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Robert built the Nelson Pass designed $327 Class A Amp Camp Amp

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Robert never built an electronics kit before, but even so he managed to built not one, but two DIYaudio Amp Camp Amp kits over a couple of days. More info about the DIYaudio Amp Camp Amp here diyaudiostore.... I checked with ACA just before posting, and they said they will have 100 kits available on Sept 7, and another 100 on Sept 20. They sell out quickly, just letting you know.
I will review the $327 Amp Camp Amp (stereo and mono) very soon.
Amp Camp Amp Specs
Frequency response 10 - 20 kHz +/- 0.1 dB
Power (stereo) 8W into 8 Ohms per channel
Power (monoblock) 15W into 8 Ohms per channel. See ACA operation modes for details on monoblock operation.
Power Measurement Measured at clipping with 3% distortion
Distortion 0.7% at 1 Watt (primarily second order harmonic which being even-order is described as "sweet, tubey" and being low-order as "benign/inaudible")
Input impedance 10 Kohm
Max Gain 14dB
Damping factor 10
Output noise 100 uV
Power supply input Universal 86-264VAC 47-63HZ
Power supply output 24V 5A
Heat dissipation 20 Watts per Channel
The rest of Robert's system:
Schiit Freya preamp www.schiit.com...
Schiit Mani phonp preamp www.schiit.com...
Rega RP3 turntable www.rega.co.uk/...
Dynavector 10x3 cartridge www.dynavector...
Arcam irDAC II www.arcam.co.u...
Music Hall 15.3 CD player
Zu Soul Supreme speakers www.zuaudio.co...
Robert's first appearance here on the Daily Show, • Meet Robert, he rolls ...
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#DIY #audiophile #diyaudio

Опубликовано:

29 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 262

@rjpwp001 4 года назад

This video is very timely for me. I attempted to build one of these about six months ago but I ended up with a short that I could not track down. So, I stuck it in the closet and it collected dust. I finally decided to give it away on Craigslist this past weekend. The guy who took it from me noticed that the only problems were a few bad solders (including one at the RCA jack like the gentleman in the video). He fixed it and said I could have it back. So, I got to listen to it for the first time last night. I've got it hooked up to my Omen DW's and it's a clear, punchy little amp. I'll see how it stacks up sound-wise against my Outlaw 2160 after some more listening. For those thinking about building this without any prior experience soldering and tracking down issues with circuits (like me) I'd say it's definitely not "easy". Soldering in particular is a delicate art and it takes some time to do it properly. The community around this amp is definitely helpful, but if you run into trouble it certainly helps to have a more experienced person with you to help out.

@rbhis000 4 года назад

That was really cool of the person to give it back to you. If anyone else runs into issues, don't forget the DIY Audio Forum that's been mentioned here. Lot's of great help there!

@54tristin 4 года назад

Robert P If soldering is difficult PRACTICE for a week on some scrap wire

@lhommedieu5489 3 года назад

There is hope for humanity. Pretty small sample size I know...

@aramb 4 года назад

I love the "adjustable" playing card form for bending component leads!

@mrboat580 2 года назад

I built a set of these boards into a pair of the 8 watt version mono blocks. They're powering a pair of Bagby/diysiundgroup design, Fusion-12 speakers, and it sounds glorious. The speakers have a sensitivity of 98db. Half power will run most people out of the house. That's about as hard as I will push it. Also built the F5 boards. The most valuable aspect of these Pass design projects? Having the designer himself rubbing elbows with us common folks online. I was a fan decades ago before internet. If you had told me then that Nelson Pass would be addressing me or my projects personally, I would have never believed it. Heck of a nice guy. He is appreciated.

@dell177 4 года назад

Nelson Pass is a Godsend for people who love great sound and have limited cash.

@HandbrakeBiscuit 4 года назад

He's also a godsend for people who love great sound and have UNlimited cash - have you seen the price of a pair of Pass Labs XS 300s??? But yes, he is very generous with his advice and help, and very supportive and encouraging of DIY dweebs such as myself...

@BwanaJesuasifiwe 4 года назад

will insurance still cover your house if it burns down due to this DIY invention?

@mikevincent6332 3 года назад

@@BwanaJesuasifiwe House no doubt filled with many made in China electronics too

@dilbyjones 3 года назад

dell177 big YES

@christianjforbes 5 месяцев назад

I built two of these a year ago, paired to 87db Pure Audio Trio 10. This is the first amp I’ve owned that sounds great but gets better at lower volumes … perfect for apartment living. Using only 1 or 2 watts of the available 15watts gives it more headroom on the lower db side for dynamics.

@garyharper2943 4 года назад

When I was young I built a Heathkit radio and a Allied knight kit 5 band shortwave. The shortwave had a bad transformer and my next door neighbor who was a tv repair man troubleshooted and fixed it. I never could have done it without him.

@paulm944 4 года назад

Thank you for sharing this Robert! I have been considering picking up this kit, and it is great to hear that it was doable for a relatively inexperienced person. Congratulations on your new monoblocks!

