jleaman]

Go with a aleph 2 or 1 : O ) i have heavly invested alot of money into my amps the aleph 2's : O ) soon some day to be done.. L: O )

 

[wigginjs]

Leach amp? I don't know if this design qualifies as "ultra high end", but I've been very pleased with the results. Perhaps others can comment on how it sounds compared to many other well known commercial amps. I've got a guide on how I built mine on my website (sig).

 

[tg3]

Take a look at the AKSA amps from Aspen Amplifiers.

 

[Jan-Peter]

Perhaps you can take a look to this thread about a DIY Class-D amp;

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38199

Regards,

Jan-Peter

 

[peranders]

I like the title of this thread: Ultra high end. What is "high end"? and what is "ultra high end"... which you can do it yourself? You don't have to answer but "high end" is a label that manufactures and journalists put on certain products. Has it to do with sound reproduction really?

Check also this:

http://www.ampslab.com

http://www.mirand.dk

http://www.audio-circuit.dk/

 

[sonnya]

I do think that products like:

1) my A1 V11

2) PERANDERS gainclone

3) BRIANGT gainclone

4) Amps build on TDA7293A which are designed to be extended in power by adding extra TDA7293A's.. linn uses them in some of their highend products

5) AKSA 55/100W amps which are simple and good sounding

If you are into Class D?

6) LC Audio

7) Hypex UCD180.

What makes the biggest difference between a highend and a normal amp design has a lot to do how good the powersupply is.
How clean and how low the noise and ripple is..

 

[HFGuy]

Lots of "high end" amp manufactures started off as DIY ppl. Commerical designs dont use magical circuits or parts they are simple an amp that has gone thro alot of trial and error to maximize the performance for a particular part cost.

 

[analog_sa]

Is there any true high-end DIY solution rivaling the quality
of Accuphase in terms of quality and performance?

You seem to like your Accuphase. Why dont'y you build a clone with better parts/better PS. At least you'll have an easily accessible reference upon which won't be that hard to improve not being constrained by commercial production.

 

[sam9]

You can find schematics on the Accuphase website but they include some "mystery blocks". At least that is what I call them. Circuit elements the manufacturer chooses not to disclose.

However, you might want to check out the Opti-MOS on www.sealelectronics.com. If you look through the forum, I think you will find that most who have experience with it rate it very highly. If you want to go totally high-end in construction details, use http://www.partsconnexion.com and http://www.percyaudio.com as sources for components suich as holco resistor (gold plated copper leads), BG caps (while they last), silver plated teflon coated hookup wire, WBT binding posts, etc, etc.

If you also want a unique enclosure and have some skill, the following resources might help: wwwonlinemetals.com, http://www.frontpanelexpress.com, and http://www.emachineshop.com.

For an awsome transformer, look at the fully encapsulated transformers from www.plitron.com

If you really want to rival a commercial high-end amp the choice of amplifier circuit is just the starting point.

 

[analog_sa]

You can find schematics on the Accuphase website but they include some "mystery blocks".

I assumed that as he's got the Accuphase already the 'mystery blocks' are kinda given 🙂

 

[jleaman]

why not build some pass lab's stuff ?