This is a pretty Heathkit chassis

RE: This is a pretty Heathkit chassis, posted on July 15, 2016 at 00:49:59
RayBan Audiophile Posts: 111 Location: Vegas Joined: February 12, 2009	I built many HeathKit items in the 70's including their first color TV. (As I was close to Benton Harbor they took it there to use as an example of how to do it right.) I did all the test equipment - scope, generators, as I was an EE doing field service. They we're a great firm!! RayBan

RE: This is a pretty Heathkit chassis, posted on July 15, 2016 at 02:39:43
dbphd Audiophile Posts: 1674 Location: Montecito, CA Joined: September 6, 2006	I wonder if Heathkit would have been interested in the amp I built many decades ago as an example of how not to do things right.

It's too bad heathkit or someone like them isn't around today., posted on July 15, 2016 at 04:38:41
vinnie2 Audiophile Posts: 4481 Location: North Carolina Joined: September 28, 2013	Don't mean to hijack your thread, but it is a shame. I guess they could not compete with the prices of the stuff coming from China, but they night be able to compete with some of the higher end stuff. I guess not enough people want to build their own gear anymore. Our numbers are on the rise a but we are still few and far between compared to the rest of the market.

well, there's Bottlehead, Jim Hagerman, and Nelson Pass's PassDIY and lots of others in hifi, posted on July 15, 2016 at 07:58:26

mhardy6647
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... amateur radio, well, there's Ramsey Electronics.

Plenty of kit options of all kinds, at all price points, for electronics.
Not that I don't miss Heathkit, EICO, and Dynakit (wait, there IS a rebooted Dynakit, too!)... but it's not like we're in a wasteland now.

Not to mention the whole Arduino/Raspberry PI/etc. "maker" craze.

A pair of Bottlehead Paramour SE 2A3 "monoblock" amps assembled from a kit by my kids and me many years ago. A finer sounding amplifier for high-sensitivity loudspeakers for (then) $500 would have been very hard to find.

all the best,
mrh

http://www.dynakitparts.com/

I REALLY wish I had gotten a set of Paramours back then., posted on July 15, 2016 at 09:38:38
ToddM Audiophile Posts: 1612 Location: Atlanta, USA Joined: May 15, 2001 Contributor Since: June 13, 2005	Their current line looks really cool, but prices have continued to climb for the nice tube stuff, past the point where it's really a great deal - high-end probably, but not the $99 bargains like the Foreplay I, etc. Their SS bargain stuff does look nice, though.

Parks Audio is also really nice stuff., posted on July 15, 2016 at 09:40:34
ToddM Audiophile Posts: 1612 Location: Atlanta, USA Joined: May 15, 2001 Contributor Since: June 13, 2005	Though calling them "kits" may be a stretch, since he (Shannon Parks) only offers bare PCBs and really great support - the enclosure, parts sourcing, etc., are all up to the builder.

RE: It's too bad heathkit or someone like them isn't around today., posted on July 15, 2016 at 10:05:13

Michael Samra
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Posts: 36118
Location: saginaw michigan
Joined: January 30, 2005

Vinnie
It wasn't China that caused the problem with Amateur radio at least,it was Japan.They were currency manipulating the Yen being their govt funds the companies and then Yaesu,Kenwood,and Icom was dumping this stuff on our shores in the 70s and early 80s.
The same thing happened with audio gear with Pioneer,Sansui,and other Japanese brands doing the same thing.Now,we have China doing this to everyone,including Japan.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

Kits, posted on July 15, 2016 at 10:07:36

M3 lover
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Ah yes. I know very little about electronics but successfully built 8 kits -- Dyna ST 70, PAS-3, FM-3, ST 400, and PAT-5; Hafler 200 and 101; and HK Citation 12 (yes, that was a factory kit). By successful I mean they all worked upon completion. However after building the ST 70, PAS-3, and FM-3 I moved to the Philadelphia area and took all three to the factory for a check up. They reported all that was needed was a "touch up" to a few solder connections. That made me feel good since I'd never soldered anything before the Dynakits. All in all, a satisfying experience.

Regarding current kits, I must admit I'm again tempted by one from Vacuum Tube Audio, see link. However I'm overwhelmed by other projects.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/home.html

Exactly what I was going to say., posted on July 15, 2016 at 13:21:30
Crazy Dave Audiophile Posts: 14371 Location: East Coast Joined: October 4, 2001	I think I paid $35, new in the box, for my Japan Scott receive, and it was a very nice receiver with an excellent tuner. It drove my ADS 500 speakers for years, until it was replaced by an SAE stack. Dave

RE: Kits, posted on July 16, 2016 at 08:57:25

airtime
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Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003

I built that kit a year ago. I am VERY happy with it. It does not sound like the old Dynaco. Very updated but well done. Instructions are crystal clear, parts top notch and Bob Latino was very helpful if you do need him.

The tubes he offers are not starter tubes. DO!!!! get his 12AU7's and rectifier tube. If you can get the gold lion KT66. The EL34 Shuguangs he sends with the kit are quite good for EL34s bit the GL 66s are in another league.

charles

there's an unbuilt original Foreplay sittin' in my basement :-P, posted on July 16, 2016 at 12:19:45
mhardy6647 Audiophile Posts: 16013 Location: New England Joined: October 12, 1999 Contributor Since: October 23, 2016	I bought one for my father to build at one point but he never actually did. He's passed away now... but the kit, all packed up as shipped (opened, though, of course) is in my basement. I am halfway tempted to build it & likely will someday. all the best, mrh

VTA ST-70, posted on July 16, 2016 at 13:24:17

M3 lover
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Thanks much Charles. I have a restored pair of A-25s i hope to set up in a den/office if I move within the next year. I'm considering a VTA-ST70 to drive those. However, because of so many other time constraints I'd likely buy one from Bob assembled. Either way, your tube comments are appreciated.

What about KT77s, any experience with those? (You referenced both KT66 and GL66)

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

Very nice! nt, posted on July 16, 2016 at 14:47:12
Awe-d-o-file Dealer Posts: 21037 Location: 50 miles west of DC Joined: January 10, 2004	ET "If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

RE: Very nice! nt, posted on July 17, 2016 at 09:38:18
Michael Samra Dealer Posts: 36118 Location: saginaw michigan Joined: January 30, 2005	I've always liked the DX-100 and the Apache.The Apache uses EL34s for the modulator and the DX-100 uses 807s.. "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

Vintage Asylum

This is a pretty Heathkit chassis

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