DIY poweramp, is it possible?

[vene-nemesis]

Have you got any input?

My main objectives are:

-power: 1000W @4ohms.
-Single output is fine.
-impedance 8,4,2 ohms.
-input XLR and Jack.
-output speakon.
-lightweight rounding the 5 kg.

 

[greenboy]

It's possible, but given the specs you list, not likely unless you are an EE with some R&D backing. If you have to ask this question you probably don't qualify ; }

There are some kits and components available that will get you started on DIY though.

 

[vene-nemesis]

The EE thing can be solved, daddy has studies. But im asking for some directions, mostly pricewise and some stuff you guys might find relevant.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

The EE thing can be solved, daddy has studies. But im asking for some directions, mostly pricewise and some stuff you guys might find relevant.

Price wise you'll spend at least twice what it would cost you to buy an amp of the same quality.

 

[Vin_MM_Sabre_79]

Yes. but it will probably cost you more than buying one.

With those sort of requirements I'd look into a digital output module, appropriate power supply and DIY preamp.
Maybe start with something like this?...
http://www.cadaudio.dk/ampmodules.htm

Or... maybe build a Bassman clone. All tube- nothin like the specs you're after but still give you a great usable amp.

Seriously- looking a 1000 watt amp is the DEEP end of circuit design. If I were you I would consider starting DIY with an effects pedal from here or here- they're great. You'll learn a stack about electronics and give you an idea of how massive a project building an amp is.

 

[MellowTone]

-power: 1000W @4ohms.

Definitely do-able, but thats a hell of a shot for a first project. (is this your first amp project?)

-Single output is fine.

Easy. Although you also say you want a 2Ohm output, is that necessary with a single output?

-impedance 8,4,2 ohms.

Having 1000WRMS at 4Ohms will mean an amazing amount of power at 2Ohms and is it really worth the gains of going to 4Ohms?

-input XLR and Jack.

Easy enough.

-output speakon.

Easy.

-lightweight rounding the 5 kg.

That's gonna be a tough one with your specs. To get that sort of weight at over 1000WRMS is very difficult, just about impossible (I believe) without a solid state power supply, which arent the easiest things to deal with.

Possibly go have a look at diyAudio.com, they should be able to answer a lot of questions, direct you toward plans etc.

All IMO.

 

[vene-nemesis]

Yeah i know that most of what im asking is doable even though im new to the amp construction, but i know the big deal is in the weight part. I dismantled part of my ALTO power amp and just the lid of the carcass weighted a ton, the SS transformer looks masive and im pretty much sure it weights at least 5kg all by itself then the heatsink is made from from aluminium but tis massive too the rest of the carcass might easily weight another 5kg.

But ive seen so many light weight amps nowadays it has made me dream, i believe there is already a 1000W SS power amp that weights 6.5kg, that kind of weight is acceptable for my design too.

 

[gerryjazzman]

Well, if you're really looking for lightweight you'll have to look at the switching (class D) amps including a mating switchmode power supply. I'm an EE and have built a number of amps over the years, both tube and SS. The highest power solid state power amp I've build was about 150 watts. With the realtively low cost of commercial amps and the high power that many can achieve, I kind of lost interest in pursuing DIY power amps. It just seemed like more work than I wanted to bother with. However, if you're not interested specifically to save money but just want to do it for your own satisfation than go for it IF you have the expertise or guidance (guess your dad has the background) and aren't afraid to spend a bit with the possibility of the project being unsuccessful. Amp module kits are the best way to go for something like this. Here are a couple of other links:

http://www.hypex.nl/

http://www.coldamp.com/

http://www.41hz.com/

Good luck and be careful.

 

[Passinwind]

Have you got any input?

My main objectives are:

-power: 1000W @4ohms.
-Single output is fine.
-impedance 8,4,2 ohms.
-input XLR and Jack.
-output speakon.
-lightweight rounding the 5 kg.

I'm very experienced at DIY projects, and a power amp is the only piece of the puzzle that I haven't attempted. I keep trying to rationalize it, but it just doesn't pencil in for anything very powerful. I'd strongly recommend that you start with a 100 watt amp and work all the bugs out before you go any further.

A QSC PLX 1804 will meet all your specs (within about a kg), although you'd have to use both channels to drive a pair of 4 ohm cabs. If you value your time even at merely minimum wage you'll be lucky to get within 2-3x the cost of just buying that amp. And you'll have no warranty and essentially no resale value if you roll your own.

Make sure Daddy has a few hundred spare hours if you do anything beyond slapping modules in a box. A few of the Class D module makers post on DIYAudio.com regularly, and I'd recommend lurking over there for a while and seeing who you think will give you the best support when you need it.

