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Any DIY stuff in your system?

Back in the day, DIY was not unusual- whether from a kit or scratch built. Today, different story. 

Still, wondering how many folks incorporate some DIY in their gear.

I will start- 

I have DIY equipment

Bottlehead headphone amplifiers (I've built 2 of those) - these were kits; my first Bottlehead (Crack) is far from stock these days

Interconnects- all from scratch- cables have been DH Labs and Klotz and connectors have been Vampire, Neutrik and Rean- must admit I've built clones of the Rega Couple (Klotz AC-110 and Neutrik Profi)

Power cords- from scratch-  Belden and Supra, with Wattgate connectors

I have also modified tuners- first, a Dynaco and more recently, a Magnum Dynalab (which I eventually returned to stock) 

Now I'm contemplating building a small ultra high efficiency speaker (98 dB or better)

Building something yourself self that doesn't blow up, spark or smoke, or cause a fire, and actually sounds good, is very satisfying.
128x128zavato
jesusa0
155 posts
 
A pair of First Watt F5 clone mono amps. Wonderful.
dgarretson
2,598 posts
 

Fine silver power cords and speaker cables from scratch. DIY balanced ICs using Connex/DH Labs BL-Ag bulk cable.

Much of the rest of it is DIY modified.

Modified Atma-Sphere MP-1 preamp with LDR volume control, VSE Superregulators, all-film power supplies & high-gain hybrid phono section.

Modified Pass XP-25 phono with ClarityCap MR coupling caps and TX2575 load resistors.

Modified Merlin VSM with ClarityCap/Duelund crossover, Duelund silver wire, and modified BBAM with ClarityCap MR, teflon bypass caps, TX2575 resistors, and bespoke Hynes power supply.

Modified Velodyne DD-15 with fast recovery rectifiers, silver wire, and cabinet resonance treatments.

DIY AC balanced power using Signal DU-5 transformer.

DIY can lead to satisfaction in surprising ways.


bifwynne
2,206 posts
 

I have a DIY'ish VPI Classic "2.7" TT.  The plinth is the basic Classic 1/2 variant.  However, I switched out the standard Classic tonearm and base for the Classic 3 (stainless steel) version.  I had to drill out the top plate using a VPI supplied template and steel cutting drill bit.

I also switched out the standard Classic 600 rpm motor for the 300 rpm version used on the Classic 3.  While fiddling with the motor I also replaced the stock cap.  As a result, turn-on/off thump has ben eliminated.

So, I have a Classic "2.7" variant.  Some VPI boosters have suggested that I switch out the stainless steel wand for the 3-D printed upgrade.  It's on my bucket list of things I may want to do. 



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