Recylo Amp

[lifewater]

Hi guys, just now completed a amp using recycled parts. It is LM3886 chip based and powered by a 250 VA recycled toroid putting out 22-0-22 V AC before rectification. Power supply board is the one donated by FM omishra and has a capacitance of 10000 uf X 2 + 2200 uf X2 per rail.

Heat sinks have been pulled from a junked UPS and used as side panels for the cabinet. Cabinet front, back, top and bottom are of old leftover pieces of ply. All woodwork and part varnishing done by me. I am using a relay based input selector purchased from audiocrafts.com and pot is a 100K alps.

Sorry for the hopeless pictures clicked with my cellphone. Internals soon.

Regards and thanks for looking,

Lifewater

 

[sachu888]

Nice DIY effort[emoji106]

 

[Shailesh Dhodia]

Hi,
Images are not visible. Please re-post them.

 

[sachu888]

Hi,
Images are not visible. Please re-post them.

They were visible earlier, can't see now.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[reubensm]

Love the effort. Building something from junked parts is always a very special experience. How about some pictures of the inside?

 

[lifewater]

They were visible earlier, can't see now.

Regards,
Sachin

Hi, Sachin dont know what happen, reposting again.

Hi,
Images are not visible. Please re-post them.

Doing them now Sailesh

Love the effort. Building something from junked parts is always a very special experience. How about some pictures of the inside?

Thanks Rueben. Yes the amp sounds unlike anything I have heard, clean, clear and powerful. Feels like it sounds if not better just like my Lyrita.

Sure will post pics of the internals.
[URL=http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/lifewater76/media/20140815_184826.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/lifewater76/media/20140815_184844.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/lifewater76/media/20140815_184918.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1091.photobucket.com/user/lifewater76/media/20140815_184930.jpg.html][/URL]

 

[anuragn]

Dying to see the pics! (pics are still not visible).

 

[saheb11123]

Insides please!!

 

[Record Player]

Wonderful effort there. How does it sound?

 

[omishra]

Nice one, congratulations. Please post internals (DIYA people call is porn).

One more thing, now you can replace these wooden planks with 3mm Aluminium sheets and all four corners with 1/8 thick 1" wide Aluminium angle. Same nut-bolts can be reused. Start one by one with bottom and top plate.

 

[Shailesh Dhodia]

amazing effort. Please do share the internals.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Splendid work

But please make one modification, in the name of electrical safety... I'm assuming that the tricolour block on the rear is the mains electricity connection? Please cover this, or preferably put it on the inside, as it is a very dangerous thing to have exposed.

Of course, if I'm wrong ...just ignore

Looking forward to internals pics...

 

[lifewater]

Insides please!!

Sure Soumya, as soon as I get back to my garden.

Wonderful effort there. How does it sound?

Thanks buddy. The amp sounds very clean and digs out details which I have not heard in the Sonodyne amp (Old Vintage) as well as the Lyrita Integre II (Pardon me for comparing it with such lowly DIY amp). Bass is powerful and hits your chest (midbass ???) seperation of instruments and the placement of singers in the soundstage is easily made out. Many of my friends wanted to know what megabucks amplifier I was using just b hearing it. In a nutshell I am floored did not ever dream that a DIY amp with such low parts count can sound so well.

Nice one, congratulations. Please post internals (DIYA people call is porn).

One more thing, now you can replace these wooden planks with 3mm Aluminium sheets and all four corners with 1/8 thick 1" wide Aluminium angle. Same nut-bolts can be reused. Start one by one with bottom and top plate.

Sure Om, will shoot the porn pics once I get back home from my tour. As regarding the cabinet, have managed to dig out an aluminum Cabinet previously housing a VSAT indoor unit (Hughes Escorts ??). But it needs a coat of paint. Will post pics soon.

amazing effort. Please do share the internals.

