Posted by GarMan [ 216.13.136.38 ] on January 31, 2005 at 09:32:26:
In Reply to: DIY vs. pre-manufacturered chip amp? posted by JLM on January 30, 2005 at 14:09:47:
Can't give you advice, but I can give you some background. The Audio Zone amp offered by Audio Oasis is a gainclone and is built by Peter Daniels, one of the more accomplished gainclone builders in that community. He frequently posts in diyaudio.com and you can see some of his work there.
One one hand, his Audio Zone amps have reviewed very well, with SixMoon ranking it higher than the original Gain Card. Peter's a machinist by trade and the metal work on his units are top notch. Brandname audiophile hardware is used throughout. I have not heard his amps but have seen them in a couple of Toronto area stores.
On the other hand, it's a gainclone, so it's based on a very simple design that most people with soldering skills can do themselves. Peter typically shares his layout on the discussion board, so you can even copy that if you want. What you're paying for is an expertly assembled chassis, beefy transformer, very expensive hardware, and his labour.
Whether you should do it yourself will really depend on what you're looking for.
regards,
Gar.
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