@rbhis000 4 года назад

You should! This is an awesome amp that really isn't very hard to build. 6L6 did a great job with the instructions - lot's of pictures - and you'll love listening to music on an amp that you built!

@edmondj03 Месяц назад

Thanks Steve and Robert. Very informative

@scottbrown4534 4 года назад

Thanks, Steve. Nice work as usual. I built my first ACA (Amp Camp Amp) about 4 years ago as two monblocks, and my second, in one box, about 2 years ago. Now I'm going back through the amps cleaning up wiring, revising switching, etc. I love the way they sound, and it is really cool to make fairly radical revisions whenever I feel like it. I'm still designing my ???? - Is it a preamp? Or a mixer? Well not a mixer, more of a 3 in 3 out switcher that can fan one input to three outputs at a time. I'm also adding effects inserts to all of the in-outs, sort of like the old tape monitor loops we used to have, but way more flexible. DIY is not for everyone, and contrary to popular belief, making equipment from scratch can get very expensive very quickly. Sometimes it pays off, and I am very thankful that Papa Nelson made ACA so easy for so many people, and it appeals to me because I can tear it apart and make revisions any time I feel like it. And, about that, my first ACA is sitting on the bench waiting for me. Thanks again, Steve, and the best to you and yours.

@EliasTheHunter 4 года назад

Interesting! How did you combine the two monoblocks into one?

@rbhis000 4 года назад

@@EliasTheHunter The older kits were mono blocks. If you find pictures, you'll see a heat sink only on one side of a small enclosure. The newer kits are dual mono in one box. One power supply, though, for both channels.

@EliasTheHunter 4 года назад

Ryan Hart ah, thanks! I see now. I thought they were saying that they did something custom.

@scottbrown4534 4 года назад

@@EliasTheHunter Although I didn't say it, I do intend to make one box out of two. The basic plan is to join the top and bottom panels with screws and a steel plate, then the back panels are available separately from DIY Audio. I'm on the fence about front panels, and I may go with bookmatched flame maple faces for both (all 4?) amps. I also need to change out some parts on the old boards to bring them up to the latest specs, and switch the power supply from 19v to 24v. One particularly heretical design decision made by our benefactor, Nelson Pass, is the prescribed use of a (GASP... OMG!!!) switching power supply. I've tried every measurement I can make to chase down any measurable noise on the speaker outputs from these supplies, and I'm not seeing it, and more importantly, I can't hear it, YMMV. I would also like to build in a se to balanced converter, but there are a lot of other ways to get these amps to swing both ways... It sounds like a lot of work, but to me it is pure bliss!!!

@mikelm222 4 года назад

I also built 2 ACAs and I concluded that probably they are more suited to high efficiency speakers. Mine are about 88db / W / M But still I loved the dynamic bass and enthusiastic sound and it inspired me to moved onto a MOSFET version of the John Linsley Hood Simple Class A - which is Awesome :-)

@noth606 4 года назад

Isn't it obvious they are for high efficiency speakers? Not trying to be an a$$ but it was obvious to me from the power ratings of them...

@mikelm222 4 года назад

@@noth606 Not necessarily. Had it been same low power but with higher damping factor & lower distortion, then it would have just been usable. But no complaints it steered me onto the MF JLH which quite ideal for me.

@christophcremer7053 4 года назад

Love the Hasselblad scanner at the back!

@rothschildianum 4 года назад

I used to build kits like this when I was in junior high school. It was a lot fo fun. I have not built anything in 38 years! Hhmmmm.... This is really tempting. The price is not expensive too.

@KarmaElectronics. 4 года назад

i found nelson pass on diyaudio back in the day. nice to see theres still kits for sale. $327 is a good deal!

@motorradmike 4 года назад

The Amp Camp Amp is a wonderful kit to build. The only caveat might be for some is the 8watt pch is only for an 8 ohm speaker. In the bridged mode the power rating is closer to 10 watts into a 4 ohm speaker, not 16 as one might guess. Still a satisfying piece of kit that sounds very, very good!

@SuperMadpom 4 года назад

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1006/5046/files/ACA_Monoblock_Operation_RevA.pdf

@ronniefranks4351 4 года назад

I also built two ACA’s and I think they sound great for $327 each. I’m a bit envious of yours since mine didn’t come with the silkscreened rear panels. That makes them seem more finished and less of a kit.

@ronniefranks4351 4 года назад

Bullwinkle Eats Vegemite It turns out the panels are different than the ones I have.

@ronniefranks4351 4 года назад

Bullwinkle Eats Vegemite The mounting is pretty much the same. However, I think the toggle switch is different and it’s wired differently. The way I understand it is it includes the parallel mono version internally and my version doesn’t. diyaudio told me there is an upgrade kit in the works.

