How to DIY yourself very nice Class D monoblocks


If you want to know what the hoopla is about Class D and want to put together a very nice sounding kit I have a starter recommendation for you.

Go to Parts Express and search for "ICEPower ASP"
Next, look online for Ghent Audio. They make many sets of cases.

You'll need a high power soldering iron, and screw skills.
Between those two, you can put together a very nice monoblock for around $500 a piece.

I highly recommend both. I have no financial interest in either. 
You may need wiring kits, so make sure to order appropriately.
erik_squires

Showing 2 responses by noble100


     Good thread Erik.  

    Building your own class D amps is an excellent way to get hi-end sound quality at an affordable price.  The performance levels of the more recent class D modules are, in my opinion, outstanding and this technology has broken the mold on how to attain high quality sound from a home audio system.
     Previously, the only known and accepted method consisted of using large, heavy and expensive traditional class A solid-state or tube amps or ss class AB amps to drive the often very demanding requirements of the various high quality home speakers typically used.  
     Class D amps have broken, smashed?, the traditional mold of how to attain excellent home audio quality for both home theater and music.  Compared to traditional amps, they're smaller, lighter, electrically more efficient, run cooler, less expensive and I believe sound just as good or better.
     What's not to like, right?  I've been using them in my system for about 4 yrs now and can't think of anything. Class D amps are really wonderful.
     So, I completely agree with Erik's recommendation of building class D module based amps.  You can build your own, have them built for you or buy completed amps using these modules under various brand names.
Enjoy,
 Tim 

  ketchup,

      I know you can purchase completed kit amps that contain two HypexNC400 class D modules in each mono block from James Romeyn Music andAudio, LLC in Utah.  I believe his dual mono versions cost about $3K/pair and are powered by the largest Hypex NC1200 switch mode power supply.   
     I've never auditioned the dual monos but he claims the dual mono versions sound better than the regular monos. 
      Several years ago, I talked to James Romeyn at length about having him build a custom pair of mono blocks for me using a single class D Abletec ALC1000-1300 module per case. Abletec has since been purchased by Anaview,another Scandinavian class D module producer and competitor to Hypex and other producers.  Anaview and Pascal class D modules have alternative designs that incorporate power supplies into their modules rather than as separate parts/boards.
     James was very knowledgeable about class D in general and took the time with me in explaining the specific differences between building amps using his Hypex and Ice based modules and other competing modules.
     I think he'll likely be equally helpful in answering your questions.  Here's a link to his website:
http://jamesromeyn.com/product/hypex-professional-build-service/#tab-description
     
Tim