Friday, December 31, 2010

Build amplifier

Design notes (specifications):
- valve preamp (such as Octave's Phono Modul) or passive preamp (such as Music First Audio's Classic Preamplifier)
- built-in preamplifier suitable for various analog and digital sources, w. auto-detection and auto-protection - minimum 2, upgradeable to many (turntable, tape, CD/DVD/SACD, video, tuner/AUX, MIC, USB, HDMI, Ipod, LAN/Wireless etc.), and auto-switch-able IN/OUT paths:
  • analog IN: balanced (XLR) +0 dB
  • analog IN: unbalanced (RCA) +6 dB
  • digital IN: 24bit / 96kHz
  • digital IN: balanced 110 ohm (XLR) AES / SPDIF (??!?)
  • digital IN: coaxial (RCA) 75 ohm
  • analog OUT: balanced variable (XLR) +12dBU (??!?)
  • analog OUT: unbalanced variable (RCA) +6dBU (??!?)
  • analog OUT: unbalanced fixed (RCA) +6dBU (??!?)
  • digital OUT: SPDIF (passive)
  • digital OUT: HDMI (passive)
  • digital OUT: optical (passive)

- D/A-converter:
  • 24bit / 96 kHz (upgradeable to 96 bit / 192 KHz)
  • sample rates: 44.1 / 48 / 96 KHz
  • THD: less than 0.001 dB
  • S/N ratio: over 110 dB

- MOSFET in Zen amp by Nelson Pass, or similar:
  • impedance: 4-8 ohms
  • power: 50-75 W / mono-block channel, in stereo (upgradeable to 5.1)
  • frequency: 20 Hz - 50 kHz
  • dynamics: 120 dB
  • S/N ratio: over 110 dB
  • THD: less than 0.001 dB
  • analog OUT: speakers 4-8 ohms, 50-75 W / mono-block channel, 2/5.1 channel
  • analog OUT: headphones (Class A MOSFET design), ± 3.5V / 400mW / 32 ohms

- built-in 1-scale FM radio w. RDS, at least 50 preset stations
- built in internet radio
- built-in controls for volume, bass/treble, DSP, multiple EQ (5-10 bands)
- memory presets for controls, individually on radio station and/or record
- support for AudioTag and other online video, music and lyrics databases to get informations related to the record played (freeDB, CDDB, MusicBrainz, IMDB, MLDb, / other music databases etc.)
- remote control (IR + RF, programmable, universal)
- web server for setup (linux)
- multi-color display panel, more like a monitor


Reference

Nelson Pass (Pass Labs):


DIY Audio Projects - DIY Hi-Fi for Audiophiles:

Ralph Stens - diy projects for audio devices (preamplifier, amplifier, turntable, loud speakers), as well as links to other sites
Elliott Sound Products - Professional results for the Do-It-Yourself enthusiast




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