@alonzosmith6189 4 года назад

Wow, brings back memories built Heathkits, Radio Electronics magazine, Radio Shack kits

@DeAudiofilosyLocos 4 года назад

@justinmurphy2227 4 года назад

I've just received my car audio D50 and D100 Soundstream Class A amps as well as the Class AB models. It's my understanding that he probably had a lot to do with all the models. I simply can not wait to start my car audio from the couch sessions! I'm recovering from my 4th spinal surgery that I had in August so working on the cars are out of the question! When it comes to Mr. Nelson Pass (or NP as he signs his emails lol), he is true to his word when he said he responds to all his emails! He's also helped me with a few projects that I've been working on. I now know what Class A means.....when it come's to Nelson it stands for "Class Act"!!!!

@MikeDawson1 4 года назад

I built one as well, was lots of fun It's 100+ degrees outside right now though, will probably wait to run it in the winter :)

@mraudioguru 4 года назад

I have a pair of these also. VERY fun build and they sound great with the "right" speakers. I've tried quite a few and IMHO, you need at least a 90db rated or higher, (preferably).

@kennethiman2691 4 года назад

Nice! Notice the main expense is the case. Which is understandable. Great components are still crazy cheap. Which is why high end audio prices are out of line. A custom board can be had for under $10. Many plans available on the Internet. If you can do basic electronic construction, you can save a bundle.

@steveluck9541 4 года назад

You still need big heat sinks - If you buy the kit with the case all the holes are drilled and tapped ready to go. Supplied power supply is good quality low noise too.

@ecyfoto 4 года назад

Clever use of the Manfrotto clamp. Every shooter has at least one.

@TheCobra65427 4 года назад

I said "Hey that's a super clamp!"

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

I said "that's a Maffer!" :)

@user-od9iz9cv1w 4 года назад

Awesome video. I started my DIY audiophile hobby in just the same way and it has led to years of enjoyment and a very good system that costs maybe 10% of commercial equivalent. Must say, those amp camp kits are an awesome value.

@TheCobra65427 4 года назад

I built Hafler DH220, DH110 & DH 500. later bought a pair of 2nd hand SA-1's. I like the idea of this...

@cartilagehead6326 4 года назад

Steve, you should totally get your hands on an Elekit TU-8200R. Bonus points if you put it together yourself!

@Jeton6 4 года назад

sounds very tempting. looking forward to Steve's review!

@NoMoreRadioMyths 4 года назад

I have a lot of respect for Nelson Pass and his products and his efforts to get people involved in DIY, which is what this amp is all about. This is NOT a Pass First Watt or any of his other amps. Its a very simple kit to introduce people to DIY. I bought an assembled version on ebay because I had never tried a class A amp and have Klipsch Forte speakers which are highly efficient. Compared to my 200 watt per channel amp that I use all the time this sounds like a little table radio in comparison. It also cured my curiosity about class A amps. At 5 or 8 watts per channel it generated a lot of heat. I can only imagine how hot more powerful class A amps run. I live in Florida and we have enough heat already. After hearing an amp with a lot of power, even on my highly efficient speakers, I could never go back to low power again. The dynamics and slam are no comparison. I also have a 30 watt per channel amp that sounds weak in comparison and I listen at low power levels.

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

Steve might have something to say in his review so no spoilers but this amp does not have a lot of gain so depending on pre and speaker efficiency it can appear weak compared to other more powerful amps. But I can get to 90db easy on the couch at 2m which is plenty loud. If you have a large room then no, and no 5-10w amp is going to do what a 200w amp can do. Even 30 is only 3db louder than 15w which is what this is bridged dual mono. And yes it does get hot, all class A runs hot. I appreciate the slam is not exactly room pressurizing, thats not what low power is about.

@NoMoreRadioMyths 4 года назад

@@robertwrightphoto All good points but I would not recommend such lower power expect for perhaps string quartets maybe near field listening. I suspect money may be better spent on a class D amp which is the size of a book and delivers a lot of power. But again this is designed for minimal parts and for people to learn how to build.

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

@@NoMoreRadioMyths :) I never listen to string quartets:) I have a class D belCanto and obv it kicks butt. But this is different and has some magic sauce the class D doesn't. I had the J2 for a while on loan so that was about perfect for me. That's only 20wpc. whatever floats the boat.

@rbhis000 4 года назад

I think it's funny to compare this to a 200 wpc amp. They're not made to do the same things. I agree this one is to get folks into DIY. It did me. I've since built an F5 and F6, also low power at about 25 wpc. They drive my Forte III's perfectly for my room and listening preferences. If anyone's curious about low power, it's worth learning why Papa started First Watt in the first place. Then decide if it's right for you. It'll work for many, but not everyone.

@laquintana8290 4 года назад

I grew up in the days of Heathkit :-) I used to love doing this stuff and became an electronics guy because of it. Got a job as a Biomedical Engineer and almost never used what I learned for the next 40 years 8-|

@patkoss1945 4 года назад

Love mine. Built one in July. The ACA changed me to a Class A bigot. The only downside I see in my small room is the heat in the summer here in the south. It will be lovely in the winter.

@Drackleyrva 4 года назад

I wouldn't have the time or patience to do this---God bless him. I agree that it would be more satisfying knowing you built it yourself.

