ericj
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2005
- Posts
- 8,356
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- 273
I have long lamented the lack of any kind of electrostatic amp that a less than utterly advanced DIYer can safely build.
There are plenty of designs out there. Some of them even with board artwork available. But there doesn't appear to be anything for which you can buy a professionally made board and follow a bill of materials that includes parts that are easy to acquire.
Looking around at the available designs, there seems to be a preponderance of "no compromise" designs that would be extremely difficult for an intermediate DIYer to build on perfboard, and which cost hundreds of dollars to assemble. And then there are designs that are heavily compromised, or seem to be designed to fulfill a whim or to achieve a goal that is tangential to the objective of good sound.
I think the electrostatic contingent of the headphone enthusiast community has expanded sufficiently over recent years that there could be sufficient demand for a well designed, good sounding DIY electrostatic amp with a standardized build and professionally printed boards.
The problem at hand, though, is who will make this happen? I'm enthusiastic for sure but i don't have the time or skills to bring the project to fruition.
I've decided that instead of just continuing to wonder if it will happen, i should actually see who i can get on board and maybe try and make it happen.
I think the basic goals should be:
1: A total build cost (before casework) that is well under $300.
2: Strictly using parts that are in current production or which are otherwise in abundant supply. If possible, no or little reliance on NOS tubes.
3: No exotic iron in the power supply. Something off the shelf from a major vendor with a good north-american distribution network, please! Even if we have to buy two of them.
4: Must accept single-ended input. Even if it can be built with balanced input, it must be able to accept SE input. Whether that means including an SE-to-balanced conversion circuit on the board is dependent on the design chosen.
5: Powerful enough to drive an SR-Sigma in standard configuration. Omega-level power optional (power supply upgrade, probably). We're not trying to replace the Blue Hawaii here.
6: One (1) bias supply design that provides 4 or 5 different bias voltages in a single build. Certainly anywhere between 200v and 640v. 1kv for jecklins shouldn't be out of the question, perhaps with the builder modifying the circuit. I forget if there were 'stats with bias lower than 200v, and i don't recall what bias voltage the Beyer ET-1000 takes. Whether this is a supply with multiple outputs or a supply with a multi-position switch is up for debate.
As for solid state vs. tubes I'm agnostic as long as these basic goals can be met. I hope to see a day when there are a few of each available to build.
I envision the physical build as having two channels on a board that can be cut in half if the builder's case demands it, and another board with the power supply and bias supply.
I doubt there is any reason to come up with a completely new amp design - there are many designs out there - but the project may involve updating an existing design to accept obtainable parts, or to have a more pragmatic, more appropriate, or more affordable power supply.
So, who else is on board? I'm just a guy beating a drum. I'm willing to be some kind or project leader but i don't have the skills to do this on my own.
How many of you would be interested in building this sort of amp?
There are plenty of designs out there. Some of them even with board artwork available. But there doesn't appear to be anything for which you can buy a professionally made board and follow a bill of materials that includes parts that are easy to acquire.
Looking around at the available designs, there seems to be a preponderance of "no compromise" designs that would be extremely difficult for an intermediate DIYer to build on perfboard, and which cost hundreds of dollars to assemble. And then there are designs that are heavily compromised, or seem to be designed to fulfill a whim or to achieve a goal that is tangential to the objective of good sound.
I think the electrostatic contingent of the headphone enthusiast community has expanded sufficiently over recent years that there could be sufficient demand for a well designed, good sounding DIY electrostatic amp with a standardized build and professionally printed boards.
The problem at hand, though, is who will make this happen? I'm enthusiastic for sure but i don't have the time or skills to bring the project to fruition.
I've decided that instead of just continuing to wonder if it will happen, i should actually see who i can get on board and maybe try and make it happen.
I think the basic goals should be:
1: A total build cost (before casework) that is well under $300.
2: Strictly using parts that are in current production or which are otherwise in abundant supply. If possible, no or little reliance on NOS tubes.
3: No exotic iron in the power supply. Something off the shelf from a major vendor with a good north-american distribution network, please! Even if we have to buy two of them.
4: Must accept single-ended input. Even if it can be built with balanced input, it must be able to accept SE input. Whether that means including an SE-to-balanced conversion circuit on the board is dependent on the design chosen.
5: Powerful enough to drive an SR-Sigma in standard configuration. Omega-level power optional (power supply upgrade, probably). We're not trying to replace the Blue Hawaii here.
6: One (1) bias supply design that provides 4 or 5 different bias voltages in a single build. Certainly anywhere between 200v and 640v. 1kv for jecklins shouldn't be out of the question, perhaps with the builder modifying the circuit. I forget if there were 'stats with bias lower than 200v, and i don't recall what bias voltage the Beyer ET-1000 takes. Whether this is a supply with multiple outputs or a supply with a multi-position switch is up for debate.
As for solid state vs. tubes I'm agnostic as long as these basic goals can be met. I hope to see a day when there are a few of each available to build.
I envision the physical build as having two channels on a board that can be cut in half if the builder's case demands it, and another board with the power supply and bias supply.
I doubt there is any reason to come up with a completely new amp design - there are many designs out there - but the project may involve updating an existing design to accept obtainable parts, or to have a more pragmatic, more appropriate, or more affordable power supply.
So, who else is on board? I'm just a guy beating a drum. I'm willing to be some kind or project leader but i don't have the skills to do this on my own.
How many of you would be interested in building this sort of amp?