Splendid work

But please make one modification, in the name of electrical safety... I'm assuming that the tricolour block on the rear is the mains electricity connection? Please cover this, or preferably put it on the inside, as it is a very dangerous thing to have exposed.

Of course, if I'm wrong ...just ignore

Looking forward to internals pics...

Sure Sir, you are right. The cabinet was just put together with bits and pieces of plywood. A new one albeit recycled again is on its way. Right now in the boot of my car. Will transfer the amp internals into that after a coat of paint.

 

[reubensm]

I often disagree with those who say DIY stuff with low end parts cannot match DIY stuff with high quality parts or factory manufactured stuff.

You have to look at the complete value chain to evaluate. Of course, 95% of the weight needs to be accrued against performance (to your ears and independent/neutral reviewers) but the value realization also needs to be factored. If I can get a Rs.230/- CNC phonostage to sound like a professionally built phonostage, the value realized is not just the sound quality but the cost saving. Couple these factors and you'll have a ripper. I've also learnt this lesson with my lowly BPL speakers. They can beat many of the sub 30k speakers out there but people only laugh when they hear that I will be playing a Garrard 401 through NAD amplification, through BPL speakers. Imagine I gave up B&W DM3000 speakers for these, another cardinal sin the they eyes of many.

Bottom line, if you get something that sounds fantastic to your ears, you are set up. If you can get to this with rediculously low expenditure, you are blessed.

 

[lifewater]

Agreed in toto Rueben. Even my speakers are the old monkey coffin Sonodyne AR77. Most may not have even heard about them. Will post their pics soon.

 

[omishra]

Aluminium can be powder coated or anodised. I am not sure any kind of paint will hold it on. Be sure for metal primer and then final coat with enough setting time.

 

[saheb11123]

Sure Soumya, as soon as I get back to my garden.


Thanks buddy. The amp sounds very clean and digs out details which I have not heard in the Sonodyne amp (Old Vintage) as well as the Lyrita Integre II (Pardon me for comparing it with such lowly DIY amp). Bass is powerful and hits your chest (midbass ???) seperation of instruments and the placement of singers in the soundstage is easily made out. Many of my friends wanted to know what megabucks amplifier I was using just b hearing it. In a nutshell I am floored did not ever dream that a DIY amp with such low parts count can sound so well.

Sure Om, will shoot the porn pics once I get back home from my tour. As regarding the cabinet, have managed to dig out an aluminum Cabinet previously housing a VSAT indoor unit (Hughes Escorts ??). But it needs a coat of paint. Will post pics soon.




Sure Sir, you are right. The cabinet was just put together with bits and pieces of plywood. A new one albeit recycled again is on its way. Right now in the boot of my car. Will transfer the amp internals into that after a coat of paint.

I myself am visiting my aunt place like I told you...
Get back soon if I can get back before you you'll find a nice surprise

 

[saheb11123]

Primer is must like omishra said...

 

[lifewater]

I myself am visiting my aunt place like I told you...
Get back soon if I can get back before you you'll find a nice surprise

Sure am trying Soumya, keeping my fingers crossed. Desperately want to meet you.
Keep me informed of the dates, if nothing works out, I will break my tour to meet you and then re-start.

Lifewater

Does anyone has experience of listening to DIY amps based on LM3886 chip, TDA2030 chip, K2586, LA4440 and NJW0281/NJW0302 ?

How do these above five amps compare in terms of Sound quality, tonality, THD and overall frequency response, for music listening? Which one of these is the best ?

I have made and listened to LA4440 back in college, 25 years back and we loved it. I have a DIY kit based on TDA2030 and will soon build it.

But how do all above compare?

Thanks,

Yogi, dont know about the other chips, but you cant go wrong with LM3886.. miles ahead than the LA4440.

Regards,

Lifewater

 

[saheb11123]

building personally lm4675 will write details soon. i currently use lm3886 diy as main stereo amp
All depends on taste but basically lm3886 , lm1875 , lm 3875/6 are very good amps