@trainsplanes6517 4 года назад

I think every kid should be required to build one of these in high school They not only would learn a little bit about electronics, they'd also learn organizational and planning skills, and then see (hear) the results of their efforts. Nelson, get on this will you. Design an integrated version with a dac. The kid can buy a cheap (good) pair of Parts Express speakers, plug in her phone and there you go!

@JohnDoe-np3zk 4 года назад

I can't even believe the Parts Express speakers I got for $9 bucks each those things are working well as replacements in the old Polk 10A. 6" woofers weigh a few lbs each...

@nunyabiz2016 4 года назад

Every kid? Haha I need to do this

@JohnDoe-np3zk 4 года назад

@@nunyabiz2016 I wish I had taken auto shop

@ianforfun1 4 года назад

Never heard it but great reviews and Class A wins every time, with a good power supply and sensitive well built speakers with a deep bass potential like floor-standing types!

@scottyo64 4 года назад

Like my RF-7 IIs?

@SuperMadpom 4 года назад

@@scottyo64 101db per watt should do it! :-)

@steveluck9541 4 года назад

It's much more than another class A amp - it's so simple it's much more like a single ended valve amp - If your speakers are sensitive enough - recommend full range driver, they sound stunning. Not enough bass add a plate amp to drive the subwoofer and remove some of the load from the ACA.

@dennisdickey2267 4 года назад

Built Heathkit stuff years ago. Fun.

@johnlebeau5471 4 года назад

I have one of these. It was not my first project although I am far from an expert. It took me a few hours. I'm sure Steve will review this amp but it is stupidly good, especially for the money. The biggest limitation is the low power, 8 watts I think. I have mine in a tri-amp setup paired with two single ended triode tube amps. It powers the tweeters, they are the least efficient of the drivers in my home made speakers and the ACA has four times the power of my other amps.

@ttownscott 4 года назад

Very cool Robert. I'm building the Decware ZKit1 because of Steve's Decware Zen review and a Transcendent Sound preamp to go with it.

@freezerburn6454 4 года назад

Makes me want to build this amp, and a system around it.

@charleskingReal 4 года назад

DIY audio is fun. The most important part is to buy a good, high-wattage, temperature-controlled soldering iron. _Do not_ skimp on this, as a low-wattage iron is just asking for endless misery and frustration, and extra expense when you end up messing things up with dry joints or excess solder. But for real DIY audio fun you need to do a valve amp, with all that yummy 400V on the HT rails ;).

@MrDGPhoto 4 года назад

They even look great! :)

@tomlu1816 4 года назад

Nice recording Steve, really enjoyed how you placed the mics on this one.

@jlmain5777 4 года назад

Awesome! Now I have something fun to put on my “to do” list.

@franciscorompana2985 4 года назад

Nice, Kudos for all. Congratulations from Portugal.

@stimpy1226 4 года назад

Gee, I wish I could have built my amp camp amp that fast. I would suggest people build this project in 3 to 4 sessions to do a nice neat job. Not sure why Robert was in such a rush but it sure looks like he knew what he was doing. He definitely had the right tools and was all ready to go when he started. I don't think there are any kits available for purchase at the moment and I'm not sure what Nelson Pass is going to do in the future to keep this this kit going. For just over $300 I don't think you can beat the sound quality but I didn't expect anything less from a PASS design. I built the Korg preamp as well and my son is enjoying the benefits. One last thought, I love the look of a blue LED but they are not recommended for a health reasons. I would suggest swapping out with a red LED.

@diyaudiohelpdesk4284 4 года назад

Hi Neil. Yes, they do come in and out of stock, usually out of stock after Steve does a video on them! :) As of the writing of this comment, right now they are absolutely in stock. The next batch of chassis will be shipping next week so we're just advertising a blanket "September 7th" to ensure there is no confusion about things shipping earlier. The kit includes both red and blue LEDs, and you can vary the brightness by adjusting the value of the R13 resistor. If you are feeling like doing some DIY you could ever swap in a potentiometer and have a variable dimmer. All part of the DIY experience - you're the boss :)

@stimpy1226 4 года назад

diyAudioStore Helpdesk That's strange because I looked about a week to two weeks ago and there were no kits available to the best of my recollection.

@diyaudiohelpdesk4284 4 года назад

@@stimpy1226 You're correct about the chassis Neil. Hifi2000 who makes the chassis were on summer holiday and just got back, they are making the next batch of chassis which will be shipping next week. Parts kits have been in stock for a few months, and as of writing this comment, there are parts kits in stock. Please note I just updated the listing to say they will ship the same day the chassis are shipping, to avoid any confusion for people watching the video today. It's a simpler message if we just say "shipping on the 7th". Offering a kit in so many pieces does have its challenges sometimes, but we really want to offer as many possible options to people so they can choose what kind of DIY they want to experience. All included or à la carte - you choose! PCBs are just $15, and you can optionally add chassis, power supply, parts kit to help you with whichever part of the process you don't want to do yourself.

