TechnikTech

Modular High End Audio Amplifier System

Modular audio amplifier system

Project road map and presentation of my year 2020 audio project: The modular high end audio amplifier system. A highly flexible audio amplifier that can be configured in many ways based on a variety of different modules.

Modular High End Audio Amplifier System Design Philosophy

Modular audio amplifier system

In this article I explain the general design philosophy applied to the modular high end audio amplifier system.

High End Audio Amplifier System Modules

Modular audio amplifier system
Here is my collection of all modules that are available for the modular audio amplifier system, including pre-amplifiers, front-ends, driver stages, output stages, power supplies, control and protection modules. Most of the modules can be combined with each other to yield a huge variety of different amplifier configurations.

Modular High End Audio Amplifier System AssemblyMontage des modularen High End Audio Verstärkers

Modular audio amplifier system

This is my blog documenting the assembly of my first modular amplifier prototype. I also share my some tips for setting up electronic devices in general and especially audio amplifiers.

Hier beschreibe ich die Montage einer ersten Variante des modularen Audioverstärkers. Außerdem teile ich ein paar Tips zum Aufbau von Elektronikgeräten allgemein und speziell Audioverstärkern.

High Power Audio Amplifier Module

Presentation of my year 2010 audio project: A high power audio amplifier module.

Amplifier Power Supply

General design considerations for audio amplifier power supplies. This article also applies to the power supplies for the modular audio amplifier presented on this page.

Amplifier Input Filter

amplifier audio input filter

Some ideas how to improve the audio input filter of an audio amplifier, especially for the high frequency roll-off and phase shift

Amplifier Input Protection

amplifier audio input protection

In this article I compare various options to protect audio amplifier inputs from ESD and excess voltage in general in order to find a circuit that offers very good protection, maintains excellent audio signal quality and is easy and safe to implement in various amplifier designs.

Current sources for audio amplifiers

Result of my investigation of different current sources to find out which one performs best in terms of PSRR, step response and thermal stability.

Amplifier output stage comparison

I compared some amplifier output stages with each other and share my results and interpretation here.

DIY audio amplifier toroid air core inductor

DIY audio amplifier toroid air core inductor

Air core toroid inductors are the best choice for power audio amplifier output filters. Since I didn't find any air core toroid inductors, I decided to build my own. Here are my DIY air core toroid inductors that are built around a plastic coil former.

Toroid transformer rewinding

toroid transformer rewinding

How I modified a huge toroid transformer

Loudspeaker dummy loadLautsprecherersatzlast

loudspeaker dummy load resistor

A resistive dummy load is useful for testing audio amplifiers performance at high levels without making noise. Here I present mine, which is based on my tiny universal chassis.

Eine Ersatzlast ist nützlich um Audioverstärker bei hoher Lautstärke zu testen ohne viel Lärm zu machen. Hier stelle ich meine Ersatzlast vor, welche auf meinen kleinen Universalgehäuse basiert.

DIY loudspeaker cable

DIY Speakon loudspeaker cable

How to build a high quality loudspeaker cable featuring Speakon connectors for half of the cost.

Audio performance measurement equipment options

My scratchpad collecting some measurement euqipment options for measuring performance of audio products.

3D CAD models

3D CAD models

I created some 3D CAD models that I share on 3DCONTENTCENTRAL. Most of those CAD models represent electronic components to be used for designing electronic assemblies. Since virtually every electronic assembly interfaces with mechanical parts, like enclosures, having a realistic physical representation of the electronic assembly ensures that everything fits together well and the project is successful. My projects profit from using shared models and this is why I like to share mine as well.

Audio website link collection

My collection of links to audio related websites I find useful or entertaining or both. I hope to continuously expand this collection.

Review of the ESI U24 XL USB sound card

ESI U24 XL

Here is my review of the ESI U24 XL USB audio interface, which I had at home for many years already. I thought about using it for doing audio measurements and wanted to find out whether it is suitable for that purpose. The investigation lead to a detailed review with focus on measurement of the analog interface.

