[AdamZuf]

Hello!
My name is Adam and I live in Israel.
1. Any commercial amps cost to much in Israel.
2. Customs are too much - %70 for amplifiers!    . That's also a cause for #1, I assume..
3. I have a tight budget. I want a nice amp for my Selah audio Carnelian, which will be made soon, to do them justice. My source will be a modded ART DI/O to my taste. I have 0 knowledge in DIY or the technical stuff of products (no "triode" discussions, please folks), But I can solder according to instructions. I will not build the amplifier myself, if I go DIY.

The reason that I would like to go with DIY is because It's probably quite cheap in the first place, and I can get the electronics to Israel with very little customs and get someone to build it.
Unfortunatly, I don't know how my speakers will sound in the new room (which I will treat acousticly, not the best materials but i'll try to cover the whole spectrum). OTOH, I will do the OP amp choice in the DI/O so I can tweak the sound a bit.

OK what are my demands?
1. The DI/O outputs 7V, not the standart of ~2V. So the amp must be able to handle that high voltage input.
I had the Mensa DI/O (didn't like it) and I have the feeling that the charm of the DI/O is in the 7V mode. You can say "ditch the DI/O it sucks" and I heard it before, but I love its sound with my Sony CD3000 headphones and this is my source for now.
2.It has to be a kit

2. budget: $300-600, Because I still have to pay delivery, insurance & customs.

3. My listening room might change in the next year, so the amp must be powerful enough, considering that it might have to drive the speakers in a large room. I also believe in power and the more - the better. I innitialy wanted to go for a power amplifier. anyone knows a DIY project of a PA???

4.It has to sound damn good!    The more dynamic, fast and unveiled it is, the better! I like defined edges more then smoothness if it helps palpability/authority. I don't mix "smooth" with "natural".

If you DO have suggestion for inexpensive commercial amps that are really good bang for the buck, let me know as well, please.

Thanks in advance
Adam

[Taz13]

http://www.velleman.be/
I use their products that I buy in Canada and I think they are very good because the equipment works and the instructions are very well documented and clear. I built their hybrid preamp because I do like tube sound. So I have all analog inputs through it and digital audio via optical to my HT receiver.

[Christof]

Adam

Ask the same thing at http://www.diyaudio.com

c.

[Marbles]

This would be a good place to look too:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=19

Here is their website:

http://www.printedelectronics.com/welcome.htm

Prices are in Australian $$$

[JohnR]

AKSAs are great!

I gather you're wanting a basic kit and not source all the parts yourself? You might also want to look at the AmpKit

http://www.scott-nixon.com/

[AdamZuf]

I also found the Seal Electronics's OPTI-MOS.
Seems like the pople at www.diyaudio.com like it very much overall and for the money.

The AKSA looks tempting but I like power and not to worry about it for the future, and for the higher power version it wouldn't turn out so cheap.
The Scott-Nixon's amp looks very nice too but the same power issue applies, Especially with 40W max.

[Occam]

Adam,

While I might find a 100watt amp (depending on its implementation) perfectly adequate for your speakers, and while you say smooth does not go with natural (I'd posit that grit doesn't go with natural, either), your metrics are your own....

Given your preferences wrt approach, power and cost, I'd reccomend the following -

http://sound.westhost.com/pcb/pp101.htm

I've not heard it, but the vendor is reputable and comments have been largely positive.

I do hope this friend who have volunteered to help you is a very, very good friend. Populating the pc boards is not the problem, its sourcing and implementing the chassis, heatsinks and transformers that is the pain in the arse. But I don't know the availability of components in the Israeli hobbyist/surplus markets.

If you value your (or others) time, you'll find that DIY building from scratch is not a approach to saving money, but rather, a psychological defect.

Regards,
Occam the defective

EDIT - A very fine 'prosumer' amp is Samson Servo 260-
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&tab=wf&q=samson+servo+260&btnG=Search+Froogl
IMO, not the equal of an AKSA, but then again, neither are 95%+ of the amps out there. Its transformer can be rewired for 230v, if required. At 200USD new, if you could get a friend in the States to ship you 1 (or 2) as a used amp with a declared cost of $75,  the customs cost would be outweighed by the economics of PRC manufacture and American mass marketing.....  But alas, their power doesn't meet your requirements. Though you could consider passive vertical bi-amping, where a single stereo amp drives just one speaker, with 1 channel driving the woofs, and the other driving the mid/tweets.

The contact info for the Israeli reps is:
P.O. Box 10245
Petach-Tikva, 49002 Israel
tel: +972-3-925-6900
fax: +972-3-922-0612

[Gordy]

Hi Adam

Another choice would be http://www.marchandelec.com/amplifiers.html , they offer several amps which can be had at various stages of build.  

All the best in your search,
Gordy with defective angels

[AdamZuf]

while you say smooth does not go with natural (I'd posit that grit doesn't go with natural, either), your metrics are your own....

wait a second here.. I didn't say that. smooth goes with natural to a large extent, but I know the limit where the smooth is just smooth and nothing else, and I know that mine is lower then most other people I had a chance to discuss audio with, so when I ask for a product I can't audition (nothing that you can audition in Israel has a reasonable price so I just don't audition) I ask for the above description. I know that no one will recommend something he found to be harsh, because that's a bad product  

If you value your (or others) time, you'll find that DIY building from scratch is not a approach to saving money, but rather, a psychological defect.

Oh he is willing to help me, he is a good old friend who studied electronics. As to your first recommendation, I really don't feel like assembling a part list of something that I don't understand or risk the error of another, I think would go with a kit

I will check on the Samson thing

Thank you very much for your help
Good night
Adam

[JoshK]

Unless you have a huge room, the AKSA 100 will be plenty of amp for those speakers.   The specs don't tell the whole story IMO.   I drove my RM40's to very loud levels with the AKSA 100 with no signs of stress or compression.

I can definitely recommend the AKSA as a great amp!

[Rocket]

Hi,

The aksa amp is one of the best supported kit amplifiers you can buy.

It will probably cost 3 times of the amp that you indicated but if you are after a Very good sounding amplifier you can't go past the aksa.

Josh, has a spectron amp which as received Many good reviews and the aksa was very comparable with that amp.

best wishes

rocket

[WerTicus]

i still have to come hear your aska rod

[Rocket]

Hi Werticus,

I will probably be at Pat's shop tomorrow at about 11.00am and i'm taking the aksa for him to have a listen to.

regards

rod

ps no promises but at this stage i will be there.

[WerTicus]

well stay there till 145pm thats the earliest I can get there to pick up MY new toy

Ohhh ill also bring the DC blocking power cord for us to play with if you like!

[Rocket]

Hi Werticus,

Unfortunately i can't stay that late as i have things to do around the house.

We'll catch up another time.  The reference 1's are Simply outstanding speakers, although the rest of your system must be up to the task.

I have a pair of raven 1 tweeters, a pair of focal 7k4211db 7 inch midbass drivers per enclosure.  The do sound pretty good but not as good as the ref 1's.

regards

rod