DIY DIY Pass Amp - Anyone Experienced Interested In Building One Along With Me?

[Tlarwa]

Not in a hurry, but wanted to gauge interest level (if any)…

I used to own a genuine First Watt J2, and loved it, but like many pieces of equipment ultimately sold it. I’m interested to own another FW amp (model TBD), but instead of forking over the big bucks for an actual FW, I’d be down to build one myself. The only problem is that I’ve never built anything like it from scratch before. I’ve built a few kits; TS Grounded Grid pre, Tubes4Hifi PH 16 phono pre and now an ACA Mini amp, but never anything other than speakers and crossovers from scratch. So I’d be really interested to build one at the same time as someone else who knows what they are doing. Think of it as a pseudo Nelson Pass amp camp, without the camp part or Papa. Oh, and we’d be collaborating virtually, unless you happen to live in SE WI or the Chicago area.

Not sure which model to build. It would be used to drive the woofer/midrange of the OB dipole speakers I’m currently building. The ACA Mini I’m building now will drive the tweeter section.

Anyone interested? Again, I have multiple projects going right now so I’m in no hurry.

 

[marantzfan]

Just a thought. If you don’t find another person interested in building one right now, consider one of the amplifiers that has a build thread by DIY Audio member 6L6.

He has build threads for a lot of the FW amps which include BOM’s and are really detailed and easy to follow. I built an Aleph J a while back and that thread made it easy.

 

[IceRover]

Hi @Tlarwa I have built the following First Watt kits: F6 and M2 and B1 Korg. Have the unbuilt kits for AKA Mini, F5, DIY Sony VFET pt 1, F4 boards and transistors and a half built Sissy SIT. I use the F6 daily, the M2 in current configuration has a little to much 50-100hz noise for my Altec A5s. May rebuild it at some time (different or external powersupply)
Im in a building slump for the time being, but built the F6, M2, Aikido preamp and exchanged the powertrafos on my DIY se 300b monoblocks over 8 months some of years ago.
Might start building again this vinter.

 

[asilker]

I live near Foster and 94

I am flat broke and probably will be for the remainder of the year, but always welcome a build buddy. I've completed the DIYaudio F5 kit. You're welcome to hear how it sounds in my room

 

[Tlarwa]

I live near Foster and 94

I am flat broke and probably will be for the remainder of the year, but always welcome a build buddy. I've completed the DIYaudio F5 kit. You're welcome to hear how it sounds in my room

That would be great. May take you up on it at some point. I live in Lake Geneva but work in Lake Forest. Any info, links, build guide, etc. you can share about the F5 build? How was it?

 

[asilker]

That would be great. May take you up on it at some point. I live in Lake Geneva but work in Lake Forest. Any info, links, build guide, etc. you can share about the F5 build? How was it?

I purchased all of my stuff, including PCBs, semiconductors, and chassis, from DIYaudio. The F5 is unique in it's bias process, so I have 3 multimeters for that process

The DIYaudio megathread moderated by 6L6 is the way to go - that dude is fantastic. Helpful, gentle, attentive.

I have experience with guitar amps and some DAC stuff, and this was by far an easier build. You got this.

Edit: I can put together links later if you can't find things. Sorry I'm tied up right now

 

[Batty]

Currently using the M2X as my main amplifier, doing an awesome job with 86dB/w speakers.
Works very well with the Elekit TU8500 pre amp which is also DIY.

Be very careful with mains voltages as they can be fatal.

 

[asilker]

I know @mhardy6647 has built a bunch of them. Iirc, he had a preference for the aleph and M2x over the F5

I went with the F5 because it can run challenging loads, but beside that utility I can't comment if it's the best sounding amp in the lineup

 

[Tlarwa]

I purchased all of my stuff, including PCBs, semiconductors, and chassis, from DIYaudio. The F5 is unique in it's bias process, so I have 3 multimeters for that process

The DIYaudio megathread moderated by 6L6 is the way to go - that dude is fantastic. Helpful, gentle, attentive.

I have experience with guitar amps and some DAC stuff, and this was by far an easier build. You got this.

Edit: I can put together links later if you can't find things. Sorry I'm tied up right now

Thanks ... no rush at all. I've got an amp to finish and crossovers and speakers to finish building first!

 

[JP]

The DIYaudio megathread moderated by 6L6 is the way to go - that dude is fantastic. Helpful, gentle, attentive.

He drives like an mad man, though.

 

[Tiverson]

Here is one I recently finished. It’s single ended class A Sony VFET stereo amplifier. This amp has a huge sound stage that is deep also. I was able to get the limited production chassis that was made for the kit. This is the P channel version, I also have the N channel version that I have not assembled. It uses basically a laptop brick power supply and a special filter circuit. The amp is very quiet. I put my SET45 tube amp away for this amp and I’m not disappointed. The sound stage is incredible, I could picture the singer in the room centered between the speakers. You have to have the Sony VFET transistors for this project and they are hard to find and expensive. It puts out around 8 watt a channel.

 

[MrEd]

Here is one I recently finished. It’s single ended class A Sony VFET stereo amplifier. This amp has a huge sound stage that is deep also. I was able to get the limited production chassis that was made for the kit. This is the P channel version, I also have the N channel version that I have not assembled. It uses basically a laptop brick power supply and a special filter circuit. The amp is very quiet. I put my SET45 tube amp away for this amp and I’m not disappointed. The sound stage is incredible, I could picture the singer in the room centered between the speakers. You have to have the Sony VFET transistors for this project and they are hard to find and expensive. It puts out around 8 watt a channel.

That's beautiful. I have wanted to have one of these for a while, but too many things on my list.

 

[Tiverson]

Thank you. There are plans on a kit that uses tokin SIT transistors, which I have a couple of pairs. Not sure when that will be available.

Tony

 

[marantzfan]

Thank you. There are plans on a kit that uses tokin SIT transistors, which I have a couple of pairs. Not sure when that will be available.

Tony

I bought a pair of the Tokins way back when this was first announced as well. Hopefully we get an update sometime soon on the project from NP.