Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

spectrum.ieee.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 270 posts

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#21

Post by jacquesm »

comboy wrote: post #18

Any DAC chip and some usb interface for it that you could recommend to go with this? And slightly OT, but does anybody know any ABX test of balanced input/output signal? I find it hard to believe that there is a single person who can hear the difference.

The big gain for balanced inputs is rejection of signals induced into the wire. Of course optical is the way to go if you are really worried about that. Personally I don't care, my ears are old enough that I no longer hear the difference between a high end and a low end amp.

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#22

Post by 01100011 »

jelling wrote: post #8

Any recommendations for people that are tempted to build this but should really put their time elsewhere?

Just do some research and get a cheap class D amp off a chinese website. I forgot the one I chose(I'm at work now), but other than some sparks if you jiggle the power connector(haha seriously. can be fixed with a tiny bit of effort), it is an amazing little amp. It also supports optical and bluetooth connections which is really nice.

I put my efforts into building speakers instead. I got a cheap kit (https://www.diysoundgroup.com/overnight-sensations.html) and spent my time learning how to apply a french polish finish. I really enjoyed learning french polishing. It's one of those things that when you finally get it, it becomes immensely satisfying. Yeah, shellac isn't the most durable finish, but it sure is pretty.

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#24

Post by matt4077 »

Matsta wrote: post #10

The majority of all active speakers produced nowadays are Class-D, it's nothing really new (and the fact they are super cheap). No idea how this guy wrote this article and didn't come across DIY Audio (or he just didn't mention it in the article). There is a tonne of information here: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class-d/

Your first point seems to be reflected in the article, except that, if they are correct, the high end of Class D amplifiers apparently is not "super cheap".

I don't quite get the aggressiveness of your second point: surely just leaving whatever your first association to a topic is out cannot warrant such outrage? It's not like they present this article as groundbreaking innovation. Not only do they cite other DIY efforts. The whole premise of the article is that the author himself already did this ten years ago,.

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#25

Post by proee »

Audio is a great way to get kids excited about electronics. When I was in the 6th grade, my father helped me build my own high power amplifier using an LM3876 opamp. I remember clear as day the first time I powered up my amplifier circuit and nothing happened. Hmmm... I brought my face closer to my circuit board and suddenly "BANG!!!!" an electrolytic capacitor blew up right in my face and scared the living daylights out of me. I unknowingly connected the power supply capacitor backwards. I soldered in a new capacitor, and then plugged it in again. Like magic, my home-brewed subwoofer was now cranking out serious bass by an amplifier that "I" built. That moment was magical and surreal - I still get goose bumps thinking about it!

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#26

Post by irrational »

Matsta wrote: post #10

The majority of all active speakers produced nowadays are Class-D, it's nothing really new (and the fact they are super cheap). No idea how this guy wrote this article and didn't come across DIY Audio (or he just didn't mention it in the article). There is a tonne of information here: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class-d/

I have some questions. My son has been taking guitar lessons using a classic guitar. Using the advice of his instructor we are getting him a begginer's electric guitar for christmas. We also need to get him an amp.

Is the amp in this article the same kind of amp that you could plug an electric guitar into? I know nothing about music or instruments, but I do know about electronics so I was thinking it might be fun to build an amp with my son.

I went to the diyaudio link you suggested, but I didn't immediately see information like in the article (buy this, this, this and this to build the amp). Can you point to where I could find a similar purchase list and assembly instructions on diyaudio? Thanks!

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#27

Post by albertgoeswoof »

fermienrico wrote: post #16

It is refreshing to see these types of articles. Of all disciplines of human interests and hobbies, Audiophiles are one of the most stubborn, misinformed, anecdotal and delusional bunch. Of course I am generalizing, but every time I engage in a discussion about audio quality, it is a losing battle. Not because of lack of data or supporting evidence, but because of the fundamental dissent for data driven arguments. Yo…

Nothing wrong with vinyl, that’s more about physically handling the media, reading the sleeves, listening to an album the whole way through etc. Than the audio quality. No vinyl enthusiast would say the quality is objectively better, but the experience arguably is

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#28

Post by chadcmulligan »

jelling wrote: post #8

Any recommendations for people that are tempted to build this but should really put their time elsewhere?

There are these I've been tempted to try out that use the same chip (and a low noise pre amp), but unfortunately I have two perfectly functioning amplifiers already :-) (and a set of powered edifier speakers in the mail - I have a problem). https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m...

They have a switch mode power supply instead of the toroidal in the IEEE article, so in theory more noise - in real life? probably doesn't matter. THD < 0.01% at 30W, frequency response is +- 1db, the days of having to spend any money for an amp seem gone, < $70

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#29

Post by fermienrico »

albertgoeswoof wrote: post #27
fermienrico wrote: post #16

It is refreshing to see these types of articles. Of all disciplines of human interests and hobbies, Audiophiles are one of the most stubborn, misinformed, anecdotal and delusional bunch. Of course I am generalizing, but every time I engage in a discussion about audio quality, it is a losing battle. Not because of lack of data or supporting evidence, but because of the fundamental dissent for data driven arguments. Yo…

Nothing wrong with vinyl, that’s more about physically handling the media, reading the sleeves, listening to an album the whole way through etc. Than the audio quality. No vinyl enthusiast would say the quality is objectively better, but the experience arguably is

Yea, I removed the Vinyl argument. That's for another time. Nothing wrong with Records but I've had the same issue talking to people about Records wrt to audio quality.

I own Records and like you, I enjoy the experience. There is something amazing about listening to the entire album without distractions and in the sequence that the artist intended. You could do this with mp3/CD, but Records get me in the right mood :-)

Re: Build Your Own Professional-Grade Audio Amp on the Sort-Of Cheap

#30

Post by TylerE »

irrational wrote: post #26
Matsta wrote: post #10

The majority of all active speakers produced nowadays are Class-D, it's nothing really new (and the fact they are super cheap). No idea how this guy wrote this article and didn't come across DIY Audio (or he just didn't mention it in the article). There is a tonne of information here: https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class-d/

I have some questions. My son has been taking guitar lessons using a classic guitar. Using the advice of his instructor we are getting him a begginer's electric guitar for christmas. We also need to get him an amp. Is the amp in this article the same kind of amp that you could plug an electric guitar into? I know nothing about music or instruments, but I do know about electronics so I was thinking it might be fun to…

No, guitar amps are a totally different beast with many different components.
Post reply on HN