Xept he just roughed up a box out of MDF offcuts ... whereas I will make mine look much nicer!
I'm shattered Andy
The MDF, as you so coarsely describe it, is redgum veneer particle board... If only I had have gotten around to installing the fronts, the tops, the solid redgum buttons and varnishing the rest, it would have looked quite good
The problem with audio work is that you can actually get them to be functional well before they are aesthetically pleasing. Truely a problem when you are as lazy as myself.
It's sort of tower computer inspired layout I guess [?]
More inspired by those big, bloody expensive solid state Australian amps that people were raving about a few years ago... can't remeber their name
I really like the form factor... it makes it look like a piece of furniture. Mine was constructed as 3 layers, with 15V EI-core transformers and power switch snubber in layer 1, 4 x torroids and the power switch in layer 2, with the remainder of the case being the four amplifier modules (2 per heatsink) installed vertically at the back, plus the orion active crossover at the front.
BTW, my transformers were installed almost touching each other... I must confess to being a little confused about the concern for transformer coupling each other's fields... what's the risk? Imposing 50Hz hum on top of? 50Hz power? I can understand that if transformers were being used for different audio channels that low frequency crosstalk may be a concern, but if you are multi-amping, all transformers belong to the same audio channel.
A word of advice on building an amp this way. Always ask yourself, "If component x breaks, or I wish to switch it out, how can I get to it easily". In trying to create as compact and pleasing a form factor amp as possible, I ended up making something that is about as easy to mod as your average laptop.
I will be, in fact, redesigning the case, almost like a little chest of drawers as such:
Level 1 (bottom): Full 400W UcD stereo power amp sharing a single transformer for stereo subwoofers (sorry Hugh - I mean no disrespect).
Level 2: 4 x 160VA torroids for AKSAs, with power switch and power umbilicals coming out the back, terminating on Neutril PowerCon locking connectors (1 per amp channel).
Level 3 & 4: Stereo 55W AKSA amp modules and rectification/filter boards.
Level 5: Orion ASP and subwoofer crossover & AKSA Feed forward power supply.
In the original design, I eliminated the need for interconnects between the ASP and the amplifiers, but it came at a considerable ease of use expense. I am confident the new design will be much more flexible.
I think I will try curved fronts with mitred edges for each "drawer". Should scrub up pretty nice.
