B22 power supply.

[strangedaze39]

Alternative B22 PSU ?

EDIT: For anyone wanting to know about this subject, I was thinking it's only a PSU you don't need the top dog PSU for a good sound. BUT I was wrong the B22 basically sounds like what it is plugged into, according to B22'erz Anyways if you want to go through the thread their is some good info anyways but no alternatives.

 

[strangedaze39]

NVM

 

[MASantos]

It certainly doesn't need 5v. it needs either +-24 or +-30 volts.

The costs of the B22 it self is already high, using the o22 power supply will give the best performance and is recomended. If you don't want to spend that much money, you should opt for a cheaper amplifier, like an m3, a ppa, ck2III, soha, Millett MAX, and so on.

Manuel

 

[n_maher]

The beta22 isn't a budget project and really to try and undertake it as such is not a good idea. You'd much better off taking Manuel's advice and building something like a PPA/M³/MAX etc.

 

[strangedaze39]

you can build a 2 board b22 for 180usd if you can cheap out on the power supply.

 

[n_maher]

Hey, if you want to waste $180 go for it. You should carefully read the section of amb's website concerning the powersupply and you should also realize that any amp with a crappy power supply is going to suffer as a result. And you must have access to a lot of free parts to get even a 2-channel beta22 for $180. I just built one and the parts total was ~$600.

 

[Pars]

One piece of advice that I read along time ago would be good to note here:

once the signal hits the first gain stage, you basically are listening to the power supply...

Many people assume that it's "just a power supply"... this is not the place to cheap out on any build, particularly something such as a beta22.

 

[MASantos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedaze39 /img/forum/go_quote.gif you can build a b22 for 180usd if you can cheap out on the power supply.

Sure, you can build two B22 boards for that money, but you still need the enclosure, jacks, swithces and knobs.

Seriously dude, if you don't want to spend much money, go for a cheaper project. A well built less intricate design might even sound better than a budget B22 with a crappy power supply. For 180$ you can build yourelf a CK2III with top of the shelf parts, and might even save some money.

 

[earfanatic]

Wait! It's not the best topic, but the conversation I was looking for:

I live in Europe, not in the USA, and I made some calculations on the part lists.

I'm considering to build an M3 or a B22, I haven't decided yet.

But I don't understand why are You talking about that many zeros on the final prices!

For the M3 (making it balanced) I need 2 boards ant that means 6 OPA627.
In my country that already costs 300$! If I order it from HK, then it's 100$.

It's quite expensive!

BUT: I counted every part (out of case, potmeter, connections, cables, heatsink) for the B22 (looking for prices on the web) and if I con't calculate the 4 boards I need for balanced, for the other parts including the FETs it would cost me about 55$ !!! I mean, for the 4 board together!

I wonder why...

 

[Ferrari]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earfanatic /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wait! It's not the best topic, but the conversation I was looking for: I live in Europe, not in the USA, and I made some calculations on the part lists. I'm considering to build an M3 or a B22, I haven't decided yet. But I don't understand why are You talking about that many zeros on the final prices! For the M3 (making it balanced) I need 2 boards ant that means 6 OPA627. In my country that already costs 300$! If I order it from HK, then it's 100$. It's quite expensive! BUT: I counted every part (out of case, potmeter, connections, cables, heatsink) for the B22 (looking for prices on the web) and if I con't calculate the 4 boards I need for balanced, for the other parts including the FETs it would cost me about 55$ !!! I mean, for the 4 board together! I wonder why...

I'm living in Europe, have built and owning M³ and β22 (both 3-channel and 4 channel versions), I'm wondering how your calculation looks like to come with $55 for a 4-channel β22 (you mean USD right?), thus $13.75 per board....
Can you post you calculations, if you don't mind ?

With that amount you can get a blanco β22 PCB + a couple of resistors, but then you have to forget about every thing else needed to build a working amp. That amount is simply not sufficient to buy for example: audio quality electrolytics, matched input JFETs (mandatory), power MOSFETs, a decent potmeter (Alps, DACT, Noble, TKD...), power supply... and a long list of other things to make a working amp, and don't forget the shipping cost and tax (if you buy from US or far-East shops) too.

