The Quickie is better than you think.

[corndog71]

Bottlehead is great for low powered tube amps but if you need more power and want to build it yourself then I would suggest these:

http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-kits-1/complete-amplifiers-kits.html

I have the SDS-258 and for the money it's a steal.

edit: oops, I forgot you already mentioned you were considering them.

 

[madbrayniak]

Bottlehead is great for low powered tube amps but if you need more power and want to build it yourself then I would suggest these:

http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-kits-1/complete-amplifiers-kits.html

I have the SDS-258 and for the money it's a steal.

edit: oops, I forgot you already mentioned you were considering them.

How do you like them sonically?  my main problem with them is that when i do a search for reviews I get class d amps from all different manufacturers....

 

[corndog71]

How do you like them sonically?  my main problem with them is that when i do a search for reviews I get class d amps from all different manufacturers....

The company I linked to is the one I recommend.  I have no experience with other class d amps.  I tweaked the power supply of mine a little.  There's a really long thread on audiocircle.com that shows numerous builds and tweaks.  It's under cheap and cheerful.  Mine is in there too.

As for the sound, I've been consistently impressed with it.  It runs just a bit on the warmer side of neutral but doesn't spare detail or dynamics.  It's very easy to listen to for hours with no fatigue.  And it mates really well with my Quickie.

 

[earwaxxer]

Hey Rob - Nice job with the Class D amp build! I was real tempted to buy from them but I ended up with the Emotiva. I have read good things about the Class D Audio amps. I built a high power (200wpc) class t amp from 41hz, but it was a bit too complex with surface mounts and all. It didnt end up working.

I was pleased with how good the stock Quickie sounds when I subbed it back into my system today. I was working on my modded one at the time. The sound was very good just not as refined as with boutique parts. I think the logic of why one would spend $150 on caps and expensive resistors etc. on a $99 preamp is that you get more bang for the buck the farther up the audio chain you go. A preamp is pretty far up there. Fun stuff! Thinking about bypassing my Elna electrolytics. Any thoughts on that?

Eric

 

[madbrayniak]

I like the Class D you show.  The funny thing about the classdaudio.com stuff and class D in general is that I have read that when mounted in a wood case it sounds better....not sure why but i have run accross it in a few places.

I think the ClassDaudio.com amps though are perfect for home theater use as I honestly dont understand the need for AB or A for those purposes....for music yes...HT...not so much.

I think the ClassDaudio.com amps will be my next project.  Like I said I have been looking at them for a long time now and amps were one of the next things on my list.  either the speakers or the amps.....

My goal, since I can only have one system....is to have two seperate loops connected to the same speakers.  have a TT and Cd player/DAC connected to quickie going to Pass F5 or Bottlehead amps to speakers for music....split it somehow to get the subs in there as well....

Then for HT have a processor to amps to same speakers....

I plan to handle the subs by getting to sound best with the quickie and then simply adjust in the processor or receiver to accomodate for the gain I have to put on the subs in my other line.....

P.s. sorry i kind of hijacked your thread.  I liked that you had such good results with the quickie and it all went downhill with questions and comments by myself

 

[corndog71]

My goal, since I can only have one system....is to have two seperate loops connected to the same speakers.  have a TT and Cd player/DAC connected to quickie going to Pass F5 or Bottlehead amps to speakers for music....split it somehow to get the subs in there as well....

Then for HT have a processor to amps to same speakers....

I plan to handle the subs by getting to sound best with the quickie and then simply adjust in the processor or receiver to accomodate for the gain I have to put on the subs in my other line.....

P.s. sorry i kind of hijacked your thread.  I liked that you had such good results with the quickie and it all went downhill with questions and comments by myself

Good luck with having 2 systems share speakers.  Sounds ambitious.  I keep my 2-channel tube system separate from my HT.  And they're both in the same room!

No worries about the threadjack.  Sharing ideas keeps this hobby interesting and there's always more to learn.

 

[madbrayniak]

Unfortunately I don't have another choice. No room in my living room or office for a second system.  I'm sure that if I had floors tandems it wouldn't be an issue..... But I dont