Do you build anything for your high fidelity system? If so, what do you make?

My latest project.  Vibration isolation platfoms for new tube mono blocks.  Total cost $90 each.

65 pounds of dry sand

Free floating top

Amps arrive next week.  Also built the speaker platforms.   I marvel at you guys that build your own electronics.  I'm limited to working with my hands.  

Great thread!

I get a lot out of adding "handwork" that helps my systems sound and look good.

For example:

-Rebuilding a Lenco L75 in a custom designed phenolic resin plinth

-Designing and building custom stands for my Quads

-Building custom stands for Monitor Audio MA-3's, modeled after an Audio Note design.

-Adding an exotic hardwood faceplate to an old tube amp pulled from a console . . .

Fun, fun, fun!

Interesting topic. While I didn’t actually sit down with a soldering iron and perform the work myself, I did have a long discussion with the engineers at Jolida Audio (now Black Ice) about modifying a Jolida Glass FX DAC DSD to my exact specifications. We settled on a blend of mods starting with a factory Level 1 upgrade which is simple upgrades to resistors, diodes, capacitors and vacuum tubes (the Glass FX DAC uses 12AX7 tubes in the analog pre-amp section to “sweeten” the D/A conversion) upgrade. Then I requested that they add a ByBee Rail. The ByBee Music Rail reduces the noise floor with internal power conditioning. Last, I replaced the standard Mullard Gold Lion tubes with Tung-Sol Gold Tips for a slightly brighter output.
Feeding the Glass FX is a Cambridge Audio CXC CD Transport. The CXC does not have a built-in D/A converter, so it requires an external unit. The accuracy of the sole purpose transport is amazing and the sound signature is breathtaking. It beats the doors of any streamed musical source.

Two things got me into building my own starting at an early age. 1) money, and 2) Getting screwed hard from just enough audio specialists. It isn't always about doing the job better myself, it is more about knowing what actually goes into the finished product.

 So, speaker building, and preamps, power amps, crossovers, phono preamps and so much more have kept me busy over the years. I wouldn't have it any other way looking back on the whole thing.

  BTW, I would love to post photos, and have done so for my audio system page here, but at the forum, forget it? Make something that serves all of us, not the just the tech crowd. Just something that I can drag a photo from my desktop.

 You say, 'it's easy, all you gotta do is this, then this, then that, then more.... Same thing that I could to someone in my woodshop, or my electronics shop. It's easy.

Hey guys,

What a great thread! I’m not sure if I’m breaking any rules but I would personally like to share some thing with everyone that I’ve been working on for the past 2 1/2 years.This thread seems like the perfect opportunity.

Some of you know me some of you don’t, i’ve been around now for about three years. I’m fully retired, 55, ended up becoming handicap five years ago and I’ve been looking for a project Since I can’t do my first love, mountain biking. I guess this thread is a great place to announce it.

When I was a kid in the 1980s I loved all things audio. I took about a 30 year hiatus and just listen to whatever systems were in my vehicle. My wife didn’t like the whole speaker system thing in the living room so I just gave in and sold it. After my accident I sold one of my businesses and kept one. I’ve been pretty fortunate and worked hard through the years. I still like to work, just not at the same pace I used to.

So,here’s what happened. While driving myself nuts (after purchasing my 4th speaker system in 1 year) I decided to do what I’ve done many times in the past. Woke up one day with my own idea. I asked myself what was missing from audio that mountain biking had. The answer for me was, since I’m not an electronics wizard, I can’t get my hands involved in the hobby except for turning a couple knobs. So I asked myself how can I get my hands involved in this hobby?well, I think I solved it.

The name of the new business is Blueprint Acoustic llc. The website shares the same name and social media. I’ve looked hard and I don’t think it’s ever been done quite this way before. It’s an affordable, expandable, collapsible, changeable, modular speaker system. We even have built a CONFIGURATOR on the website that lets you build one of over 10,000 variations of speaker systems. You can start small…and add on later, order different modules and switch them out, experiment with different driver modules….. We have been building all different sizes and have been astounded at what we’ve learned and how great they sound. 

We are moving into the marketing phase.everything is ready to go, we are stocked up, everyone is in place, we are open for business. I’m looking forward to building what will probably be my last successful business. I hope you keep an open mind and find the idea as fun as I do. Never second-guess your speaker purchase again!

www.blueprintacoustic.com

thank you for the privilege of your time, Ray