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European DIY amp project

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Posted on July 24, 2014 at 03:57:34
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Hello,

I inquired sometime ago about the next "easy" step from the paint-by-numbers kit building and got many very useful information. Easy is the keyword here as I my electronics knowledge does not match my enthusiasm.

However, projects I was suggested to check out failed before they started because I am on the wrong side of the ocean, in Europe.

Is there a DIY tube amp project that I can source almost everything, at least transformers etc big items, from Europe.

I am not after amazing sound, I want to learn, and possibly, repeat as I was advised I will probably repeat it.

Sorry about the long mail and thanks for reading,
Zuheyr




 

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RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 04:04:41
tubular.well
Dealer

Posts: 223
Joined: March 4, 2013
 No i do not know of any "ready-to-build" kit in europe.

I would suggest a st-35 kit frpm dynakitparts or if you want more power
a vta-70 from tubes4hifi.com. They will be a good startingpoint and
will produce a very good amp.
You can but all needed tubes in europe however.( JJ made in slovakia)

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 04:17:02
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thank you. Dynakitspart is a great place to know. That is great, thanks!

I am not really looking for ready to build kit as I would rather like to play with the chassis and layout etc. I have no experience in wood or metal work, so this is the most exiciting and instructive point I demand of in my apprenticeship.

I just want to have a well defined project where I can source main components and dont have to solve riddles.

I have seen a tight lipped vendor selling amp design manuals for amps with custom made unavailable transformers. I discoverd that of course after having bought the manual.


 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 06:10:19
tubejack
Audiophile

Posts: 211
Location: New Braunfels, TX
Joined: November 26, 2003
 Lundahl is a European manufacturer of transformers widely used in Audio DIY, and obviously available "locally". You might start by looking for designs that specify their products.

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 06:16:12
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Wow, that is excellent. Than you so very much!

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 08:00:24
BofService
Audiophile

Posts: 741
Location: Atlanta
Joined: February 28, 2003
 Also try designs featuring Sowter: http://www.sowter.co.uk/

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 11:01:57
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10049
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 " I would rather like to play with the chassis and layout etc."

If you need someone to cut chassis plates with socket holes, transformer cutouts, etc. from thick aluminum, strong enough to hold heavy components, there's a company in the States known as Front Panel Express. Their European Website is at http://www.schaeffer-ag.de/en/. I haven't used them since buying my own CNC mill, but I think they can supply plates up to 3mm thick from material that they stock in-house. Their work is very high quality here in the US.

Also, just in case you decide to tackle something easier than scratch-built, you might check to see if Bottlehead will ship their kits to Europe.



 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:01:39
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Yes, thank you. I was given that address, they also have a program to design the front plate etc. I will certainly look at that.

Thank you very much for the reply.

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:09:13
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 I checked the Bottlehead kits, yes they do ship to Europe and they have gorgeous kits. Wonderful for the kit junkie I am but will I learn much more I do not know...


Exquisite kits though. Thank you so much.

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 12:16:31
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thank you, a very good address to have in mind. Thank you very much!

 

Where are you in Europe?, posted on July 24, 2014 at 15:16:30
andy evans
Audiophile

Posts: 4382
Joined: October 20, 2000
 If you are in Europe it would be a bit nuts to import anything from the USA - for a start the shipping cost on heavy items will be uneconomical, and added to that you may have to pay import duty and handling charges on top of that. Not a good idea.

Where are you exactly? This would help in suggesting what to get and where to get it. There are quite a few European members here who could help you.

 

you may try this, he is from Belgium, posted on July 24, 2014 at 17:58:33
bouncy ball
Audiophile

Posts: 1221
Location: British Columbia
Joined: July 26, 2003
 .

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 21:50:47
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10049
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 "Wonderful for the kit junkie I am but will I learn much more I do not know... "

There's much more to building from scratch than most newcomers realize. It can be an extremely tedious process, and I can tell you I've met a lot of enthusiasts who simply gave up. Starting with a well-designed kit has the significant benefit of providing a better chance for a successful conclusion. In the case of Bottlehead, there also seems to be no shortage of customers who are glad to talk about their experience, including modifications and the theory behind circuitry and operation. I have no financial interest in the company, in fact, I'm not even a customer. I do believe however that they provide a product and support very much in tune with the interests you've expressed here.

Good luck, whatever path you choose!

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 24, 2014 at 22:21:21
tubular.well
Dealer

Posts: 223
Joined: March 4, 2013
 If you are a "beginner" i would strongly encourage you to get a
complete kit from , let say, dynakitparts. There is several benefits:
- you will at the end have a complete well-documented amp that could be sold
to finance your next step
- there is no uncertainty of parts. Everything is there, everything will fit and everything will work.
- It's a well-known amp, if so inclined you could start modifying it
instead of starting a new
- Cost of getting from us is there, but it's not overwhelming ( get tubes
locally however )

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 25, 2014 at 03:45:58
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thank you very much for your advise.

I agree. I did a number of kits but they were quite expensive and simply I did them to listen certainly not for experiemnting. Now I can relax and do a kit in a more process than result oriented manner.

Thank you again for reading this.

 

RE: you may try this, he is from Belgium, posted on July 25, 2014 at 03:48:50
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Wow, that is really excellent, thank you I will contact him this weekend, thank you very much!

 

RE: European DIY amp project, posted on July 25, 2014 at 03:56:22
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thank you.

I indeed will do that way, as Tubular.Well also advises, I will do a full kit as an educational project, as a dot in the learning curve.
I already consider Bottlehead, yes and contacted them...

Thank you.

 

RE: Where are you in Europe?, posted on July 25, 2014 at 03:58:43
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Hi Andy,

I am from Belgium. I am sorry I was not precise in my post, in a way Europe is so small that it is like, you know,...

Thank you very much for clarifying this.

 

** Thank you all very much ** , posted on July 25, 2014 at 04:03:09
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Thank you all. I really mean the most these two words can mean.

Audio Asylum, particularly tube DIY is a very unique place and I really feel happy and privileged to be a part of this community.

Thank you for your time.

 

RE: ** Thank you all very much ** I think I sold you, posted on July 25, 2014 at 12:12:57
PeterI
Audiophile

Posts: 1432
Location: Colorado
Joined: October 17, 2006
 ...some tubes once. I remember your name and Belgium. Best of luck with your projects.

Pete

 

RE: ** Thank you all very much ** I think I sold you, posted on July 25, 2014 at 13:17:45
zuheyr
Audiophile

Posts: 439
Location: Brussels
Joined: August 5, 2004
 Hi Peter,

Could it be those delicious EL84 Telefunken's or EEC82's etc :)

Thank you for remembering and reminding me. Regards.

 

RE: I think 12AY7 ? in Spring 2011. , posted on July 25, 2014 at 13:35:30
PeterI
Audiophile

Posts: 1432
Location: Colorado
Joined: October 17, 2006
 But we are getting off the thread's purpose.

:)

Cheers

 

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