Rockhopper M3 guts pics

[redrich2000]

For all you pic junkies...

 

[rsabo]

they're a bit small...nice pictures though.

 

[Azure]

Looks gorgeous. It's a shame that with Rockhopper Audio gone it's that much harder to get an M3 now

BTW, I thought that you had sold your M3 as I didn't see it in your profile. Good to see that you still have it

 

[SonicDawg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure Looks gorgeous. It's a shame that with Rockhopper Audio gone it's that much harder to get an M3 now BTW, I thought that you had sold your M3 as I didn't see it in your profile. Good to see that you still have it

when did that happen

?

 

[Dachink]

ohhhh noes!!! I'm still waiting to demo an M^3

 

[Azure]

From the website:

Quote:

NEWS: 6/1/2006: Well, I never thought I'd be doing this so soon, but Rockhopper Audio is going to close its doors. Yes, I'm closing up shop and here are the reasons: 1. Time: I'm 30 years old and I spend 95% of my free time building amps. While I love working with my hands and building, I just don't get much chance to do anything else. I don't spend enough time with my wife, dog and hey....HEADPHONES. Which was kinda the point in the first place. I'm heading back to school part-time in the fall and I can't work a day job, go to school part-time and do Rockhopper...it's too much. 2. Money: It's too much work for the money I make. If I was making a good amount then yeah I'd continue, but for the amount of work I put in on each amp, the monetary reward isn't enough anymore. I'm not complaining mind you...I knew what I was getting into when I started. I didn't design these amps and it wouldn't be fair to charge for R&D I didn't do. Which brings me to my next point. 3. R&D: Man do I want to design my own amps: solid state and tube. Right now with my current schedule I just don't have the time to bring anything to the prototype stage. I've got a few little projects going, but all are in their infancy and would like some time to pursue them...some as DIY community designs and others as possible commercial products in the future (can't keep me away forever). 4. Community: When I went to the National Head-Fi meet this past April I realized that I knew very few people from our little community. I want to change that. I want to be more active on Head-Fi, Headwise and "the forum which must not be named." The sense of community that I felt there was huge and overwhelming and I loved hanging out with people. I love our little MD/VA/DC Head-Fi group and I want to extend that with more meets at my place and eventually hosting a National meet here in the DC are. Plus I want to be able to slam any headphone amp on Head-Fi that I please and not have to worry about being a Member of the Trade.....just kidding....sort of Now on to more official matters: I will still honor the three year warranty I offered with all my amps. How cold I not. This Website will still exist with contact information. It's also a sign that I'm not going away for good. Like I said, I'm not done, I just need a break and some time to get other things in my life going. Being a one man operation means when that one man needs to stop, then the operation stops. I love this hobby and I love the people I've talked to over the past 1.5 years that I've been building. I want to thank Warren (tangent), Ti (amb) and Christina (morsel) for allowing me to build their amplifiers as a DIY for sale operation. The PPA and the M³ are two of the best solid state DIY amps I've heard (and I've heard most of them) and the PIMETA makes a killer portable. These folks promoted me via their websites as a potential builder and I thank them for that. I think there are exciting things going on at Head-Fi and Headwise in the DIY realm. I want to be a part of that again. I would like to thank all the people who participated in the demo amp programs. I have all my demo amps back (or they're on their way back). I'm not sure that I want to stop the demo amp program...espcially for the M³. It's such a great amp. If I can afford to keep it going I will. Of course you will have to find someone else to build one for you, but it would be nice to get a week with it to make that decision. If it is feasible I will do it. I'm sorry for those people who won't get a chance to hear it right now, thanks again for participating in the program. Thank you for your patronage and thank you for some great memories. I will be finishing up a number of amps over the next week or so and ship them out. Thank you for your patience if your amp is one of them...I'm working as quickly as possible while still maintaining the same high level of workmanship I demand from myself.

 

[Voodoochile]

Quote:

1. Time: I'm 30 years old and I spend 95% of my free time building amps. While I love working with my hands and building, I just don't get much chance to do anything else.

What a coincidence! Well, actually I'm 42... but otherwise it's the same story. I had a lot of fun building while I did, but not much else got done for a long time that wasn't either work, amp building, or sleep.

I still do build stuff, but mainly for myself, and I take plenty of time to do it.

It is too bad that Rockhopper is not going anymore, but I would tip my hat to him for having his priorities straight.

 

[thrice]

Thanks Voodoo...and may I say that your builds were always an inspiration to me as well. Especially that amp you encased entirely in clear and black plexiglas. I believe it made it to a meet I hosted as well.

Yeah, time is a fickle bitch isn't it. I'll continue building for me (venturing into tubeland) and stay as active here as I can. It's funny, I do feel good about the priorities comment, because I feel like I have my priorities straight. More importantly, I acted on them. However, the 20 year old me in my head is still a bit disappointed. But he would not have married my wife either...goes to show what he knows.

I'd love to open Rockhopper back up someday with my own designs...but that's going to take some time. It was a lot of fun though and if I had the time I'd stay open indefinitely. Met a lot of great people!

Cheers,
thrice

 

[threEchelon]

That coppage is legit.

 

[Voodoochile]

Yep... you can never get time back.
Building gear is fun, but only in moderation. It can sneak up on you and become work without warning.