[BPRJam]

I'm comming darn close to getting all the stuff to build a nice meta42...stacked buffers, alps pot, crossfeed, etc. (BTW, thanks to Tangent for keeping all the hard-to-find items on his website, and for a nice price to boot, in addition to the PCBs!)

What I'm starting to wonder is if I should wait for the PPA, and build one of those instead. From the graphs on Tangent's website, it really only looks like the PPA is a +2% variety over the META42 (especially with the crossfeed), meaning that the META42 will be more bang for the buck, and the cost IS a factor in building one amp or another.

Is this a pretty accurate conclusion on my part, or am I way off base?

Second question...what is the best thing, besides changing the op-amp, you've done to your DIY amp to make it sound better (more buffers, different pot, etc.)?


BPRJam

(Edit: I was remined that I have not updated by profile since I got caught in the head-fi wallet vacuum. I added another source, and my HD580 phones.)

 

[GirgleMirt]

Just a note, I ordered everything for a Meta42 before knowing about the PPA and for about 2 seconds I felt bad about it...

Why two seconds? Well, the meta42 is my first DIY project and because the PPA will 1) cost you much more than the Meta. 2) be a lot longer and harder to build.. Especially for a novice builder like me.. 3) Do I really need a PPA?! I would be better off investing in a better cdplayer, or pair of headphones.. Right now, I've paid 150$ cdn for my Grado SR80.. The meta will cost me around 250$cdn so already, the amp costs more than the headphones!!! If I get the sweet volume pot, more resistances, more this, more that, it'll quickly go past 400$cdn... and for me that would be overkill for my system, and over my budget (well I could afford it, just it wouldn't be worth it)..

Anyway, for me it wasn't worth it.. For you, depends on your needs, your gear, money, DIY experience, etc...

Even if I had the gear to go with it, extra $ and I would have wanted to build it, I wouldn't tackle the PPA as my first project... Looks like too high of a first step.

 

[TommyTheCat]

I say go for the meta, without a doubt. First, those guys have a bit more testing with the PPA. So none of us can really put a date on the time for it to be released.

Second, I skimmed your profile and didn't really notice too-fancy of 'phones. So the meta with help with your current stable and if in the future your wallet gets away from you, you can really appreciate what the PPA will be able to give your next hi-fi 'phones.

Plus, the PPA will cost just a tad more.

 

[BPRJam]

Good advice, but this is definitely not my first DIY project, so I don't have any qualms about the actual building of a PPA amp. Now actually spending the money to buy the parts for a PPA is another story. Additionally, my audio gear is good enough that I think I *might* be able to take advantage of the PPAs qualities...

But I'm kinda with you, gurgle. Is the increase in sound quality worth the (potentially) hundreds of more dollars in parts, plus the extra labor to put the thing together? That's the first question that I'm asking here.

Would any other META42 owners like to weigh in on why they want to stick with their META, or why they want upgrade to a PPA?


BPRJam

 

[stereth]

I built a simple Jung multiloop amp on protoboard. Next amp is an A47. Then on my list are the Gilmore and the Pete Millett tube amp. Maybe I'll eventually build a PPA.

I'm just nervous about spending a lot of money building something that few have heard. Of course, that can also be part of the attraction. I can't afford to spend $150 on parts and not have something work...when there are lots of great-sounding alternatives out there.

 

[BPRJam]

Quote:

Second, I skimmed your profile and didn't really notice too-fancy of 'phones

Yeah, that was true when I joined Head-fi, but I have gotten more stuff since then, I've just not added it to my profile until just now.

I guess the biggest thing is that the ppa eta is still an unknown. I could have built and loved my meta for quite a while before I pcbs for the ppa are even available.


BPRJam

 

[MegaMeee]

if you would be using stacked buffers and an alps pot for a meta then i cant see how a ppa would be that much more expensive? buffers wouldnt be that more compared to stacked el2001's, you have to buy 3 single channel opamps, but even that isnt that expensive... 3 ad8610's or soemthing... big deal. early info seems to suggest that a ppa will sound significantly better than a meta even when simalarly specced out. as i think tangent said, they wouldnt be making this amp if it didnt sound significantly better than a meta.
Im sure someone posted something suggesting that even if you dont go overboard with the rail capacitors it should still sound good, so not necessarily a whole lot of extra cost there. nope i struggle to see how a ppa could cost that much more that a HIGH END meta, i think whatever extra cost there would be would be would be very worth it for the increase in sound quality.

so really its up to you whether the time (how much time noone really knows although im sure the designers have some idea, when i had to decide what amp i wanted to build i was basing it on about 6 months wait, but this is probably way off) is worth it for the increase in sound quality. personally i would wait but only you can answer that question.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Erice343 here, the E in the META name, said is was a lot better sounding than the META design. That was the whole purpose of the new design - to best the other amps like the META. It supposedly does the job quite well too, but we'll see what happens once it is released and in its production format.

Having said that, unless you are dying for an amp today, WAIT! It may prove well worth the wait.

 

[JMT]

Quote:

I'm comming darn close to getting all the stuff to build a nice meta42...stacked buffers, alps pot, crossfeed, etc. (BTW, thanks to Tangent for keeping all the hard-to-find items on his website, and for a nice price to boot, in addition to the PCBs!)

Since you have accumulated almost all of the parts necessary for the META, and since it is unclear when the PPA boards will be finalized and ready for widespread distribution, and since there are detailed instructions on putting the META together in addition to countless number of people here that can lend advice on the META if needed.............

 

[BPRJam]

Quote:

Since you have accumulated almost all of the parts necessary for the META

Hmmm, my original post was misleading. Not that I already have all the parts, but that I'm finally prepared to purchase them.


Quote:

since there are detailed instructions on putting the META together in addition to countless number of people here that can lend advice on the META if needed.............

Point well taken. Even if the availablity of the boards is announced tomorrow, troubleshooting and tweaking the PPA will be much more experimental than tried and true. That might be part of the fun, though. I'm not sure. I think I'm leaning toward the meta for now. I suppose if I get tired of it in a year I can always sell it in the F/S forum and then buy the stuff for a PPA...

 

[JMT]

Quote:

....troubleshooting and tweaking....

Quote:

That might be part of the fun, though. I'm not sure.

Tweaking, perhaps. Troubleshooting......I'm not so sure about THAT!