nice looking hifi amps

[ceebmoj]

I have just about finished building my amp im looking for pictures of nice looking amps for inspiration for the packaging so witch amps do you think look good?

[koenig999]

Naim, both shoebox and full width.

Alberry



Koenig

[Hoover.]

valve ones are always v interesting to look at..... if not I like the simplicity of Roksan Kandy.

[PJR]

What kind of amp did you make? I recently built a 200 watt (into 8 ohms) class D amp. It's not especially pretty, nor was it cheap. But it does the business where it counts

For the case, I used this Italian company: http://www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/index_l2.php
I did all the holes myself, but they can do some pretty impressive custom panels if you give them the plans and some extra shekels. So it can look very unique, yet factory with it.

P,

[Zod]

Cyrus - half width, uncluttered silver or grey die-cast aluminium boxes.

[Graham E]

Old musical fidelity x series, looks lush.

[andy_s]

Like....

[Graham E]

yep, pretty much.
Although I'd have 200's =)

[telecat]

Alchemist Kracken

[Graham E]

designed by a scouser?

"eeeerrrrmmmm aye put dat lizzie duke gold on the knobs. that looks Kracken!"

Edited by Graham E on Tuesday 27th October 11:49

[dalos260]

ceebmoj said:

I have just about finished building my amp im looking for pictures of nice looking amps for inspiration for the packaging so witch amps do you think look good?

Here's a challenge for you

[sonic_2k_uk]

Linn Klimax, with hollowed out solid aluminium cases.

Edited by sonic_2k_uk on Wednesday 28th October 10:58

[gingerp]

I wish I was clever enough to build my own hifi. Is it cheaper or more expensive?
Did you learn this by profession? Where do you buy the stuff from?

[PJ S]

Solid state or valve - or a hybrid?
What's the rest of your kit?

[PJR]

gingerp said:

I wish I was clever enough to build my own hifi.

There's a lot of different ways to go about it. Scratch builds are obviously not going to be easy, and you'd need some decent skills under your belt to pull it off. But other ways are barely any harder than slotting together your own PC. Kits will be relatively easy if you have a little electronics experience. Using preassembled amp modules is even easier, and requires almost no soldering even.

gingerp said:

Is it cheaper or more expensive?

It depends. You can't easily compete with a manufacturers ability to mass produce gear and bulk buy components infinitely cheaper than you or I can. If you were to buy a half decent hifi amp for say £200 or so, something like a NAD amp for example.. Then I really don't think you could make something yourself that would better it for a similar cost. Especially when you factor in sound quality, features and quality of construction.
In an odd way, I find it gets more cost effective to go DIY once you want to compete with the much more expensive stuff that isn't so mass produced.
Also, for amplifiers.. Class D has come a LONG way.. It's no longer the reserve of chavvy car hifi amps, and harsh PA sound systems. It's up there with the best Class A/B amps now. And Class D is a lot cheaper too (contrary to popular belief, Class D is not digital). In my case, I built a very nice Class D amp for under a grand. Yet it's easily up there with the best Class A/B amps that cost thousands. So, not cheap by any means. But a bargain compared to what i'd have to spend on a ready made reputable amp to equal or better it.

gingerp said:

Did you learn this by profession?

I do have a fair amount of electronics experience. But not nearly enough to design my own gear from scratch. The amp design I went for just happened to be one I could make using preassembled modules. So it was very easy! Once I got all the bits together, I think I had it done in a day or 2. But it's very simple in terms of features.

gingerp said:

Where do you buy the stuff from?

A multitude of places! Google is your friend here. I used Class D amp modules from a Dutch company called Hypex (they make amp modules for several boutique hifi brands, and are also used in some active studio monitor speakers). A metal rack mount case from italy. And a few bits & bobs from good old RS electronics here in the UK.

I'll post picts up later if anyone is interested. But it's meant to sound good rather than look good. So don't expect anything like the amps you see above

P,

PS, Sorry for the slight thread hijack!

[Pupp]

I quite like this one

[ceebmoj]

thanks for the picks guys

unfortunately is not a valve amp so can go with any of them

dalos260 said:

ceebmoj said:

I have just about finished building my amp im looking for pictures of nice looking amps for inspiration for the packaging so witch amps do you think look good?

Here's a challenge for you

[/quot

i'm actually doing something a bit like that but milled from a solid bit of aluminum

for a lot of info on diy audio have a look at www.diyaudio.com

[k-ink]

I love the properly engineered honest look of Bryston. No gizmo's, labels, hype or nonsense. A real blokes amp - built like a tank with awesome sound and twenty year warranty. (I had a 4B SST then a pair of 7B SST).

[maddog993]

The Jeff Rowland amps take some beating in the aesthetics department;


(Just a shame about the 70's style red LED volume indicator on the Concentra which lets it down a bit but that solid milled aluminium faceplate is lovely)

[Streetrod]

Here is a pic of my NAD Master Series set up. I think they are some of the best looking bits of kit on the market, but then I would say that would'nt I.