Dreaming of a DIY 8W Class A amp designed by Nelson Pass?

@dgarretson - What Furutech connectors did you use?  I don't see any DC connectors made by Furutech.  The best I have seen is the Oyaide ones below:

https://www.vhaudio.com/connectors-rcaxlr.html#OyaideDC

But they are gold-plated, which slows down and warms up the sound.  I chose the switchcraft ones because of this. 

As far as wire, I prefer pure copper (my preference) because silver can be a little to fast/sterile for me.  I can't imagine trying to solder 10-11awg wire to these tiny DC connectors! lol.

@auxinput - Woops, the connectors are indeed Oyaide-- for the ACA, 2.5 ID x 5.5 OD (based on the Meanwell data sheet spec.)
I do a custom build to 10-11awg with a twist of 20awg .999 dead soft silver strands from Rio Grande on-line.  IME, with DC the higher the gauge and shorter the length the better.  For terminations to small connector tabs, extend 2-3 strands out of the bundle to make the solder junction.     

I've been experimenting with a bunch of sources and preamps over the last few months.  

  

@jayh - I built these with my kids as well.  Our second or third project.  Even my 7 year old participated.

System photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RG7oFzBtF1pH-ViMwFv83GhkWPTNIU6-/view?usp=sharing

Upon returning from the CAF audio show with good sounds freshly implanted in the memory bank, I was greeted by two Zerozone 24V/5A linear supplies from Hong Kong.  Even without break-in they improve on the stock Meanwell SMPS. Increased dynamics. Weighty and extended LF. The slight opaqueness, politeness, and soft-focus of the stock unit is gone.  Soundstage is larger and more dimensional. Resolution is increased across FR.  Mids are supple and SET-like. There is a vivid tactile quality as heard with top echelon amps. Well worth the $450.   

 
they alll seem somewhat sterile and lifeless. IMHO, they all need a tube preamp to warm them up

@lou_setriodes Nelson understands the importance of lower ordered harmonics since you can't eliminate distortion altogether (this is a lot bigger topic than there might be room for on this thread!). So his stuff doesn't have that dryness to which you allude above. But a good tube preamp shouldn't be particularly warm- just neutral :)

Perhaps using the word "warm" to describe tube sound isn't the right word.  Sweet sounding might be better, at any rate, with tubes, there's a certain something there - warm, sweet, euphonic whatever it is that just sounds so right and is to me more appealing than listening to solid state.  Maybe even order distortion is the term I'm looking for.