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High-End DIY

post #1 of 52
7/29/08 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 
Looking at the Beta22 thread on this forum got me thinking: Which DIY/mod projects stand up to the big guns listed in this forum. I personally prefer to build my own equipment, and I'm sure many others do, so a list of high-end DIY projects seems like valuable information.

Off the top of my head, I could think of:
-Beta22
-Bottlehead sex kit
-Opus dac
-Modified Sony PS1
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post #2 of 52
7/29/08 at 5:05pm
Take a look at the projects listed over at Headwize. There are a number of very high quality amps listed.
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post #3 of 52
7/29/08 at 5:08pm
Audio Note UK supplies DIY material for your projects, including their awesome speakers & DACs.

If you want to keep it real & old school/hard-core, look into building a L'Audiophile amp designed by Jean Hiraga. For the more traditional-minded, you can do a DIY Pass amp.

If I had space & DIY-skeelz, I'd probably try to build my own monster speakers with Tannoy Red, PHY, or Altec Lansing drivers.

Probably the most well-known DIY project is the Garrard 301/401 project, making the plinth.

IMHO, any Sony PS1 mod just isn't worth it; I've had two different modded versions of PS1, but the original was clearly better. It's weird why that is, but that's how it is. The original SCPH-1001, warts and all, was much better than any modded version with fancy caps, etc.
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post #4 of 52
7/29/08 at 5:13pm
Dynahi, KGBH, KGSS, some of the tube amp designs out there....
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post #5 of 52
7/29/08 at 5:35pm
Some of the Borbely Audio kits as well, based on what I've been told.
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post #6 of 52
7/29/08 at 5:36pm
How about the Buffalo too?
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post #7 of 52
7/29/08 at 8:56pm
If you consider any other comercial portable amp as high end, the the mini3 as well.

The M3 with o11 could also be considered high end.

Yeah the bufalo from TPA should be in the high end category as well.

The millett max is an high end hibrid amp as well.

The bijou is an high end all tube amp.

The menace at least from the specs and parts used by n_maher in his build could also be in the high end.

The EZ DAC since it uses the flagship DAC fomr TI and a no nonsense aproach.

And so on and so on...
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post #8 of 52
7/29/08 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Nice, all kinds of kits/designs I'd never heard of on the site or forgotten about Exactly the kind of information I was hoping would pop up.

@penger: If the opus is included, the buffalo probably should be as well since it's supposed to be a bit better right?
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post #9 of 52
7/29/08 at 9:31pm
You should take a look at Michael Percy Audio, too. No kits or plans, but you can get all those wonderful exotic parts from him. If you want to spend $12 for a resistor, you can.
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post #10 of 52
7/29/08 at 9:32pm
@dgbiker1: Yeah. I've heard on multiple accounts from Russ and Brian that the Buffalo is better. Not only on the specs sheet, but sound wise as well.
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post #11 of 52
8/1/08 at 4:36am
Is there a thread where someone compares the Twisted Pear DACs to other known high end gear. I've read a lot about TP gear, but no real reviews...
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post #12 of 52
8/2/08 at 10:08am
I have built a 3886 Chip Amp (Class D), that I believe competes with a ton of other stuff priced 10X as much.

Check out the kits at Audio Sector - BrianGT also has a 3886 kit that is a great sounding amp.

I was totally floored by the detail, soundstage, black quiet, and cost of such amps.

I also have an amp I build with Hypex 180ST/Power Supply modules, and that is even better than the 3886 amp I built, albeit more than 4X more expensive, too.
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post #13 of 52
8/2/08 at 10:16am
Hmm.. IMHO, I've only seen one person in head-fi that actually does high-end DIY.

His tweak threads are truly entertaining to read

Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio - View Profile: Patrick82

A single object of his tweaks often cost more than a lot of people's entire setup in head-fi. I guess whatever floats the boat eh?
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post #14 of 52
8/2/08 at 12:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MeanWillieGreen View Post
I have built a 3886 Chip Amp (Class D), that I believe competes with a ton of other stuff priced 10X as much.

Check out the kits at Audio Sector - BrianGT also has a 3886 kit that is a great sounding amp.

I was totally floored by the detail, soundstage, black quiet, and cost of such amps.

I also have an amp I build with Hypex 180ST/Power Supply modules, and that is even better than the 3886 amp I built, albeit more than 4X more expensive, too.
The 3886 is TI's current out DAC chip right?
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post #15 of 52
8/2/08 at 1:50pm
LM3886 chip amp from National Semiconductor. It's neither a DAC, nor is it class D.
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