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Tube Preamp Clone Kits on ebay?

X

xlr8

New Member
Hi folks!

I've been looking at tube preamp kits from several manufacturers and ran across some clone kits from DIY Audio Kit @ Ebay. They offer several that sound interesting, i.e. Marantz 7c, Mac c22, Jadis JP-200, etc. I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with these kits and could honestly recommend one of them? I would LOVE to build one of these clones, but I have zero experience with these guys and their products. Any info would be very helpful.

Thanks!
 
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I don't understand the subtleties of the arguement, but I know that many feel that the clones are an act of theft of intellectual property. Another argument against them that I have heard is that these amps are more than a sum of their parts, and much of their magic comes from careful matching of excellent active componants. Which requires some expertise and a large stock of the expensive componants.

I'm not sure how valid either of these arguments are but would love some informed comment on the subject, beyond the jingoistic.
 
Audio Metric is the company and apparently, they are in Hong Kong. I wasn't sure if these were blatant IP theft or just someone's recipe that gets close to the good stuff. I'm not into theft, just good music.:thmbsp: I'm looking to build the best sounding preamp possible for my money and those looked like they could be the ticket.
 
I hear you. I love a bargain, and cloning isn't necesarilly stealing. I'd like to know more about them because they appeal to me too.
 
Have you looked at the Aikido? It has a large following, designer support and there are no issues with IP theft. Broskie, the designer, sells very high quality circuit cards. You are left to design the case and source as many parts as you want or buy a complete kit.
 
Have you looked at the Aikido? It has a large following, designer support and there are no issues with IP theft. Broskie, the designer, sells very high quality circuit cards. You are left to design the case and source as many parts as you want or buy a complete kit.
Today 10:36 AM
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Actually, yes. VTA is offering a preamp kit that uses an Akido board. I understand they make a great pre, but I don't know much about them from a technical standpoint. I have no problem making a chassis and I know a guy who can make a nice faceplate out of wood or metal and also has the capability to engrave the functions. VTA seems to be out of Akido parts till sometime in March. Does this fellow Broskie have a website?:scratch2:
 
I'm not sure I buy the.....theft of intellectual property.....argument?

A good example is the ancient......Fender Champ.
There are probably far more Fender Champ CLONES out-n'-about, then actual Fender Champs?

Steve
 
gearhound said:
I'm not sure I buy the.....theft of intellectual property.....argument?

A good example is the ancient......Fender Champ.
There are probably far more Fender Champ CLONES out-n'-about, then actual Fender Champs?

Steve
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I'm sure if I bought one of those kits, NOBODY would come after me. So there's no real risk other than maybe an effect on one's bragging rights for those with low self-esteem.

I remember somebody reviewed one of those in the past and they are NOT exact clones. And if somebody were to go after the seller, the offended party would be on pretty shaky ground. In other words, there's probably a reason those kits are still being sold on Ebay and have been for a several years now. Since those designs aren't being actively marketed by the original manufacturers anyways, I would think they're not taking sales away from the "real" ones.

For those who are still unconvinced, lets all stop using our ultralinear amplifiers unless it was from Acro since the idea was obviously "stolen" from them.
 
If it sounds as good as people say, I'd go with the Aikido just to avoid buying from China.:yes: I was looking at the CCA 9pin board at the above link. The prices look very decent compared to some other stuff I've seen, as well as some other options I've looked at. This is also the second time this pre has been recommended...:smoke::smoke:
 
If there WAS an intellectual property issue, it would have expired with the patent/copyright. I'm pretty sure that most of these companies have not retained these over 40+ years (such as Marantz, McIntosh, etc).

At some point, the basic design becomes public domain... and in many cases, the design isn't novel enough to even copyright or patent... if it's just component values, then that doesn't constitute a novel feature, and therefore, it's not under IP control. Many of these classic designs fell under a few basic categories of design (grounded cathode circuits)... it's hard to even get a design patent on that kind of stuff in the first place, much less enforce it 4 decades later.

OTOH, if you're cloning the latest-and-greatest (within the last decade or so) design and sell it, don't be surprised if you get a letter from the lawyers...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Before you think of ordering one, why not ask for a copy of their schematic and parts list then compare it to the original? I'm sure you can find a free copy of the print and parts list or even a Sam's. Then it would not be much of a stretch to determine what was used in the original parts build.
 
Isotonic said:
I don't understand the subtleties of the argument, but I know that many feel that the clones are an act of theft of intellectual property.
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1) Copyright for vintage tube schematic have already expired.

2) Most of them (vintage schematics) are very common, basics taken from the electronics books, and then tweaked/adjusted for certain needs.
 
The intellectual property argument is weak. US patents are good for 17 years. Anyone who proposes to clone a Marantz preamp for instance is on solid footing. As for the quality of the clone PCBs on ebay; how are you gonna know until it arrives and who ya gonna call if you find yourself in over your head?

The better arguments for a modern design like Broskie's is 1) that it comes with the support of several hundred interested builders on several different forums; 2) the PCBs are very, very high quality at a very fair price; and 3) the fact that you can source as much or little of the bits that you choose.

Note that Broskie is not the only guy out there. Pete Millet has some offerings that he sells on ebay that are said to be real good and I'd assume you'd have some support from him. And his PCBs are RED too; take that Broskie.
 
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