@stimpy1226 4 года назад

diyAudio Helpdesk Thanks for the clarification

@carlosoliveira-rc2xt 4 года назад

I don't understand why you think it should sound good because it's a Pass design. There a many amps based on Pass designs that are merely okay. ( Adcom 5800, 5802 etc.) I don't understand the idolatry of designers. They do make dogs and always the implementation and parts quality affects the sound more. This is why 3 amps all based on the same design but varying in price points sound substantially different.

@mkfmkf55 4 года назад

I'm not a flea watt amp fan so I'd say this is best suited for a desktop or small office systems, but it looks like a lot of work. But there will always be some diy guys, and I would think they'd enjoy the challenge.

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 4 года назад

Not true, the baby amp sounds seriously good with my 100 pound Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers. Any high sensitivity speaker, over 92 dB for example.

@steveluck9541 4 года назад

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Using a pair to drive my 105db/watt Carfrae Little big horn replica horns. No cross over but plate amp to drive integrated subwoofer as per the original speakers. It's the First watt that counts. Try them with the Korg Nutube preamp for massive sound stage.

@mpitogo 4 года назад

I built a pair as monoblocks 2 years ago 4 boards, 2 chassis as a weekend project. Perfect on the first try for both. v1.6 and thankfully did not have that silk screen print on the back plate since it’s monoblock only operation balanced/bridged. The silkscreen is pretty cool though.

@EliasTheHunter 4 года назад

I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. What’s the benefit of not having the silk screen on the back plate?

@blakley42 4 года назад

Back in the day, I.e., 50+ yrs ago, I built various audio kits, out of economic necessity. I built HealthKit integrated amps, a HealthKit record changer, electro voice speaker system (enclosures),etc. as memory serves, none of them worked exactly right, except for the loudspeakers. Undismayed, I built a dynakit power amp and preamp...neither of which worked properly, at least initially. Once I got the dynas fixed, they sounded really good, but I finally came to realize that I didn’t have the talent, patience, skill , or good looks to build audio kits. (However, I do wish I still had those completed kits, just to see...).

@zogzog1063 4 года назад

Hey Robert! Greetings fly out from New Zealand! (PS I also own a Pass Labs Amp - great stuff!)

@HareDeLune 4 года назад

Chur to the Freddy's!

@exif6839 4 года назад

Love mine diy HiFiAkademie Poweramp P6. Class D. Excellent soundquality. Maximum Power 250W/Channel / 4Ohms. No Pass needed. 😁.

@Stikibits 4 года назад

I'd prefer to hear the amp rather than people bang on about it.

@TheRjee 4 года назад

Build one

@Stikibits 4 года назад

Why are hi-fi people so full of shit? No wonder hi-fi people have such a bad reputation, hey?

@longlongbalus 4 года назад

@@TheRjee I wouldn't take the risk on the backs of people yapping. If I heard a demo and liked it I would be tempted.

@fzesgru 4 года назад

5 stars for the time lapse assembly video! How the heck did you do that Robert?

@manjsher3094 4 года назад

This is a assembly by numbers so if you can paint by Numbers....

@atticuslewis342 Год назад

I am thinking about building this I not sure 🤔 though I mean I love how Class A sounds

@harrisedgar 4 года назад

What a lovely video... Thank you.

@h.kurnia8175 4 года назад

Nice film scanner back there

@edwardbalboa5528 3 года назад

Superb.... A 40w version would be great too

@coldfinger459sub0 4 года назад

You don’t have to buy the whole $327. Kit, you can just buy the components kit for about $16 and you have the option to buy the circuit boards for another $19 or you can skip the circuit board and lay the components out on a wooden board a plastic board solder them point to point that means join the components directly together. You can use wires instead of the circuitboard and you can scavenge an old heat sinks from all broken stereos or other electronica components for free that are discarded. So you can enjoy the exact same great sound without the expensive fancy case if you so desire. If you’re handy with your hands you could make a wooden case or a sheet metal case or reuse and recycle and all dead stereo case. You get the exact same sound even with one only in stereo if you have High Efficiency speakers.

@markstaub5250 4 года назад

And you can make your own inductors and transformers, but if I have a good pcb, I'm using that. Done plenty of point to point wiring.

@coldfinger459sub0 4 года назад

Mark Staub I wanted to make my own transformer just for fun researched it then when I seen how many hours are involved had to give up that idea. Made simple low-voltage transformers in high school electronics class but those were only a few turns.

@joybrucebruce3377 4 года назад

I have Linkwitz Orions. It's a shame Siegfried is not here for youtube.

@CobraChamp 3 года назад

The Linkwitz Orion and LX521 are fantastic speakers!

@cedrickjmackniddle3861 4 года назад

Great editing

@allenfields9058 4 года назад

Thanks for the review. I've just ordered 2 kits and will be attempting my first amp build since 1977. I really didn't need them, but at that price ($720 for 2 mono-blocks), I couldn't pass it up. I have a mint condition pair of Klipsch Forte II's that should match up perfectly with them. Any suggestions on a Pre-Amp to match with them? Preferably tube based.

