I like hear, here. Well actually hear, hear. Still. Boy if you can here. Hear.
For the love of...kits?
My foray into audio began with speakers, then amps, and other components. Subs and room acoustics came next. And so on.
Early on, trying to find good sound meant doing a lot of research about brands and, to the degree possible, about the designs and parts used by better components.
Upgrading my stuff came next -- improving capacitors, volume pots, and other aspects of my gear. I’m lucky to have an amazing tech and builder in town. He’s been a godsend.
I have largely shifted away from the new market. If I do make changes, it’s nearly always buying and selling used. I sold some stuff, bought other stuff, compared and contrasted.
The tech mentioned above has sold me one amazing preamp and has loaned me a number of great pieces he’s built, either from kits or DIY. These have included an autoformer preamp, solid state preamp (based around a Burson buffer) and a really impressive Hypex-based Class D amp. All these units look nice enough, but not fancy. But, they’re dead quiet and have all the inputs and outputs you could want or need. Recently, he also loaned me quite a sweet little headphone amp. Also, quite amazing.
Yesterday, I purchased an Akitika GT-102 amplifier for a mere $450 on USAM. It’s hugely upgraded and I’m beginning to listen to it -- comparing it to my Pass XA-25 (as Herb Reichert did a while back) and my Quicksilver Mono 60’s.
I’m not sure, but I’m starting to get the distinct feeling that if one knows which DIY stuff to buy, which kits, the path to really amazing sound is not necessarily that expensive. In other words, a little knowledge can save a lot of money.
I’ll be looking at speaker kits, next.
This is not to say that DIY or kits replaces most of the finely made and researched gear out there. Rather, that for someone looking for the best sound for the money, they could do a lot worse than (a) really smart used shopping and (b) used kits or DIY kits of higher quality (such as Pass’s Amp Camp stuff, or the Akitika kit I just got, assembled).
Over and out.
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- 33 posts total
*G* Seems like y'all got back some of that ol' time religion.... ;) I enjoy my jousting about my approach to our common enthusiasm, even more 'breaking in' one of my 'steam-punk' speakers....atypical, Yes. But having a high percentage not only work, but to my fractured ears, actually sound Good.... No warranty issues, either....*L* (Know the builder well....typ. nutcase...) @mahgister , there's just a Zen to soldering...'tinning' stranded wire so it doesn't 'fuzzball' at a 'serious moment' is one way to get back to a heart surgeons' 'tude when the going gets Serious (voice coil wires like hair make one Pause & Consider)... Good weekend, all....Time for this climber to attack Mt. Honeydo yet again.... |
As a budding audiophile, Dynakits and then Hafler kits were a great way to up the game with limited funds. @hilde45 Not long ago I was at the Akitika site looking at their offerings. I have no doubt this would be a fun build and am sure it would sound great. As pointed out above, there are some great tube amp kits from AN kits and Elekit. Also check out the amps from Analog Ethos--have to love the point to point wiring on this one and the unique casework he provides! |
My first kits were a Hafler DH500 amp and DH100 preamp....did the kit to save a few bucks, and learned a lot. Later on I modded the power supply of the amp by increasing the filter capacitance of a couple of amps. After I inherited my Dyna 70, I later added the VTA PCB mods from a kit...great mod, great instructions, great results. My first speaker mods were adding plumber’s putty around the steel frame of the woofers on my Energy Pro 22s. Later on I upgraded the caps and wires, then went on to build several complete speakers from scratch. DIY, kits, and mods are excellent learning experiences, and can result in much improved sound for the money. It also helps you see the equipment for what is is, and get past the bias and blind belief in brand names...they’re often just a marketing tool and logo. |
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