 |
|
|
GALLERY
This gallery is for the constructors of the AKSA family of Audio equipment.
If you would like to submit a photo and some words about your project,
they should be sent to aksa1@optushome.com.au.
PLEASE NOTE:
In order to be practical for download the images should not be greater
than about 200Kb. As editors, however, we reserve the right to edit! If
you have any queries, you can contact us by email.
 |
|
|
Darl Singh; Hamilton, New Zealand
|
|
|
My system is tri-amped, the Aksa 55's (1 of 2
assemblies shown)
running top and mids - as can be seen, transformers are remote with
local regulation.
The TLP is running Multicaps as (output) DC blocking caps.
Audibly: stunning. Visually - still working on it.....
|
 
|
| Chris
Wronski; Chicago IL, USA |
|
|
The chassis I used is made in the US by BUD.
The two stacked boxes for the chassis worked great for me. I don't
know if I really needed it, but this was cheap (relatively) and
easy to do.
The rest of the system is always under construction with some minor
change.
If I ever get done building speakers I will look into playing with
a new or
modified CD source.
|
|
| George Cherhit;
Sacramento CA, USA |
|
| The chassis
is a DIY design measuring 17"w x 12"d x 3 1/4"h, the
same design as Dan Schneider's amp as featured on Hugh's former web
site, only with brushed stainless front and rear panels. |
 |
| Andrew Gartside,
Sydney, Australia |
|
| The amp
is an early 100W model, upgraded to Nirvana spec in early-2005.
Caps are Siemens, by-passed (out-of-sight) with SCR-fastcaps. I
suspect Hugh's own PS design would sound better, but I already
had these. Chassis is marine-ply. This is the most musically consonant
SS
amp I have heard and one of the outright best amps, full-stop.
Other amp favorites are Audion Silver Night, VTL225 and Audio Matiere
Atmosphere |
 |
 |
| part-way thru build |
all finshed |
|
| Johari Yip, Singapore. |
|
I went for the monobloc
version because of the space constraint I have with placing my equipment
in the center/between my speakers. Also I can use a shorter run of
speaker cable. Internal wiring is Cardas throughout. Beside the magical
midrange and dynamics, the great bass definition and control have
great influence on my decision to use it for driving my basshorns
in a bi-amp setup.
|
|
| Nels Sorenson,
Beverly WA, USA |
|
|
My system includes 55W Aksa w/ Nirvana tweaks,
Foreplay pre-amp with stepped attenuator, Anticipation and Auricaps,
IPL S3tlm speakers - incredible bass, great fun to build
I'm REALLY enjoying this system. Like the simplicity and clean,
detailed, liquid, POWERFUL sound. Highly recommend all the kits
in the system.
|
  |
| James Logan, Sydney,
AUST |
|
The case is
a cut down 2U 19" rack case with the transformers and regulators
on a full-floating sub-chassis. I'd like to get a brushed and anodised
front panel at some stage to replace the powder-coated one.
The amp has the Nirvana upgrade installed. It sounds amazing! |
  |
| Nicholas Dunand,
Melbourne, Australia |
|
|
The case, transformers and Caps came from an old
magazine 100W Kit amp. The E.I. trannys have copper EMI shields
and have posed no hum problems at all. I built the soft recovery
rectifier onto tag strip (pic, centre) and added the Nirvana upgrade.
Definitely worth the extra!
|
|
| Ian Miller, Adelaide, Australia |
|
|
Layout was planned by physically laying
out the major components on the desk and working out chassis dimensions
required.
This resulted in an AKSA built like a brick
outhouse which of course is the ONLY way to build anything to last!
The AKSA exhibits undetectable levels of
hum, hiss or anything else even with an ear up against the speaker.
|
|
| Sean Dwyer,
Bourke NSW Australia |
|
The AKSA case is
3mm steel folded into a U shape. The amps are mounted to a 13mm MDF
base plate which slides into the steel case. The front panel is a
25mm slab of Sydney Blue Gum (Euclyptus saligna) cut from my families
property and is attached to the case by four M10 bolts. Not only weighs
a ton but looks like a warehouse and sounds like an opera house!
|
|
Romeo Tiu
Sarajevo,
Bosnia-Herzegovina |
|
|
The 100W AKSA I helped to build with a friend.
