2. misc-audio
  3. 128728-1324

A Big DIY Bang for Your Buck?

I believe in getting the biggest bang out of my audio buck that I can. I don't know about you but my audio budget is actually limited. I find it interesting when I hear about folks spending a zillion on the best magnetic cables and then someone comes along with some new cable technology like new liquid-infused cables that equal or best the magnetic cables at a fraction of the price. Some makers of magnetic and other cables may want you to believe that a patent pending means there must be something there that ordinary Joe Audio could never make himself. My experience leads me to say -- don't believe it.

I have been using neodymium magnets for years in my cables and around my system to improve SQ -- at a fraction of the cost that makers of magnet-containing products charge. OK, mine may not be at the very top of the performance chain when compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I have managed to get stunning returns for a pittance. It would have cost thousands, or tens of thousands, to obtain similar results from various makers.

The same applies to audio makers with a patent pending (or an actual patent) who market little aluminum audio resonators the size of pimples. I make my own resonator pimples for about a buck apiece -- with stunning results. I saved over $4,000 making 70 of my own. Maybe they are not at the very top of the performance chain compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I am very happy with results that are far beyond what I expected when I started out.

I am having a lot of fun doing DIY projects at home that reap wonderful results at a small fraction of the cost charged by audio makers for their similar products. Have others had similar experiences making their own audio products at home? Can you share your DIY experiences with us?
sabai
jeffrey75's avatar
jeffrey75
110 posts
 
Spencer,

I did not understand geoffkait's post on colored magnets and took it as mockery and sarcasim, the mistake lies with my lack of knowledge of what I am still guessing at is painted magnets. I realize now that I was still mad at geoffkait about what he said in another thread and it played out here. Plus I am not a quantum physicists.


geoffkait,

Radio frequency (RF) is any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending from around 3 kHz to 300 GHz.

EMI is used to jam radio frequncies, I was under the impression that the
field generated by magnets was vectoring out or perpendicular to the surface.





terry9
2,348 posts
 
I do quite a lot of DIY, sabai. All my electronics, my turntable, cables, and I also modify speakers and tonearm. It's very satisfying. My Koetsu alone is unmodified.

I don't pretend to have the best circuit topology (although it's pretty good), but it is the best in terms of components; and more importantly, it's best in terms of what I want to do. I build in the controls that I want, like variable RIAA compensation. I also build in the opportunity to test components in my system, which leads to objective results following blind testing.

Just about any DIY project is worth the trouble if you stick to the physics. That's important, or you can spend big bucks on what amounts to a tone control, or worse, just placebo effect.

The physics says capacitors and resistors and transistor and tubes. And clean, low ripple power supply. And connectors with good metallurgy. And clean records. And room treatment, which I forgot the last time I talked about this, ditto resonance control for turntables.

Plus, site-specific problems which need fixing. If you live near a railroad line, you need to control vibration with suspension on your turntable. If you live near a telecom farm, you need to control RF.

If you build it, you will use it (probably). I've done it since grad school, and now I'm retired. What's changed is the sophistication of the devices, but not the fun.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
terry9,

I stick to making cables and creating various kinds of accessories (tweaks), some of which are based on the work of others, like my own version of HFTs, and some of which I have invented.
kavakat1
110 posts
 
And now, for something completely different. I am building an ultrasonic record cleaner, having been given a rotted out ultrasonic cleaner from my dentist when he got a new one. Took off the two 80hz transducer discs and glued them onto a rectangular metal  dish used in cafeterias to keep food warm as you walk along the Def serve line. Then the same controls from the old cleaner.  Will make the actual record holder and spinner as in the you tube videos for the project. About $70. Instead of $4000. 

terry9
2,348 posts
 
Kavakat, nice experiment.

Placing of transducers is an art, I’m told, so don’t be too discouraged if it doesn’t work well the first time. Another issue is power - you need 50W per record, according to the DIY Audio thread, which is also my experience. And something to heat the bath. I find that 40C is about right. At least to start with; actually I use 48 +/- 3, but I have a commercial unit with good temperature control. Also, an 80KHz transducer is the perfect choice, and absolutely requires an inch spacing between each record to let the US wave develop.

There’s a thread by Rushton here which can tell you quite a lot. Nice project.
More to discover