Good luck, and please post when you are actually gigging with this project!

 

[svtb15]

It was way back ing the 70s. I was using a crown DC300a. My tech worked for BGW at the time.. and decided to make an ampfor me.. He assembled it on a 6 space rack panel blank.
The parts were all bought at Radio Shack while we were on the road, and he etched his own PB board too. The heavy part twas the transformer.. It look like a Frankenstein concoction. I f remember correctly the heat sink was the rack panel. Well it was alot louder than the crown 300 that i was using with more bottom.
It was only a mono channel amp... I used that amp for a large part of the tour i was doing opening shows for Foghat and Peter Fampton at the time

 

[vene-nemesis]

I'm very experienced at DIY projects, and a power amp is the only piece of the puzzle that I haven't attempted. I keep trying to rationalize it, but it just doesn't pencil in for anything very powerful. I'd strongly recommend that you start with a 100 watt amp and work all the bugs out before you go any further.

A QSC PLX 1804 will meet all your specs (within about a kg), although you'd have to use both channels to drive a pair of 4 ohm cabs. If you value your time even at merely minimum wage you'll be lucky to get within 2-3x the cost of just buying that amp. And you'll have no warranty and essentially no resale value if you roll your own.

Make sure Daddy has a few hundred spare hours if you do anything beyond slapping modules in a box. A few of the Class D module makers post on DIYAudio.com regularly, and I'd recommend lurking over there for a while and seeing who you think will give you the best support when you need it.

Good luck, and please post when you are actually gigging with this project!

For what ive been told so far its a long road. Gigging wow if it actually works IRL it would be nice.

Has anyone got any input on how to make a lightweight carcass?

 

[rumblinbass]

you can find several schematics for power amps. it is quite ambitious for a first project and quite expensive.
I have looked into it and found several schematics but it's the power supply that is probably the most dangerous. power transformers are not cheap either.

 

[vene-nemesis]

you can find several schematics for power amps. it is quite ambitious for a first project and quite expensive.
I have looked into it and found several schematics but it's the power supply that is probably the most dangerous. power transformers are not cheap either.

Dangerous?

 

[seamonkey]

Buy Power amp modules and SMPS power supplies and wire them together. This is happening more in more in pro gear.

The big players like B&O ICEPower will not sell to DIYer's but modules do show up on ebay from time to time, these would not be supported by B&O. The ICEpower modules usually include power supplies.

There are some companies what will sell and support modules to DIYers:
http://www.coldamp.com/
http://www.hypex.nl/
http://www.newclassd.com/
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Stick with class-d as they have high efficiency and you won't need to worry as much to keep them cool.

 

[vene-nemesis]

Buy Power amp modules and SMPS power supplies and wire them together. This is happening more in more in pro gear.

The big players like B&O ICEPower will not sell to DIYer's but modules do show up on ebay from time to time, these would not be supported by B&O. The ICEpower modules usually include power supplies.

There are some companies what will sell and support modules to DIYers:
http://www.coldamp.com/
http://www.hypex.nl/
http://www.newclassd.com/
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Invalid Link Removed

Stick with class-d as they have high efficiency and you won't need to worry as much to keep them cool.

Is this some kind of plug-n-play? i mean the only thing that i would have to do is plug/weld the power suply to it and thats it?

 

[seamonkey]

No, you'll need proper wiring/grounding understanding, and you should add a limiter, thermal protections, etc. This is the trend for pro gear. Spend time on designing pre-amps where all the tone comes from (IMHO) and just add an off the shelf power amp and power supply.

Er - avoid welding things together - that's what will happen if you wire it wrong.

 

[vene-nemesis]

No, you'll need proper wiring/grounding understanding, and you should add a limiter, thermal protections, etc. This is the trend for pro gear. Spend time on designing pre-amps where all the tone comes from (IMHO) and just add an off the shelf power amp and power supply.

Er - avoid welding things together - that's what will happen if you wire it wrong.

Thermal protection stands for heat sink and fan?
and by limiter do you mean fuses or low freq and hi freq noise filters?

 

[Red Planet]

Be very very careful. You could end up dead messing with high voltage inside a power amp even when it's not on.

 

[vene-nemesis]

Be very very careful. You could end up dead messing with high voltage inside a power amp even when it's not on.

Yeah i keep reading that if i end up making a preamp out of this im calling it deadly!

 

[Passinwind]

Is this some kind of plug-n-play? i mean the only thing that i would have to do is plug/weld the power supply to it and thats it?

NewClassD have a cookbook on their website that details a typical build-up of their product: Invalid Link Removed. Their stuff won't meet your requirements, but at least you'll get an idea of a best case build scenario.

The math still doesn't pencil in for me...not even close really!