A couple of comments on the Mini Amp and doing business servicing the DIY audio market.
1. Mini Amp
W O W. This thing is a Erno Borbely design. For the newbies be informed Borbely is one of the Godfathers of discrete solid state audio design for decades now specializing in FET based designs. He is based in Europe and sells his designs here:
http://www.borbelyaudio.comNote that for N. America customers buying from Borbely Audio means paying in Euros (i.e. price is going up even as I type this) and calling Europe as he does not accept credit card numbers through his web site of via e-mail. Thus having Ron Welborne stock some of EB's kits and for at least a time absorb the dollar's plunge is a real service.
I have not heard the Mini Amp in question but the unit pictured looks very high end. Note the compact symmetrical layout and audio grade parts used.
2. Ron Welborne delays
For almost everyone servicing the North American DIY audio electronics market you will find the occasional complaint of slow service. The challenge is this type of business is aimed at a very narrow niche market. Technical education is not as prevalent in America as in Asia and Europe so there is a lower percentage of the populace who even know how to read a schematic, stuff a circuit board, and solder. We work more hours so there is less free time for hobbies but with a higher standard of living (or excessive consumption depending on your point of view) we have more hobbies and activities competing for that time. On the other hand parts and low cost circuit board fabrication is readily available so the more advanced hobbyist can bypass the Welbornes and complete projects using Mouser and Digi-Key parts. My understanding is in Europe electronic parts distributors will not fill small orders so this keeps the more technically advanced builders supporting DIY audio specialists.
All this conspires to keep operations like Ron's small often with the owner doing it all. Along comes a burst of business or a family emergency and one can get a backlog and unhappy clients. This never excuses taking money and not delivering but I have been there facing the dilemma of do I spend the time I have today getting orders out or communicating with customers why there is a delay? My point is you are not dealing with Dell or amazon.com where your order is processed through a 100,000 square foot automated warehouse with a staff of 500. Would that the market could support that!
