Talk:DIY audio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

diy audio is a hobby like knitting, and should have its own entry with related links.

This entry will be expanded to cover a lot of diy audio in detail.

[edit] Removed section that is pure advertising

response - its not pure advertising, these are the most common projects in the world. Plus, no one mentioned here actually sells anything. I mean Pass Labs might on occasion make an empty circuit board avaiable for a small fee. I'd put this back in, please get a 2nd opinion.

[edit] Common DIY Projects

1. The GainClone or "chip amp".

The Gainclone or "chip amp" is probably the most commonly built and well known amplifier project, it is extremely simple to build and involves only a few parts which all are readily accessible, and is very inexpensive. As an amplifier it is highly regarded by many in the DIY community. The term "Gainclone" derives from the 47 Labs Gaincardamplifier. The Gaincard shook up the audiophile community by being unconventional. It had fewer parts, less capacitance and simpler construction than virtually anything preceding it, and relied on a 50 watt chip for amplification, the National Semiconductor LM3875. (found Here) These construction techniques went against the current thinking at the time, which favored large power supplies and discrete amplification. Estimates are that this amp cost less than $100 in parts, but it sold for $3300 with its small power supply. Controversy ensued, with a number of positive reviews (see here). The DIY community started building replicas (or improvements, or modificiations, depending on how you look at it) of the Gaincard using various chip amps from National Semiconductor and other manufacturers in an attempt to see if good sound could be obtained. The simple circuit was easy to make and some even started offering printed circuit boards and kits to make construction even easier.

Controversy over these "Gainclones" or "chip amps" still exists, and variations have spawned. There are hundreds of web sites with examples, kits, circuits, and descriptions of the Gainclone amplifier.

Gainclone external links.

2. Pass Labs "Zen" and Other Projects.

Notable high end audio circuit designer Nelson Pass of Pass labs is a long time supporter of the DIY audio movement, and publishes articles on the Pass Labs domain: passdiy.com. These articles explain basic concepts of amplifier, preamplifier and other audio designs. There is a complete line (or evolution) of the "Zen" series of amplifiers, which are intended to be very simple and to provide good quality sound. The Pass DIY Gallery contains photos and descriptions of Pass projects from around the world. A discussion board devoted to Pass projects is found here. Most Pass projects are based on a MOSFET circuit. Pass Labs DIY auido projects are extremely popular due to the sensible circuit designs, and the articles which attempt to provide a clear explanation of the circuit theory and operation, as well as identify all parts that are used, and where the parts can be obtained.

[edit] Disagreement With Vacuum Tube Section

Vaccum Tube DIY Your statement: "Vacuum tube or "valve" projects are common in audio DIY. While the vacuum tube has been replaced in modern times with the transistor and IC, interest exists in building components using vacuum tubes, and the vacuum tube is still freely available. Note that vacuum tube projects almost always use dangerously high voltages and should be undertaken with due care." belies the fact that most of the "high end" audio equipment today is tubed equipment. While most of said equipment is far beyond the means of the average consumer, the ability to duplicate it or even improve upon it is possible within the average budget by "doing it yourself". See Cary Audio Designs, Sophia Electric, or Manley Labs for instance in regard to "state of the art" or "high end". Leonard R. Shaw 20:29, 14 March 2007 (UTC)olsparky

Edited section to account for this comment and now the article reflects fact that tubes are gone from the mass market but are still used in high end equipment. Now reads: "Vacuum tube or "valve" projects are common in audio DIY. While, for mass market audio components, the vacuum tube has been replaced in modern times with the transistor and IC, the vacuum tube remains proiminent in speciality high end audio equipment..." Lgreen 16:21, 27 March 2007 (UTC)