ppl: Gee, thanks But let me assure you there was no vision or anything involved - just sheer, unadulterated laziness. And an interest in learning a bit more about DIY, of course.

Regarding your amps (at least the ones that are commonly referred to as yours), as you stated, a schematic is only a starting point... that's why (I think) only a few people have ever built your amps - they're just too complex to do on protoboard unless you have the experience of Apheared et al. The KGCA is similar - but there's a PCB for it, so people who would normally be scared stiff by the complexity of the schematic ("It's got TRANSISTORS! And more than four of them! " [just kidding, I wouldn't want to do it on protoboard either; but then again I'm a protoboardphobic]) are sending emails in Antness' direction and learning that opamps aren't the only way to build amplifiers.

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What's the KGCA? Is that one of the KG amps for Stax headphones? If so, who's selling PCBs?

antness

OK, so KGCA is the same as the Kevin Gilmore dynamic amp.

Anyway, that amp can't be used for Stax headphones.

KGCA == Kevin Gilmore Class A, Kevin's dynamic headphone amplifier.

KGSS == Kevin Gilmore Solid State, Kevin's solid state headphone amplifier.

And I guess then the following would also be true, although I've never seen them used:

KGVT or KGVS == Kevin Gilmore Vacuum Tube or Kevin Gilmore Vacuum State, Kevin's vacuum tube electrostatic headphone amlifier

KGIWC == Kevin Gilmore Insane Water Cooled, Kevin's insane water cooled 800wpc 164-transistor speaker amplifier

and KGH == Kevin Gilmore Hybrid, Kevin's unreleased hybrid electrostatic headphone amplifier

On the credit thing, I always thought the META would be better called the PAT-ME 42.

For what it's worth, I've just finished a rework of the META42 History page. I hope it makes it clearer who has done what to those who weren't here to see it.

That's the core problem, really: we're mostly a bunch of people all entering the story late. The history is being recounted by people who are going on incomplete recollection, myself included.

ppl

I apologize. In my haste to review the META42 amplifier, I didn't contact you and should have. The review was titled Tangent's META42 because he assembles and sells the one I actually reviewed. The review is posted here:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showth...threadid=15700

What I said about design specifically:
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In truth, I did not know how exactly you had contributed to the amplifier design and it was irresponsible of me to post this without asking.

If you or someone else can tell me better what you should be credited for I will at least update the review so that future readers will read the correct version.

Please accept my apology for the oversight.


Voodoochile (SRV's cover is like the best ever, btw)
Welcome to Head-Fi. Let us know your impressions of how the stacked 2001s end up working out for you. I'm rather curious and many people have suggested it makes a significant improvement. Post pics if you can.

kelly & Tangent >thanks.

Toe> Da That was not my Complaint.

I like the reworking, Tangent, and hope everyone else does as well. If you do need to rework the acronym someday (I seem to perpetually swap the T and the A), how about "ppl's 42# MEAT"?

Kidding, and I hope I don't get banned for that.

Kelly- I'll let you know how the stacked 2002s sound asap. I'm working a 28 hour shift right now (database conversion) so it's going to be a couple of days. I'm also drawing up another flavor with a pair of OPA627s, and four BUF634s per channel.

I had a sideline question regarding that (for ppl): "is there any reason I can't use the same JFET cascode on the aforementioned design?"

Pictures will be up by this weekend as well.

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ROFL!!!!
MUCH cooler than my suggestion!

My origenal Portable started out with am pair of Buf-634 wil the Bias pin connected tto a Ft Pan Sw to allow user selected Bias Hi Quality or lang run Time, I consider one of my True Origenal creations This evolved in to 3 BUF-634's And 3 BUF-634 OPA-627 CRD + Resistor opamp Bias Newer versions but use the EL-2008 replacing the BUF-634.s That amp I use at Stationary outdoor locations, Sometimes Carry in Sholder Bag. VGD 30K per rail cap I still use it on my PC The.

Thanks, ppl. I'll likely march on with the BUF634s since I have them, but will try to grab a few 2008s as well. Scarce, but out there.

Pictures finally...




The last shot attemts to show how tight (vertically) the caps are in the Hammond box. Am I the only one who likes the natural anodized finish of this box? Seems everyone has black. The PC board is about 1/8" off the bottom. Behind the caps is the power supply board. An LM317, output caps, etc., mounted on phenolic spacers. The Talema toroidal transformer is in the immediate foreground, mounted upside-down with a through-bolt... yes, with a locknut . There is also a small EMI filter attached to the inside end of the IEC inlet. The mini LED is not grommeted, but rather a small hole was drilled, then slightly reamed to fit very tightly around the LED. I was going to dab some hot-melt on the back, but I think I'd have to use a center-punch to remove it as it is. Ideally, I'd grind the face down flush with the panel, but I chickened out.

These pics show the EL2001s installed, along with an AD823. Presently, I have a pair of EL2002s stacked on each side, and a pair of AD8610s on a browndog. I do indeed like the added (perception?) of a wider scope offered by the 2002s. I guess , I'm no audiophile, but I am known to be a picky SOB. I love the sound, suffice to say. Thanks again to everyone who helped me make the leap into this. Directly, and inadvertently through their past posts. I have spent many hours combing through searches. THANKS!

(edited for crappy typing)

Great work. It looks really professional! I wish my amps looked that nice...
Cosmetically you could replace those phillips screws with some stainless (or just black oxide) socket head screws, that would make it look even better IMO.

And if there's any way you can make your powersupply dual you may want to do that since you can then eliminate the virtual ground driver circuit.