 

[earfanatic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferrari /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can you post you calculations, if you don't mind ?

I can't because I just scratched on paper in HUF. But I will revise it later. Yes what I was posted it was in USD. I used a store catalog to find the parts and prizes.

Of course If I count all the PCB-s (4 B22 board, 2 PSU, 1 Mute, shipped) It would cost me 100$ already.

So for the boards, complete PSU, complete 4x B22 i expect 200-250$ and I have to DIY a case. But I can not imagine how could this cost 600$.

But as I saw, for the M3 the OPA-s would cost me the B22 prize.

I may was not accurate before but this was my first impression.
Later I will make a full cost and part list but I want to visit the stores myself for the availability of the parts too.(costs may change then)

How much would You say for the M3 and (vs) B22??

 

[kipman725]

huh I'm in europe and the transformer alone for the B22 psu is £37.50! which is aprox 70usd. Such performance is not cheap.

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earfanatic /img/forum/go_quote.gif So for the boards, complete PSU, complete 4x B22 i expect 200-250$ and I have to DIY a case. But I can not imagine how could this cost 600$.

Sorry, I don't think you could populate 4 beta22 boards for $250, no way no how. The cheapest route to getting 4-beta22 boards and all the necessary parts to stuff the boards would be from Glass Jar Audio and would cost ~$340 plus shipping. And that wouldn't get you anywhere near a functioning amp. Using GJA's sigma22 pricing and assuming you'd run 1 for all four channels (only acceptable as a headphone amp, not what I would do) you can add another $105 plus shipping. So right there you're already probably around $500 in parts and still not all that close to a functioning amp. The cheapest 4-gang pot that I've seen is the RK27, only available through ebay and another $60 + shipping. Or you could DIY two stepped attenuators for around $100. Then you still need a chassis, which is no small feat for this amp. Figure another $100 MINIMUM for the bare chassis unless you have your own metal fabrication shop. And take it from me, putting all this together in one chassis is a REALLY bad idea so you might as well assume that you need another, smaller chassis just for the power supply. So let's say you can get the two chassis for $150. Then you get to the fun that is chassis accessories like board standoffs, wiring, switches, jacks, knobs, etc. These things add up fast and generally require ordering from multiple vendors driving the price up further, I usually figure around $100 for all this stuff which has been known to be both conservative and not enough in some situations. So, my basic breakdown for the cost of the beta22, with 4-channels looks to be north of $800 and it'd be EASY to break $900. I don't think things are that much cheaper in Europe.

 

[earfanatic]

Thank You for the info.
I'm still a bit unsure, but as soon as I can I will begin the B22 then I will post sometime how much it costs.

Anyway, for some information, I found a company here, they make 100 Watt Toroid transformer, (already shielded!) for ~42$ with tax (not what I plan, it's just for reference).

For the casing, I plan to buy a dead CD or Amplifier's case which costs aprox. 17$ here. I drop the front and make a new one, maybe a smaller one for the PSU too (another 17$)......

This is what I already found out.
But As I said, as soon as I can begin the work, I will update somewhere.

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earfanatic /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anyway, for some information, I found a company here, they make 100 Watt Toroid transformer, (already shielded!) for ~42$ with tax (not what I plan, it's just for reference).

That's fine, but the Avel Lindberg trafo that was included in my calculations actually costs less than your $42 trafo so you're already spending more than I did.

Quote:

For the casing, I plan to buy a dead CD or Amplifier's case which costs aprox. 17$ here. I drop the front and make a new one, maybe a smaller one for the PSU too (another 17$)......

It's been my experience that making or getting a front panel made is not cheap. And don't forget that the back panel is more than likely going to require modification as well. Personally I find the quality of most CD/Amp chassis to be pretty lacking, your mileage may vary.