Cheap little integrated amp kit

[mv213]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Inpu...901143&hash=item5d32c5b424:g:kzMAAOxydlFSp-D~ I've used this one. It regulates and filters the 12 volts needed to operate the relays. I used a small 12v transformer I found at Radio Shack. Its dead quiet and the selector is sturdier than the plastic housed ones.

Thank you!

Edit-Ordered.

 

[mv213]

Still playing with (dirt cheap) preamp kits. Finished up the second, with the red circuit board. I like the tone controls MUCH better than the blue board preamp. Gain is too high though. Running into the main-in jacks of my SX-727, the volume is deafening before reaching 1/4 turn on the volume control, and starts to overload shortly thereafter. I’ll be looking into this, have some more parts on order that need to arrive first. Next up is to build the cheapo integrated, I guess, since that’s the only other kit I have at the moment. That was a spur of the moment purchase that I have no idea what I’ll do with when it’s done, other than report results here.

There is a method to my madness, I will have a working preamp (cheap!) and a little more experience building audio kits before I tackle a VTA ST-120. Who knows, after that I may put my lovely SX-727 on the market. I’ll have to become a subscriber again and list it on bartertown if I do that.

 

[Lavane]

The power amps I tried mine with had gain controls I could adjust to get more range with the preamp volume control. But at around 10:00 was max volume for a tube amp I tried. I have a VTA ST-70 I built. Lots of fun, great instructions and great support.

 

[mv213]

I experimented with a 100K pot as a voltage divider on the output of the preamps....works great. I can use the volume control much more fully and the sound is very good on both of the preamp kits. Both the blue and red board preamp kits were around $9. A great buy for as good as they sound. Really nice two-sided boards with through-plated holes and solder mask. Both work well feeding into the “main in” jacks on my SX-727.

So, for my more negative review, the integrated amp kit is definitely not recommended. The board quality is terrible, singe-sided with several jumpers necessary, no solder mask, no plating. Not finished building it yet but even if it sounds fantastic I don’t think I would buy another. YMMV

 

[mv213]

@Brickbat I ended up settling on a 5532 preamp kit that I’m going to use permanently in my garage system. It sounds good and it does have a balance control. PM me if you want the link to the one I bought on eBay.

I have mine all put together with a relay based source selector that another member recommended and a nice aluminum enclosure. When my Front Panel Express order comes in I will wrap this project up and maybe do a write up thread on it. I’m happy with it and hope to start a VTA ST120 in a few weeks.

 

[Brickbat]

Thanks JP. I ended up going down a different road. Mainly, I was looking for a compact amp and not necessarily DIY. I found a 'mini' Onkyo amp on eBay, and it's working out just fine.