[HD-5000]

I am interested in building my own amp. I don't know where to begin. I have no education in soldering or whatever. I can't do jack.


What do I need to get started? Do they only teach this stuff in college? Can you recommend any books on teaching you how to build amps? Is building amps very difficult and time consuming and, most importantly, does it cost a lot of money?

So the question is...how do you build an amp?

thanks dudes.

 

[rickcr42]

Are you talking about amps in general or a headphone amp ?
If the former a good place to start would be http://www.passlabs.com/tech.htm or http://www.sound.au.com/ .If the latter I would suggest http://headwize.com/projects/index.htm

If you have time and want to get REALLY crazy
http://audionova.nu/innehall/audionova_DIY.htm

 

[Apheared]

You build an amp one component at a time.

Ok, do you like puzzles? DIY won't save you any money - if you just want an amp and have no interest in learning the stuff. You'll get angry that you can't solder, you'll get confused because there's no kit, you'll spend more than you need to cause there's no de facto parts list... in the end you'll be angry, broke, and have a really ugly messy thing that might sound good.

Discouraged? Just go buy an amp. Try HeadRoom.

Not discouraged? Build a CMoy. http://headwize.com/projects/cmoy2_prj.htm It'll cost about $50 and take a few days, but it will take a week or so of research and parts ordering. Ask more questions. Cruise the forum. Ask even more questions. etc etc.

 

[paulb]

Look in the library, Dewey decimal no. 621.381. Should be something there that shows how to solder, etc. Practice on something cheap. Like a headphone amp run by batteries.

 

[Onix]

I found something that you migth like:

www.bottlehead.com

They have a bunch of valve kits for preamps and amps that seem really easy to make, mostly, it seems, running wires from one side of the board to the other. I am going to try the preamp next year (mostly because the amp is a bit far from my budget), and then perhaps the amp. The circuit seems to be easy enough to start. As for the CMoy amps, I know it's very easy to make, but my soldering experience goes only as far as the cable on my headophones, and that's it. So, I wouldnt go to that for the moment.

There are also some kits available at Radioshack, not really good quality audiphile stuff, but should be a good start, specially if, like me, you don't know the difference between a resistor and a capacitor.

Take care and good luck.

 

[rickcr42]

good call onix,lotsa good info there,especially the links from the "loose parts" page

 

[Onix]

Yep Rick, those things seem to be easy enough for non experienced people like me. Also, they look like a way to kill two birds with the same rock: Start with DIY and also start with tubes.

 

[Neruda]

Apheared: that was beautiful, man. Makes me want to buy that tip cleaner stuff from radioshack and pick up the iron again.

 

[Xander]

Well, it might help to have some knowledge in electronics, too!

I took my first steps way back yander with the Forrest Mims books from Radio Shack. Maybe "Getting started in electronics" would be a good place to start learning? His books are very easy to follow, and you'll learn a lot, which helps. It's hard to build an amp if you have absolutely no idea how electricity works. Or the parts your using.

 

[rickcr42]

one word of caution guys TUBE GEAR CAN BE LETHAL
not something to go at unless serious.When I poke around in my tube amps it is with one hand in my pocket.Do a little research and you will know why (need a damn wink smiley here)

with a wink

onearmed bandit

 

[Onix]

Quote:

Originally posted by rickcr42 one word of caution guys TUBE GEAR CAN BE LETHAL not something to go at unless serious.When I poke around in my tube amps it is with one hand in my pocket.Do a little research and you will know why (need a damn wink smiley here) with a wink onearmed bandit

So you don't create ground and turn into a french fry. Insn't it?

 

[rickcr42]

you got it onix.The voltage would go from one side , through your heart and then make the circuit on the other side of your body.And that is a recipe for death,no jokin' around here.
The voltages in tube amps can be extremely high,not something to fool around with after work if tired and just learning.
Not that I am trying to scare anyone away from trying thier hand at tube amps,just don't want to see anyone get hurt.But on a happier note,tube electronics can be a blast

If up to it go for it,but don;t get lax

 

[Onix]

I can just imagine the obituary page: "Death by tube amp".

 

[rickcr42]

evn worse would be "death by capacitor".I have been bumped by cap banks a couple of times.More scared me than did any real damage, except to an amp I was assembling years ago-the bitch hit the floor and totalled out the faceplate when I JUMPED , hehehe

check the headwize archives under "tales of destruction" or just do a search on rickcr42-been there and back again when it comes to blowing **** up

 

[Onix]

I see what you mean. Gotta be careful with those things.