We were so proud of it we secured a perspex top so we could admire
our handiwork inside!
The TLP case is my own design, and uses
perspex and a few industrial design concepts. It sounds wonderful!
|
|
| Rick Krzywniak,
Melbourne Australia |
|
| This 100W AKSA enclosure
was built entirely of timber. The mains switch and all terminations
are at the rear; the front has only the level control (a 20K ALPS)
and two blue LEDS, left and right, to indicate power on. |
  |
|
|
|
Andrew Redwood; Melbourne, AUSTRALIA
|
|
|
AMPLIFICATION:
AKSA 25w/55w/100w modules per side. Two-box construction with power
supply case behind amplifier case and connected by 13 wires (+/-/earth
to each amp module, 3 speaker return wires - connected back to the
PS star earth - and the amplifier case earthing connection).
Phantom Audio MC phono stage. I am waiting for Hugh to release the
GK-1 line stage preamp… I still have my original Naim 12S preamp
(all my other Naim gear having been traded in on the phono stage
and a new arm, after being trounced by the AKSAs).
SOURCE:
LP12/Lingo turntable. Currently with a Dynavector DV505 arm and
Benz Ruby 2 cartridge. The Dynavector is shortly to be replaced
by a Graham 2.2.
The turntable sits on a DIY "Vibraplane" acoustic isolator
(see enjoythemusic.com).
CABLES:
Interconnects (except the cable from arm to phono stage) are all
made up from Allan Wright's "Super Cable Cook Book".
Speaker cable - currently nothing special but soon to be TNT-Audio's
UBYTE-2 cable.
|
|
| John
Banas, North Carolina USA |
|
|
Both AKSA amps are now up and running! So far
they sound fantastic after just a few minutes of running in. I have
used a lot of high end gear like ARC 100MKII, BATVK200 & VK60,
Conrad, Hybrids, ASL, and the list goes on. I must say that the
AKSA is one of the best I have heard. Smooth and detailed without
any solid state glare. Soundstage to die for. My next project will
be to build either two more 55 W stereo amps or one 100 W stereo
amp to run the base of the Orion dual bass drivers.
|
|
| Lyndon Brown;
Newcastle, AUSTRALIA |
|
|
My Aksa 55 is my first major DIY electronic project. Construction
is straight forward as long as you follow the instructions. I had
some problems understanding the testing phase but managed to work
my way through them. As for technical support, I can only restate
that it is A1.
My Aksa is built into a 2U rack unit from Jaycar, a local supplier.
Toroids are from same supplier. I wanted the layout neat, and tried
to keep the AC wires away from the PCBs and signal path. I cut the
heat sink in half and came up with the layout you see.
Sonic Impressions? I must preface my comments by stating that this
is my first foray into quality HiFi, but I do however have a clear
idea of what I like and have listened to quite a number of systems
in my audio journey. Clean, transparent ,tight is what I am after.
So how is it? I received the “Big Phat Band- swinging for the
fences” DVD-Audio in the mail yesterday just in time for testing.
Slipped it in, selected track 9 “There’s the Rub”,
and proceeded to sit there with a stupid great grin on my face that
just wouldn’t go away. It is all the above and the bass !!!.
My speakers are not that great (B&W DM220) at the moment so
I can only imagine what It will be like when I finish my Aksonics
and do the Nirvana Upgrade.
|
|
| Tore Martensson,
Malmoe, Sweden |
|
|
Although my AKSA is new, my impression so far is that the 100W
N+ amplifier is absolutely amazing. My AKSA 55 (stock) is good,
but the 100W goes at least one step further.
I expect even better sonics when the electronics is thoroughly
burned in. I am especially satisfied with the bass tones from the
amp, just the way I like it. (October, 2005)
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