@rbhis000 4 года назад

The Korg NuTube B1, also a Nelson Pass creation, also available from the DIY Audio Store, is a perfect match. It responds very well to bias adjustment, so if the ACA gives you all the warmth you want, you can clean up the output of the B1. If you want a little more tube sound, just tweak it the other way. The ACA is so forgiving, you probably can't do too badly with most any pre. Your Forte's will be a wonderful match. I have Forte III's.

@allenfields9058 4 года назад

@@rbhis000 Thanks, Brother! I will look at that piece. I've never owned a Pass product, I grew up with McIntosh and Klipschorns. People rave about Pass amps, so I'm anxious to find out about the buzz.

@ronniefranks4351 4 года назад

I also have two of the ACA’s in operation. I’m anxiously awaiting receipt of my Korg B1 NuTube preamp. Hope it comes soon as I can hardly wait!

@nacarp2000 4 года назад

I'm waiting for my Nutube Preamp also. In the meantime I built the Elekit Tube Preamp available from diyaudiostore.com, tubedepot.com and other places. The Elekit was my first kit, build was no problem despite over 400 electrical solder points! The Pass kit are MUCH simpler.

@allenfields9058 4 года назад

@@nacarp2000 Great to know it is easy based on your comments. It's been a long time since I built an amp, and my eyesight and dexterity have faded with age and injuries! I plan on doing a lot of soldering practice soon! Thanks, guys. Let me know about the Preamp when you get them.

@mykeldg 4 года назад

I compared this Nelson Pass DIY amp to a 60W Class AB and and the DIY Kit was extremely impressed sidering its a 10th of the power @ 8W/5W. You can watch the comparison Demo here : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LYn8Fj7ItnY.html

@escritoriodecristal 3 года назад

that imacon on the back!

@twochaudiomg2578 4 года назад

thay are a great price and looks great

@stillastillsfan 4 года назад

Need an integrated line level amp version w high quality volume control and 2 - 3 inputs.

@hahaagi 4 года назад

저도 2대 가지고 있습니다. 소리 엄청 좋습니다. 케이스 뒷판 실크가 바뀌었네요. 이전에 아무것도 없었어요.

@Unker_Spunkanathan 4 года назад

Nice kit. I tried building a DoZ but gave up after seeing how hot it could get

@Gullsz Год назад

Including postage it's about £900 for a pair to the UK. The postage is extortionate. It would not cost.more than £75 to send a pair to the uk, plus about £80 tax.

@19janiboy96 4 года назад

he should have mounted the power resistors a bit high off the pcb

@webberron 4 года назад

I love when the PCB turns Brown from over heating... :)

@QoraxAudio 4 года назад

Jup, correct. But this is the way people learn from DIY kits. They learn through trial and error: magic smoke, brown boards and electrolytic popcorn😜

@19janiboy96 4 года назад

True, though I still haven't lerned to put on the heatshrink first after all these years

@andrewforsythe7240 4 года назад

Great review, cool idea at an excellent price. Any at 220 volts ? They will probably become collector items in future !!

@EliasTheHunter 4 года назад

Yup! Their website has all sorts of power options for different regions and plug types.

@andrewforsythe7240 4 года назад

@@EliasTheHunter Thank You, will check it out.

@twochaudiomg2578 4 года назад

Steve, put the Orange fuse in them with cardas binding post , solder,, wire Why not amps are $350 each Steve move the Speakers away from all that stuff. Every home you go to you have to remodel the room

@aulait3362 4 года назад

I am building the ACA with my son :-)

@DeAudiofilosyLocos 4 года назад

I ordered mine!

@sduraybito 4 года назад

I wish someone would make a Class A single-ended integrated amp with a remote volume control.

@54tristin 4 года назад

Want to build it but have Magnepan 0.7, maybe when I get Bucharest 400, although I was ready to pull the trigger went to website, and they raised the. Price to the point that I’m not sure they are worth it. Any idea how Kef R 3 would work?

@dilbyjones 3 года назад

Those “Bucharest” A400 are beyond worth it in the DSP is awesome and I’m sure madz will give it a good warranty

@Bermudapools1 4 года назад

Steve, you seem to like folded ribbon tweeters and AMT's , I am curious as to what you think of the new line of ESS Labs Heil AMT speakers. I owned a pair of AMT 10b's (the upgraded model with passive radiator) in my late 70's "Audiophile" system with Apt Holman preamp, Bryston 3 and Phillips E312 turntable. Loved that old system, it definitely rocked the house. I am curious about the AMT10's or 8's but there is no place to hear them near me.

@billschwanitz669 4 года назад

Thats really cool ;) Been debating a kit for a while may just have to take the plunge. ( and good thing, I've soldered a ton of stuff so... ) I'm curious what kind of wiring / solder you used here. Just regular solder, silver or 'audiophile grade' ( being generic here ). Does the solder or hookup wiring really matter much here given the power range?

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

I used the solder they specified on the DIY website, Cardas, I don't think it matters much tho. Was blend of Silver Lead Copper and Tin and had flux core. The diameter matters a little, small diameter solder is easier and neater to work with on pc boards.

@munlive5130 Год назад

My speaker is Falcon ls3/5a gold badge, it has 83db sensitivity. In this case, this little amp can drive the speakers? I am planning to use mono block with two ACA.

