Building amps from kits


I am debating doing this just for the fun of it. I see them mentioned but have never seen a kit for sale. Where would I find one? Is this a bad idea? How well do the kits go together. Would appreciate input from peolple who have done this. Thanks
hobbes05
Back in the 60's & 70's kits definately saved you money. Available then were Dynaco, Heathkit, Eico. In the case of Dynaco, they had the finest and most powerful amplifiers available anywhere, either built or in kit form. With the Pacific Rim economic revolution in the late 70's, almost all of the kit manufacturers went out of business. Sound Values (www.soundvalves.com) still sells the famed Dynaco ST70 in kit form for $900 or so, if you are into tubes, the VTA70i. True Audio Designs (www.compusmart.ab.ca/truaudio/) has a $25 manual to build your own solid-state amp. Frank Van Alstine (www.avahifi.com) still sells preamp kits of modified Dynaco and other designs. A company called Smart Kit (www.smartkit.gr/sk1077.htm) offers a 100w solid state amplifier kit. The Audio Amateur magazine (www.audioxpress.com) has classified ads for dozens of amp kits. Hope this helps. Bill Alexander
Back in the 60's & 70's kits definately saved you money. Available then were Dynaco, Heathkit, Eico. In the case of Dynaco, they had the finest and most powerful amplifiers available anywhere, either built or in kit form. With the Pacific Rim economic revolution in the late 70's, almost all of the kit manufacturers went out of business. Sound Values (www.soundvalves.com) still sells the famed Dynaco ST70 in kit form for $900 or so, if you are into tubes, the VTA70i. True Audio Designs (www.compusmart.ab.ca/truaudio/) has a $25 manual to build your own solid-state amp. Frank Van Alstine (www.avahifi.com) still sells preamp kits of modified Dynaco and other designs. A company called Smart Kit (www.smartkit.gr/sk1077.htm) offers a 100w solid state amplifier kit. The Audio Amateur magazine (www.audioxpress.com) has classified ads for dozens of amp kits. Hope this helps. Bill Alexander
I Too have recently become interested in kit amps. So far I found two companies that offer hi end class A and A/B equipment. Try www.velleman.be and www.marchandelec.com If yoy find others please e-mail to dl863@aol.com good luck.
these are 3 of the best places to get kits www.welbornelabs.com,www.angela.com and www.sonicfrontiers.com they also sell lots of diy parts. also i have built the welborne labs apollo 1's and i love them they sound better then my pass aleph 3 hope this helps.
here are a few sources I've found, have no experience with any Triode Supply Japan http://triode.netoffice.ne.jp/ Bottlehead http://www.bottlehead.com/index.html Valve magazine http://www.bottlehead.com/valve/valve.html Jute on Kits http://indigo.ie/~andre/Recommendedtubekits http://www.audioxpress.com/index.htm http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/ has some DIY information
You don't mention your skill level. a) If experienced, there's a "bigger" kit from Atma-Sphere, M-60 MkII that's supposed to be killer! The price is more than those mentioned above. Check out: www.atma-sphere.com b) Ifa novice, I've got simple Sonic Frontiers kit the DAC-1.5 (with HDCD) for sale. It's new in the box- i.e., unassembled! Try it to build your confidence!