Maybe this is the winter you build something!

Building or creating is just a part of who I am, just as some kinds of math or computers/technology will never be. The trick here is to become proficient enough to please not only yourself but your customers.

 The idea that DIY cannot ever be as good as commercial is almost backwards in my experience. DIY was due to many letdowns from the commercial offerings. Or, the commercial offerings were way expensive. Then there is location. little house on the prairie isn't going to offer the same as being in some cities.

 Right at this moment, the glue is drying on a pair of speaker cabinets that I am building for a customer. Must be ok, as this is his second set of them.  In this case, the first set sounded by a margin the best speakers that I have ever heard. This is rare for me, since I have built many speakers over the years. Some were great, some were crap IMO. But the good news is that in building, you are the one who chooses the wood for the 1 1/2" thick baffle. Not MDF, not something else. To be clear, I am still replicating a design from renown engineers. Not some brainless kit, or something that you thought would be cool. Been there.  Everybody has their specialty. 

 So, yes, this fall and winter, I will be in my shop as long as I can, enjoying most of it. When the weather dictates, I will move to the little electronics shop in the basement and do different projects like preamps, maybe even a power amp or two.

I have never seen a triple C core transformer before. The ANK Mentor looks to be a heavy-duty unit. How long did it take to complete it?

It is good to see all these responses. Gives me hope that we can still do it ourselves with excellent results. I know, some folks are better off just buying preassembled gear. I get it. It also wouldn't be wise for me to try and paint a picture either.🌩

larsman,

 Understood, as I mentioned in my last post. Again, I have certain limitations such as being able to paint a decent picture. My brother, however, is unbelievably gifted, but don't ever ask him to frame the pictures that he paints, that would be my part of the job.

Projects pretty much a constant in my home too. It's just that some are home related, or property related, and a few in between are audio. When I saw rot in the windows corner in my shop, I knew that there would be more than it looked to be. No surprise, and I was remaking only part of the sill and trying to make it blend in. No real instructions there, and don't say Utube either. Most of it is crap. Common sense and experience work as well as anything.

 I have not yet, built a plinth for a TT, though it is enticing. Would need an accurate template, and since I lack a CNC machine, a router would likely be doing a lot of the work, at least down to an inch deep.