@snakedude61 4 года назад

I'm really curious if you have an opinion of the wharfedale 11.2 vs the 225 both of those vs. the triangle bro3? I think the wharfedale would work better for my situation. I'm curious how they Stack Up. Especially versus each other. Is it worth the extra $200 for the 11.2? I just don't see many wharfedale reviews.

@NeilBlanchard 4 года назад

Steve, I hope you can compare this to the Schiit Aegir amp?

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 4 года назад

I will

@SuperMadpom 4 года назад

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Only fair to compare two ACA in bridged mono to one Schiit given the price difference.

@NeilBlanchard 4 года назад

@@SuperMadpom And that puts them pretty close in power, too.

@brochgerling1925 4 года назад

This is a wonderful community, and I hope that someone can point me in the right direction. I currently run a pair of Klipsch RP600m speakers along with an NAD 326bee. It is a very detailed and bright sounding system. This isn’t what I’m going for at all. What I want is a very sweet, warm, and rich sound, if that makes sense at all. I don’t have a fortune to spend, but would entertain spending 1500 or so for an amp plus speakers. Help me please!

@JohnDoe-np3zk 4 года назад

Maybe something like a Wharfedale Diamond 220 or 225 with a soft dome tweeter would be more to your liking. My old Polk 10As would likely satisfy you with their 1" soft dome tweeter. Easy to listen to with good dispersion. Or get a tube phono stage?

@brochgerling1925 4 года назад

John Doe Thank you!!! I used to have the Polks, and they were wonderful.

@dontcare563 4 года назад

You need some real efficient speakers with these amps. Also the damping factor on these absolutely sucks so not sure the impact on the bass. I put together my David Hafler amplifier MANY years ago and had a good time doing it and saved money. I love the Pass and First Watt amps. Their factory is only about a 45 minute drive from me.

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

I think the impact is the bass is generous but tubby:). A little. But there are a lot of factors there for me since I have a sub in the mix and the Zu's on their own don't make a lot of bass. Steve will have the definite opinion in his review.

@jimfuquay7116 4 года назад

I first used a pair of old Boston Acoustics HD5s, little bookshelf two-ways with 89 dB sensitivity. You can turn it all the way up in a 20x20 room and not get blown out. Then I built a second ACÁ amp. Then I built 95 dB speakers. We typically listen at about 10 o’clock running thru a Pass diy preamp with 10 dB of gain.

@zackpetrovic3029 4 года назад

Hope there is a J2 kit soon

@nadugiritalk 3 года назад

What cables are used in the amp for internal wiring?????

@54tristin 4 года назад

Love the 10x5buthas a ridiculous break in period and last 2 had weak cantilever when used on Vip traveler.

@jimf5160 4 года назад

those are cool, I would build them, but my main speakers are not efficient... and not enough channels for HT use.

@RumblestripDotNet 4 года назад

Is this where the next video with Herb Reicard comes out and he talks about his favorite DIY amps and gear?

@NeilBlanchard 4 года назад

What is the process for setting the bias? Also, I wonder about the design and parts for a "proper" power supply?

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

it's easy there is a potentiometer on each channel and you use a voltmeter to set the bias. The instructions are simple.

@NeilBlanchard 4 года назад

@@robertwrightphoto Thanks - can you "tailor" the sound with this? Also, how many capacitors are in the circuit?

@robertwrightphoto 4 года назад

@@NeilBlanchard that would be beyond my pay grade, the forum would have more answers. You can look at the schematic on the DIY website. If I read it correctly there is only on Cap per side in the signal path proper, altho there are a few more that do other things. I could be wrong .

@NeilBlanchard 4 года назад

@@robertwrightphoto Thanks again. I was looking for a power supply schematic and parts list. My guess is the larger cap is a filter for the power supply, so the smaller cap is the one in the signal path. It is probably easy to replace with a higher quality device. (It appears to be an electrolytic?)

@nacarp2000 4 года назад

@@NeilBlanchard The power supply is an outboard 24v brick. The brick is included with the kit.

@sampolin2203 4 года назад

Watching this video reminds me of beta22 and beta24 from amb

@SatanDynastyKiller 4 года назад

As someone who has zero experience in soldering, nor am I an audiophile. Is this worth buying and trying ? I currently have a Technics Mosfet SADX-1050 amp - bought from new many years ago, which has zero wrong with it and in perfect condition, and I was going to dip my toes into the audiophile pool. Purely on the economics side of things- a $4k amp for around $600 (incl soldering etc), will the sound quality blow me away ie is it genuinely comparable to $4k amps ?

@steveluck9541 4 года назад

Buy a cheap fun electronic kit or two from Adafruit or spark fun and a temperature controlled soldering iron. Watch a few vids on how to solder then have go at the ACA. If you like making stuff the joy of this kit is it looks very professional when assembled. It will need sensitive speakers but you don’t have to do it all at the same time. Speaker building is fun too.

@davebrowning9290 4 года назад

Since it doesn't have a volume control, I assume you need a preamp to go along with this. Any suggestions or reviews of a DIY preamp that would be suitable.

