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Another Noob who want to start DIY

post #1 of 9
5/25/10 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 

How would I go about starting?

 

I have read sites like AMB some times over seeing what is need but I'm not really a read and do person. More like a visual watch and do with videos or pictures. I have decent experience with soldering as I often solder led lighting for my internship. However understanding what pieces are needed and how to go about buying them is the hard part.

 

I simply do not know where/how to start. Too many pieces and too many options. I guess that is the beauty of DIY but its quite intimidating to newbies.

 

Thus far the only reason I haven't already started is because of aesthetics. Some case I've seen looks beautiful. Others not so much. Sure the insides might count more but if I am going to have an Amp sitting on my desk it better not be an eye-sore. I saw the sticky with the links to prebuilt cases but frankly none of them are that pretty or refined as cases from prebuilt manufacturers. Also I will so no longer have an access to a machine shop as I am graduating college soon. So cases with predrilled holes are a big plus but I do not know where to look. I guess I can always buy a drill. That shouldn't be too hard.

 

All these are considerations on whether I want to start or not. I currently do not own a soldering iron or multimeter but those can be picked up easily...unlike the infinite amount of components.

 

ALSO

 

Which AMP/DAC should I start with? It doesn't have to be a newbie DIY as I will take precaution and go slowly, but I want something that sounds better than what I have right now or else the build is kind of pointless in the end even though its a learning process. I was looking at the M3 or even a Dyanlo/hi. Also is there a straight forward guide with pictures out there that allows me to see what I am reading for these AMPS? I also do not know any DIY DACs so I welcome recommendations.

 

Thanks for helping this newbie out.

 

Something like this: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437075/starving-student-millett-hybrid-pcb-step-by-step-build-guide

is pretty much the epitome of awesome. However I still do not know what pieces to choose from and I was looking more into an SS amp but I guess thats not too much different.


Edited by happyxix - 5/25/10 at 7:56pm
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post #2 of 9
5/25/10 at 7:55pm

As one newbie to another, I definitely feel your pain (and would be interested in advice, myself). Are you looking for a kit or a from-scratch project? If it's a kit you're after, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Bottlehead Crack OTL amp (it's my first-and-only DIY so far...just completed it successfully a few days ago). The instruction manual is great (though that does mean you're not forced to look at the schematic, you have to make yourself think about what you're doing), and the support is better--I completely sheared off a lead from one of the resistors (because I'm skillful like that), and Bottlehead sent me a new pair for free, no questions asked. It probably won't sound better than your DA-152, but it'll sure sound different (since it's a tube amp). It might not pair well with the AD2k's (it's better with high-resistance 'phones), but the HD800s should do the trick. Also, the case is...well...different (a top groundplate with pre-punched holes sitting on a wood base), but a nice finish will make it quite nice-looking.

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post #3 of 9
5/25/10 at 10:02pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking for anything. If there is a kit for lets say dynahi then I'll be super happy. But I can't seem to find a complete one. I also not looking for tubes as I like the sound of SS more.

 

Maybe I should build a CMOY first. Heard thats a ritual for all DIYers. But I would have no use for it and I feel like its wasted =\

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post #4 of 9
5/25/10 at 11:16pm

I would not recommend starting with a Dynahi, it's a BIG project and some parts aren't easy to source.

 

Seriously, beginners should step away from the "kit idea" and blindly stuffing boards.  First of all, start with a perfboard CMOY, that exercise will teach you many valuable lessons like sourcing parts, reading schematics, custom layout, soldering, wiring and casework.  All very important things that you don't want to skip out on, especially while trying to get into DIY.  Second, it really isn't hard to get the parts yourself, in fact most sites (amb and tangent at least) will go as far as giving you part numbers that you can order directly from Mouser/DigiKey.  Some others like CavalliAudio won't, but you still work off a comprehensive parts list with quantity and values of all resistor/capacitor as well as part numbers for active components, etc.  It's a simple matter of typing it into the Mouser or Digikey search function and getting the quantity you need (plus a few extras for when you mess up).


Good luck.

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post #5 of 9
5/25/10 at 11:34pm

definitely start with a cmoy.  It's really not a waste.  ~$30 to learn a lot and prevent you from spending a lot more money by burning up parts on later builds.  Also I disagree about cases - Par-metal and Hifi2000 enclosures look great.  DIY is less about saving money and more about learning about how your equipment works.  Expect to spend a lot, but enjoy every penny of it.

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post #6 of 9
5/25/10 at 11:38pm

x 2 on skipping the kit, you wont learn anything and if it doesnt work first go you wont have thought much about how it actualy works in order to work out how to fix it.

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post #7 of 9
5/26/10 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 

Yea. Its the sourcing parts that gets me confused. I see that AMB have lists which I guess it good but still alot of components which gets me flustered to order. Wish there was a simple option of just picking the amp you want to build and they all come in a neat package so you don't have to go hunt them all down.

 

I can read schmatics and do all that lovely junk since I work with circuits everyday. I even got a PCB maker at my internship which I can use and I recently built a UV PCB etcher from scratch.

 

I think the main thing for me is looks and keeping things organized. And the part sourcing is the main thing that troubles me. I guess you need a lot of patience for DIY which is something I am practising on but somewhat failing.

 

My idea of a kit is a press one button and get all the items needed, just not assembled. But if what xxbaker said about its not really about saving money then maybe its not for me. My main concern was about saving money and making this easy to bring everything apart. But I did take a look at some of those case and damn they are NOT cheap. I can order raw materials and build my own if I have the patience.

 

I guess I'll look more into it. Read up more things and perhaps when I have alot of time I'll try it. Just for kicks I'll purchase some CMOY materials and I guess make it whenever it comes.

 

Thanks alot guys.
 

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post #8 of 9
5/26/10 at 7:10am

Couple things:

 

CavalliAudio does provide BoMs w/Mouser/Digikey parts #s for some projects... Choose Parts List -> Full Excel BoM. 

Sometimes those Excel sheets even have tabs w/site-specific BoM import formatted data.  But you can count on some parts to be out of stock or obsoleted, so you'd do the Show Similar bit & pick parts for them anyway.

 

For me, the most stressful part of a project is pressing Submit Order when sourcing parts.  If you haven't an electronics parts dealer close by its more important to make sure you don't forget parts as each order can cost $10+ USD to ship.

 

Lots of builds under my belt & I still sometimes go for kits for the convenience & single shipping charge.

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post #9 of 9
5/28/10 at 2:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cfcubed View Post

Couple things:

 

CavalliAudio does provide BoMs w/Mouser/Digikey parts #s for some projects... Choose Parts List -> Full Excel BoM. 

Sometimes those Excel sheets even have tabs w/site-specific BoM import formatted data.  But you can count on some parts to be out of stock or obsoleted, so you'd do the Show Similar bit & pick parts for them anyway.

 

For me, the most stressful part of a project is pressing Submit Order when sourcing parts.  If you haven't an electronics parts dealer close by its more important to make sure you don't forget parts as each order can cost $10+ USD to ship.

 

Lots of builds under my belt & I still sometimes go for kits for the convenience & single shipping charge.



X2 cfcubed... I save all my projects in the project manager with the big parts warehouses... makes it fairly easy to recall favorite parts...

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