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good to see the recent AS interest in DIY !!
i have just built an ampCamp amp v1.8 and thought i would chime in and share my experience here for anyone that might be interested. below is a sequence of pictures that document the build process. they are pretty much self-explanatory.
i will point out here that building the amp was extraordinarily fun and satisfying. anyone with basic tinkering skills who can diligently work through the detailed instructions can easily accomplish this. the kit chassis, PCBs and electrical components are high quality (although, next time i would upgrade the speaker binding posts and RCA inputs to something a bit more substantial).
in terms of sound quality… all i can say is that i am just floored by how good this $327 DIY kit sounds. it would be hard to overstate how much the amp exceeded my admittedly low expectations … it is a tribute to its designer. the ampCamp amp is equally as enjoyable to listen to as my SET tube amp; different but just as engaging.
for audiophiles on a budget, i would have absolutely no problem recommending this amp as at least a starting point, thereby, freeing up funds for higher level speakers.
here are just a few takeaways, what i learned, or had reinforced from this project:
anyway, i hope this inspires others on to DIY projects of their own. for me, the next project is probably to build a first watt f-6 clone, a somewhat more ambitious build in that it involves an on-board power supply.
i have just built an ampCamp amp v1.8 and thought i would chime in and share my experience here for anyone that might be interested. below is a sequence of pictures that document the build process. they are pretty much self-explanatory.
i will point out here that building the amp was extraordinarily fun and satisfying. anyone with basic tinkering skills who can diligently work through the detailed instructions can easily accomplish this. the kit chassis, PCBs and electrical components are high quality (although, next time i would upgrade the speaker binding posts and RCA inputs to something a bit more substantial).
in terms of sound quality… all i can say is that i am just floored by how good this $327 DIY kit sounds. it would be hard to overstate how much the amp exceeded my admittedly low expectations … it is a tribute to its designer. the ampCamp amp is equally as enjoyable to listen to as my SET tube amp; different but just as engaging.
for audiophiles on a budget, i would have absolutely no problem recommending this amp as at least a starting point, thereby, freeing up funds for higher level speakers.
here are just a few takeaways, what i learned, or had reinforced from this project:
> nelson pass is a genius ...and, the audio ecosystem he has built and mentored is visionary and without equal.
> simple designs well executed win -- every time.
> i now fully understand why joe has so many amps !!
> after ~9 years of listening to the same amp, it was really nice to hook this amp into my system and hear an equally good but very different sound. having a few amps and rotating them periodically can certainly add to the enjoyment of one’s system.
> all your amps — or even your only amp doesn’t have to cost as much as your lamborghini. one can get terrific sound for a relatively small investment. i would love to do blind A/B listening test of the ACA with much more expensive amps.
> i have under-appreciated solid state amplification
> simple designs well executed win -- every time.
> i now fully understand why joe has so many amps !!
> after ~9 years of listening to the same amp, it was really nice to hook this amp into my system and hear an equally good but very different sound. having a few amps and rotating them periodically can certainly add to the enjoyment of one’s system.
> all your amps — or even your only amp doesn’t have to cost as much as your lamborghini. one can get terrific sound for a relatively small investment. i would love to do blind A/B listening test of the ACA with much more expensive amps.
> i have under-appreciated solid state amplification
anyway, i hope this inspires others on to DIY projects of their own. for me, the next project is probably to build a first watt f-6 clone, a somewhat more ambitious build in that it involves an on-board power supply.