@steveluck9541 3 года назад

If you only listen to digital then a DAC with a volume control works fine. Korg Nutube pre/amp kit is a giant killer once you sort the microphonic problems. Lots of cheap solutions for that.

@chubtoad157 4 года назад

Has Robert put out a RU-vid video of his build?

@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 4 года назад

just this one.

@scottyo64 4 года назад

I havent soldered in years, not sure I would trust myself on this project.

@docdeens4030 4 года назад

It's like riding a bike, but with scalding, molten metal

@harryconover289 4 года назад

Soldering is like riding a bike only to can’t fall down get a good soldering station and good Rosen core solder and practice you will get good soon but remember practice on things that don’t matter !

@noth606 4 года назад

@@harryconover289 eh, proper flux gel and leaded tin is the way to go if you want it done well. Also a tempcontrolled soldering station not one of those wall plugin things. At least that's what I use but I solder a lot finer stuff than this project, but just rosin core solder is not going to get a really good end result unless you are working at a specific tempo which people who don't do it regularly are unlikely to do. Flux is the ticket, pre flux and tin all spots and components, assemble, flux again and then solder but let it heat up properly first.

@harryconover289 4 года назад

noth606 a soldering station is thematically regulated and not a plug in thing five core resken solder is the best

@cjmutschler 4 года назад

Can anyone suggest online forums for DIY audio... particularly tube? I know ones for musical instrument amps but have had trouble finding ones for HiFi Audio. Thanks.

@IHearEverythingDude 4 года назад

I wish the kits were available in Europe.

@HandbrakeBiscuit 4 года назад

The diyaudio store (from where these amps are bought) ships to Europe - not sure how shipping is affected by the current pandemic, though...

@IHearEverythingDude 4 года назад

@@HandbrakeBiscuit yup i know. Actually I was referring to overseas taxes vat etc.

@stephenbell1363 4 года назад

@@IHearEverythingDude I bought three kits (without Power Supplies) and had them shipped to Australia for the equivalent of about 277 Euro each. The enclosures were delivered really quickly (from Italy) but the PCBs and components took approx. 4-5 weeks (from the US) so only just arrived a few days ago.

@HandbrakeBiscuit 4 года назад

@@IHearEverythingDude It kiiinda woulda helped if you'd actually referred to the taxes & vat... I bought one of these and even after paying shipping & taxes I felt it was very good value, and it's now my main amp, hope that helps.

@diyaudiohelpdesk4284 4 года назад

Hi Alex. We put a lot of effort into supporting our very global community of audio fanatics no matter where they are living. There is an ACA purchasing wizard if you click on the big green button on the main ACA page. This purchasing wizard caters specifically for EU customers. It will let you choose an EU plug, and then opens two windows so you can get the chassis directly from within EU and the parts kit from the US. We'd love to stock everything in the EU at some point in the future, but it probably wouldn't make it much if at all cheaper. Duties are paid when you import (either as an individual or as a company) and will always end up baked into your final price one way or another if you are an EU resident, the same goes for VAT. We're working on a DDP shipping option for the future so you can avoid customs "inspection" (AKA "box opening") fees as well. Thanks for the question!

@218maryland 4 года назад

Nice

@MrChompenstein 4 года назад

The claims of the rolled off top end don't really add up . . . Audio Audiosciencereview has tested the ACA and it is flat to about 50kHz, then slowly rolls off. Flat requency response seems to be the benefit of this amp. Otherwise, the measurements showed a ton of distortion, and not just even order. The sloppy bass is probably a result of the low damping factor of this amp, it just isn't going to control a big woofer well. This amp was designed to be a fun, cheap, easy to build project, . . . And it is a great design in that regard, so long as you omit the expensive case. But don't expect magic.

@SuperMadpom 4 года назад

If you only need a couple of Watts it is magic because you wont drive it hard enough for it to distort.

@eetu2532 4 года назад

@@SuperMadpom No this amp has high distortion even at 1 Watt (0.7%), that's the 'magic sauce'

@SuperMadpom 4 года назад

@@eetu2532 With 105db per watt speakers i'm barely getting to 1 watt at normal listening levels :-)

@eetu2532 4 года назад

@@SuperMadpom Yeah, I was just pointing out that even when the amp is not clipping it has very high distortion (which is part of its charm/design).

@EliasTheHunter 4 года назад

SuperMadpom which speakers are those at 105db/watt??

@scubaman2546 4 года назад

Other than it being more expensive, how would you compare it to a Bottlehead Crack?

@chadbarker4023 4 года назад

Cool.

@twochaudiomg2578 4 года назад

The Man says , ""'you got to buy some solder """ Steve that's a big deal you brushed over it. also the wires "" Come on Man""

@steveluck9541 4 года назад

No it comes with the wires and the multimeter can be bought filthy cheap too.

@twochaudiomg2578 3 года назад

what i was thinking is Pass won't buy some off the wall solder. he mixes it up to get a sound he likes. Adds this a that to the solder . it's a big deal