Do It Yourself

Given the outcry for some documentation on how to build some of these ESP amps I think it is time for a thread on the subject. Now the plan is to post here a summary of the parts needed to build a KGSS amp using the boards from Headamp.com plus what ever build/mods of Stax amps come to mind. KGSS Now for some time people have claimed that the KGSS is somehow hard to build when it really couldn't be further from the truth. My first DIY amp was a KGSS with those horrible old PCB's using offboard heatsinks and caps but after blowing up a couple of boards and PSU's (I really didn't have a clue as to what I was doing) I had two working amps. Now the new boards make …

I'm going to create a thread for this amp since it is my intention at the end of the build to publish the schematic and any relevant details so that anyone who's crazy enough can build this amp. So for now this (and the amp) are a work in progress and just somewhere where I can share pictures. Actual information will come later. Night #0 of PS chassis fabrication: I did a preliminary layout of all of the parts on a large 17" x 14" x 4" Hammond Steel chassis that I happened to have laying around. It seemed big enough so I took rough measurements of where everything was located so that I could tweak them later for better alignment and symmetry. I'm not all that concerne…

This thread is a follow on to the original SRX Revisited thread and the SRX-Plus Group Buy thread. As of 2024, I count at least 12 members with working SRX-Plus Amplifiers: JimL congo5 MLA Sorrodje mwl168 luca jose blueman2 Juggernaut1101 tomislavkufrin simmconn oldie ============================================================= Here is an initial Bill of Materials for the Amp. Please provide input on errors and omissions and I will update. This is my first ever electronics build, so bear with me as I learn the ropes. I am initially building a KGBH psu, so do not have the BOM fo…

Hi All.. I accidentally deleted the old thread just now, whoops! Can everyone post the boards they want here in this thread as I start over. I'll also inquire about pots from TKD through a US distributor. This was the old spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Z1L3MQuuY4ZTUyPQb1qBmVJp8MtC7qEzBUui3z5dFrQ/edit#gid=0 Attached are all the boards except the unbalanced to balanced tube bottom mount Bridge_Vert.zip cfp2hmt.zip circlotronhvpowersinglenewver3swt.zip goldenreference6d.zip grhv100v.zip kgbhver6sbipolar.zip kgsshvpssicfetsinglenewleftfatsws.zip kgsshvpssicfetsinglenewrightfatsws.zip TKD 4CP 3 …

EDIT 8/4: attach updated GB details and remov outdated chart EDIT 7/31: attach updated GB details and remov outdated chart EDIT 7/27: attach GB details and remov outdated chart EDIT 7/23: attach PCB cost quotes and limit first time poster to 4 set of amp boards max. EDIT 7/19: proposing use of HV Carbon V5 board to replace both V2 and V3 boards. See posting # 190. EDIT 7/13: attach snapshot of final order entries and board count. EDIT 7/12: This GB is officially closed as of 7/12/2015. Due to the changes Kevin made to the PS boards, it'll take a few more days for these boards to be checked before I officially request quotes from the …

so sorenb really wanted this, so here it is http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/cfaelectrostat.pdf the outputs are 300v darlington transistors just need to find a suitable npn match for the stn9360, and this can be done all surface mount tiny, fully complementary, fully dc coupled, decent input impedance (none of this 75 ohm nonsense) push pull output... edit: PBHV2160ZX looks great for the npn. so you can add one more set of outputs and run up to 500v power supplies balanced input only, and you need 4 of them

Here are my BOM for a pair of BH. https://www.mouser.tw/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=b44788bc7f for GRLV and GRHV. copied from Carbon build thread. http://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=b6d687c7f7 http://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=54687aa8fa Parts I already have or going to buy from local dealer are NOT included like LEDs, insulators, IC sockets. Someone need to check if all resistor value are correct. I hope I could finish it at the end of April

Hope you guys don't mind, but I'm taking the liberty to collect some info, links etc. here. 900V floating supplies 350V/us the cole slew (couldn't resist) seems to be happening in bits and pieces in multiple threads on multiple forums and there are some implementation issues which seem to be worth discussing...namely fitting all of this somewhat daunting amplifier into one case. I guess at some point Kevin decided to split the input and output stages- output board output schematic The output stage features the floating supply floating supply fboard floating supply schematic the input/driver board As of today the aim is to fit this all in …

Well its not like the stax mafia aren't busy and we certainly are not going to do an output stage with 8ma of current, and therefore no reason for a 4 stage amp, and since tube inputs seem to be the big thing lately, well might as well take the kgsshv-carbon design and replace the input fet with an input triode. bonus, no low voltage supplies. not a bonus, ksa1156 and ksc5026 run at close to 1 watt each. I should have a real t8000 end of june, but this should keep some of you busy. I expect joamat to have one built in less than 24 hours. no, no circuit board yet about 70 volts on the plate of the tube, same as t2. optical servo from kgsshv-carbon…

Is there a balanced to unbalanced (single ended) board that is recommended? Twisted Pear has two options but they use op amps, and then there's the Broskie Cathode Follower, and Unbalancer Two. Those two use tubes. What else is out there?

