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Built a tube amp from a kit. The first time I turned it on it worked perfectly, but I had already left skidmarks.

You really need to know-how.Besides; who has a time for it these days.And even if you do,the proper tools are probably gonna run you more than the component...

hell yes. diy speakers can be fantastic

I'm italian and is very difficoult here to find hi-quality components, but i like passlabs.com projects

I have a sweet sounding Nelson Pass-designed 10 watt "Zen" amplifier. Schematics are on the net for his Aleph 3, which I am thinking of building. Definitely class A/B amplifiers. Definitely cheaper than buying new.

I say leave it to the pros. A real audiophile understands that he pays more because someone else knows how to do it better.

Over the years I've designed and built several glass and solid state dc to light power and headphone amps (okay, maybe sub-light). Although several of the initial prototypes went up in smoke, sometimes literally, that was part of the fun. Imagine, if you will, the euphoria one feels in finally hitting on the right set of tweaks. While I can't imagine commercial products even coming close to homebrew from a cost or musicality standpoint I have to admit that much of the commercial stuff is pretty to look at.

I believe that the magic is really in the circuits, the fun is in the bulding and the joy is in the listening.

Cables, cables and more cables. Have made my own power cables and interconnects. Easy, fun and very cost effective. As good or better than kilobuck brands.

I currently use homemade interconnects and speaker cable which I prefer over the MIT, Monster, and Audioquest I used before.

Slowly but surely, I am turning to home audio's roots, and enjoying each (tiny) step.

wasn't aware such things were available. where?

I have made all my speakers myself, most recently a 3.5ft tall TL with a 4.25in Vifa woofer and Eton soft dome tweeter. I made my HT sub-woofer with an 18in driver and 200wpc amp that is not exactly earth-shaking, but very musical. I made the power cables for my Golden Tube SE-40 Special Edition and my CJ preamp (whose lamp-cord captive cable I replaced). The isolation platform for the Rega Planar is made from a concrete slab and Super Balls that were cut in half and glued to the bottom. My "Tube Traps" are not from ASC, but they work GREAT and only cost about $40 each for a six-footer (and they look better than the ASCs). My ultimate DIY job so far is the pair of speakers in my dedicated LR, whose cabinets are a double layer of 3/4 in birch plywood and 3/4 in MDF, with an extra 1.0in of solid oak for the driver board. Driver compliment is 1-Morel 33mdt hfd, 2-Morel 164 mid/bass, and 1- NHT 1259 lfd per side, each side with a 200wpc/8ohm sub-amp. Yeah, I like DIY stuff.

I'd like to take a swing at building some tube stuff if someone offered soldering classes. Aflac will cover my time off for burned fingers, so that's no problem.

Built a 'Leach Low TIM' amp way back when (plans were in Audio) and it still sounds great!

Beat the system, DIY. Save money, have fun and learn that physical laws and gloosy ads are different things.

I have reconstructed the crossover network of my Proac speakers, with higher quality components. I find the result impressing, more of the same speaker for a remarkably small sum of money. I have previously owned speakers made from DIY-kits, and even tried to construct my own. The latter proved to difficult for me, and the speakers are now relegated to a closet at my mum's house. However, it was a very iteresting experience wich I learned a lot from.

YOUR KIDDING RIGHT?

I have used various home built tube headphone amps and currently use a home designed and constructed stereo tube amplifier.

As a owner of much used and beloved "vintage" diy products (including a H/K Citation II, IV, V & Dynaco ST70)I would definitely consider engaging in a DIY if the product is of quality, cost effective and within my range of ability. I am currently considering the Wellborne Labs preamp as a diy project, as well as buying bulk quality speaker wire and terminating it myself. The former may prove to be a difficult and is still relatively expensive, the latter quite simple and cost effective. I am also currently researching to find a phono preamp diy project that is low cost/high quality. It may be beyond my ability, but the journey is sometimes more important then the destination. At the least I will learn more about what makes a quality product in the process, so if decide to pick up a product I will have a better idea what makes a product worth considering or not (beyond the obvious of how it sounds in my system and listening, which ultimately is the most important).

i'd like to try it, but, of course, i would only use it if i notice an improvement.