Improvement of the ESI U24 XL USB sound card

ESI U24 XL improvement

Related to my review of the ESI U24 XL USB sound card, in this article I present a very detailed review of the analog audio input and output as well as the power supply. I investigated modification of the circuitry in order to improve performance.

Review of the ESI Gigaport EX 8 channel USB DAC interface

ESI Gigaport EX

Short review of the Gigaport EX 8 channel DAC from ESI Audiotechnik to find out whether this DAC could be a good choice for a multi-channel setup

Review of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Gen3 USB sound card

Just like with the ESI sound card, I wanted to see whether this interface could be a good candidate for doing basic THD measurements using REW. I present my results measuring THD and noise of the sound card using REW

My crappy and ugly amplifier

Presentation of the crappy and ugly amplifier I built when I was 15 years old

High End 2018

Report and image gallery of my visit to the High End trade fair in Munich in 2018. I had a closer look at amplifiers from:

  • Accoustic Arts
  • Air Tech
  • Ayre
  • Block Audio
  • Cambridge
  • Nubert
  • Phison
  • Sugden
  • Symphonic Line

My photography equipment and tipsMein Fotoequipment und Tips

I share some honest reviews about my photo equipment and techniques I use

Ich schreibe ein paar ehrliche Bewertungen zu meinem Fotoequipment.

Infrared Photography equipment and tipsInfrarot Fotografie Equipment und Tips

The technical basics you need to know when starting infrared photography. DSLR cameras, their shortcomings in infrared photography and remedies thereof. Full spectrum camera filter options. Advantages of mirrorless cameras.

Die technischen Grundlagen zur Infrarotfotografie. Schwierigkeiten mit Speigelreflexkameras in der Infrarotfotografie und Lösung dieser Probleme. Filter Optionen für Vollspektrum Kameras. Die Vorzüge von spiegellosen Kameras.

Macro PhotographyMakro Fotografie

How to turn your lenses into a microscope with only 20€ investment and other budget options for macro photography

Wie man seine Objektive mit einem 20€ teuren Adapter in ein Mikroskop verwandeln kann und andere kostengünstige Optionen für Makrofotografie

How to clean an old russian projector lensReinigung eines alten russischen Projektorobjektivs

LOMO 50mm lens disassembly and cleaning

Diassembly and cleaning of the LOMO 50mm f/1.2 projector lens

Demontage und Reinigung des LOMO 50mm f/1.2 Projektorobjektivs

How to mount an old projector lens to any cameraAdaption eines alten Projektorobjektivs an eine Kamera

Adaption of old lenses in general and especially the LOMO 50mm f/1.2 projector lens to any camera mount.

Adaption von alten Objektiven im Allgemeinen und speziell des LOMO 50mm f/1.2 Projektorobjektivs an jede beliebige Kamera.

Electronic Components Procurement:
Distributors in Germany and worldwideBeschaffung elektronischer Bauteile:
Händler in Deutschland und weltweit

My preferred electronic component distributors in Germany and worldwide

Meine bevorzugten Bauteilhändler in Deutschland und weltweit

Electronic Components Procurement: Tips and fails

Some special procurement tips and also some purchased that went wrong

Electronic Components Procurement: Audio Transistors

Obsolescence has become a major problem meanwhile. Here is a list of audio grade transistors that are still available in year 2021

Amplifier chassis options for DIY projects

Here I share my market research looking especially for large amplifier chassis

Cheap Chinese power supplies

In this article, I share my market research results regarding power supplies from China, that are too cheap to be good

Raspberry Pi

My notes how to install Pi OS on a Raspberry Pi, secure the installation properly and set up an Apache web server

ASUS PN40-BB013M review

Quick review of my new mini computer that runs my web server from December 2020 on

Music server setup

How to set up a linux server to receive music via airplay. Options for setting up a media server replacing the CD player

Product price monitor

Strike bargains shopping online using a small Bash script for automated product price monitoring. The script is easy to set up and sends the latest price of the products monitored by email each day.

Test page

Test page. Contains most of the styles used on this website for checking.