I've got the permission from Dr Gilmore for a second run of boards, so let's do it again. Linky to the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoNVeoQi85GgdFVrMmtReVpWNVBsQUo2Sl9iSkItM2c#gid=0 Please take a look at the notes before putting your needed quantity. If you want something extra (like a single PSU or amp), just put a note under Extra Requirement column. The Megatron is not fully-tested so if you really want to try it, do it at your own risk. Silkscreens for the boards: + Megatron: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/9229564952_a344b73826_b.jpg + KGSSHV onboard: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/9224679066_7e0d75ce72_b.jp…

My parents have an old pair of B&W 802 Series 80 speakers. I've read that these are still considered pretty decent, but I'm concerned about the condition these are in. I'd like to replace parts like the binding posts and maybe parts of the crossovers. How difficult is this type of thing? Could an advanced beginner DIYer do it? The speakers look like this (these aren't the actual speakers):

I'm considering getting a few Pass Pearl phono PCBs made up. Is there any interest here?

Hi All: I inquired TKD Japan directly about their 4-gang volume pot 4CP-601 and they referred me to their US distributor. Long story short, looks like I can get the 10K pot for $65 a piece plus shipping. The cost may be slightly lower if total quantity is high. I am still working out some detail information. Any interest?

James lin came up with this, I turned it into a circuit board. cascaded current sources et all. http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/srxschematic.jpg http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/srx6.jpg http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/boards/srx6.zip I did make a few changes including balanced input

Now, Kerry is currently about to test the latest revision of the Kevin Gilmore Digital Attenuator, and since a few people have asked for a Group Buy we hereby probe the interest. Kerry is mostly inclined for the 50k version. Please put your request into the referenced Google spreadsheet. The information in the sheet in rgrds to price is from the former group buy and only to give an idea of where we might end with this group buy. As last time we will investigate cost of fully assembled boards as well as bare boards (with stencil) if people wants to DIY. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/131vk972PEIm-J4r5IbZT7IP7CAqoMfP4j0RfE0J0xeM/edit?usp=sharing Let me kno…

Could someone post how to do this, or a link?

This topic has needed its own thread for quite some time (years), so starting one. I may see if I can get a mode to move some of the posts here (Carbon thread, not sure where else they are littered). 11 hours ago, Pars said: GRHV question: I'm building a pair of the singles intended for 400V output. On the BOM I have, there are 2 680uf caps for each board; 1 is a 550V caP, the other a 450V cap. I presume the 550V would go right after the rectifiers in the schematic, and the 450V on the output. The BOM that was posted by jamesmking uses 4 x 470uf 550V Kemets. Is there much difference between the 680uf and 470uf in terms of sound or anything? BTW,…

ujamerstand had his university make up some of my version of the stax jacks, maybe he is willing to sell a few. I have 3 of the 6 pin teflon versions that i make left, i'm not going to make any more jacks this year due to lack of time. You could always plug the center pin with an appropriate teflon rod if you wish. Someone needs to organize a group buy and find someone in china to make a large batch of them, with REAL teflon.

Anyone already bought this one and/or seriously considering it? Seriously tempted to try one against my M-Dac with the added bonus that it could drive my T1s directly More info: http://soekris.com/products/audio-products/dam1021.html https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/building-soekris-r-2r-dac/ and a couple of gargantuan diyaudio-threads //UFN

I was not really planning on going into work next week, but this has changed my mind. http://gilmore.chem....n.edu/ebony.jpg 1500 grams, 8 x 2.5 x 3.5 inches about 50 years old.

Edit: I've started collecting payments. Information is here Enough people have expressed interests where I am organizing a group buy. Here is the link to the spreadsheet to register interest and what you would like. I can also include mounting hardware for the XLR jacks and other parts. I plan on going through enclosuresandcasesinc.com and using their 175DT desktop case. I priced a custom length 6.8" case without any cutouts or finish and it was around $30 each if I bought at least 10. Currently getting a quote for machining and anodizing but it doesn't seem so bad if I get enough people. Here is what I've drawn up. Let me know if there's any egreg…

This has been needed for a while. For those with problematic DAC's that put out a bit of DC, and balanced headphone amplifiers happy to amplify said DC and produce differential DC on the output... http://gilmore.chem.northwestern.edu/protector.jpg This is the one case where ti kan's protection board does not work, unless you want to use 2 of them.

In progress Amp design by me, power supply designs and circuit board layout by kerry, support by birgir +/-300 volt power supplies. complementary push pull all bipolar design with cmos style multiplying current mirror.

I'm having some of the teflon Stax jacks w/ the gold plated pins machined. I should have them in 4-6 weeks. I don't have the final price yet because I don't know what it will cost to have the pins assembled. But it shouldnt be more (probably will be less) than the jacks have previously been sold for and it will be excellent machining quality. Edit: August 3, 2012 All connectors from this group buy have been shipped out. If you're reading this late, I've listed more connectors on eBay. Find them at the below links 1 connector - Custom Teflon Chassis Jack for Stax Headphones from HeadAmp 2 connectors - 2 pcs - Custom Teflon Chassis Jack for Stax Headphones fr…