Pre Amp Kit ?

[blackraven]

Some time in the next 2-4 months I'm going to buy a digital amp kit and a preamp kit. I was wanting to get some opinions on these preamp kits. Which one would you buy and why-

These are chinese copies of the following tube preamps-

Cary SLP-90
Marantz-7
Jadis JP-200
ARC SP-10
C.J.PV-12
Macintosh C22

http://www.8audio-mall.com/servlet/t.../28/Categories

I'm sure that these kits don't use the same high quality parts but for the price its worth a try for a second system or a system for my son. My other option is to go with one of the cheap tube preamps from Pacific Valve or something similar

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/

Here's an interesting review of older Preamps that I found while doing some research on some of the preamps mentioned above-

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Preamplifiers.html

Thanks,
Larry

[Feanor]

Some time in the next 2-4 months I'm going to buy a digital amp kit and a preamp kit. I was wanting to get some opinions on these preamp kits. Which one would you buy and why-

These are chinese copies of the following tube preamps-

Cary SLP-90
Marantz-7
Jadis JP-200
ARC SP-10
C.J.PV-12
Macintosh C22

http://www.8audio-mall.com/servlet/t.../28/Categories

I'm sure that these kits don't use the same high quality parts but for the price its worth a try for a second system or a system for my son. My other option is to go with one of the cheap tube preamps from Pacific Valve or something similar
...

Thanks,
Larry

Good question, BR.

You'll recall some recent discussion in Manlystanley's recent thread, HERE. The manly one began by looking at some interesting stuff from AnalogMetric, HERE. By the sound of it, he ended up going with a kit from Glass-Ware Audio, HERE.

There are a couple of other purveyors of preamp kits from China; mostly they are easily accessible through eBay. 8Audio is on eBay too, and here a fews others I've been checking out.

• DIY Gene
• DIY Audio Kit
• Kikitronic
• 8Audio, (on eBay)

In most cases quality could be improved by substituting higher quality for the provided capacitors in the direct signal path.

I will very likely to build a preamp in the near future, mostly for fun, but definitely keeping low cost a major consideration.

Of the above eBay sellers I'm most intrigued by DIY Gene who seems to have not only the biggest selection of complete preamps, but also the best prices (seemingly, depending on quality which I haven't determined).

Personally I'm thinking I'll start with a passive preamp based on one of DIY Gene's combined remote controll selector and volume control unit, HERE. I'll build my own case, although the remote plus active preamp componentes would fit nicely in THIS case, designed to accomodate them, from the same source.

[manlystanley]

Some time in the next 2-4 months I'm going to buy a digital amp kit and a preamp kit. I was wanting to get some opinions on these preamp kits. Which one would you buy and why-

These are chinese copies of the following tube preamps-

Cary SLP-90
Marantz-7
Jadis JP-200
ARC SP-10
C.J.PV-12
Macintosh C22

http://www.8audio-mall.com/servlet/t.../28/Categories

I'm sure that these kits don't use the same high quality parts but for the price its worth a try for a second system or a system for my son. My other option is to go with one of the cheap tube preamps from Pacific Valve or something similar

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/

Here's an interesting review of older Preamps that I found while doing some research on some of the preamps mentioned above-

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Preamplifiers.html

Thanks,
Larry

Hello Larry,
Everything that I've read about the Chinese knockoffs is:

-- Quality really varies. It's most important to get a good dealer.
-- The sound (from what I've read) is very good.
-- Price is good as well.
-- They're are multiple questions about if they are ripping of real companies by copying there design.
-- It's a risk. Not a lot of people have built them.
-- No long term survival data.

*****************

-- I currently plan on going with an Akidio based design from glass-ware. DIYaudio.com has been a great help to me. But who knows, I might change my mind.

-- There is a very limited amount of information as to which of the Chinese knockoffs are the best. It is my, very *uneducated* opinion, that 8aduio ( www.8audio.com ) is one of the better ones.

Best Regards,
Stan

[manlystanley]

I'm starting to purchase various parts for my Aikido preamp. I'm going to be getting the 5687:

http://glass-ware.stores.yahoo.net/aiam56stkit.html

The Chinese imports do sound promising, but you have no/limited control of the components used. I've checked out the Aikido's parts and they are medium grade audiophile, at an exceptional price.

Best Regards,
Stan

[manlystanley]

Just sent in the order for the Aikido preamp kit along with a separate power supply board. Total price was $250 I got:

-- ps3 Power supply.
-- Aikido board.
-- Four set of tubes (so that I can roll new tubes )
-- Two 5687
-- Two EH 12BH7 Vacuum Tubes
-- Two Electro-Harmonix 6CG7 tubes
-- Two JJ ECC802S tubes
-- All the possible options for audio grade resisters, audio capacitors, etc, etc.

I found that that the parts that I could get optional with the kit are 1/3 less as compared to buying them separately (when considering shipping costs as well). So, I got all possible options now so that I can try out different things. I know that I'll want to play around with customizing as soon as I get the base model up.

This will be fun right off the bat trying out different: resisters and capacitors vendors/values, types of tubes, etc.

Best Regards,
Stan