DIY Monster Audio Amplifier
In 1979, the French amplifier designer Jean Higara published the schematic for an original amplifier called "Le Monstre" ("The Monster"). It was originally published in the French magazine "L'Audiophile." Since then, many audio enthusiasts have used the circuit diagram as the basis to produce their own version of the monster amplifier. Due to high demand for this classic audio amplifier, audio parts companies now sell DIY kits that emulate "The Monster." You can build your own by purchasing the parts as part of a kit --- or individually.
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Things You'll Need
- 19-inch rack chassis
- Thermal heat sinks
- Blank circuit board
- Capacitors
- IEC power supply
- Resistors
- Two output transformers
- 500-VA toroid power transformer
- Wire
- Wire cutters
- Soldering iron
- Colored marker pens
Instructions
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1
Study the schematic, which illustrates the design and layout of the amplifier circuitry (See "Resources"). It also contains vital information about the values and relationships of the various components. This is a classic amplifier design and the schematic denotes exactly how the powerful sound is achieved.
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2
Take time when color-coding the parts with the schematic. Color-code the board-mounted components with their turrets on the printed circuit board (PCB). Refer to the schematic, then make a colored mark on the physical component, the location on the PCB and the schematic. Use a different color for each component. Use color not only to distinguish between parts, but also parts with different values, such as resistors.
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3
The brass strips connect the board-mounted parts. Populate the PCB. Fit each component into the empty turret on the PCB. Push it in until the connector pins poke through the base. Once fully populated, place the board face-down and carefully solder the connector pins to the metal strips that run along the base of the board. These metal strips connect each component.
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4
Load the PCB into the 19-inch rack chassis. Place it flat-side down in the base of the chassis and solder it to the base.
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Fit the chassis-mounted components onto the chassis. The chassis will have pre-drilled holes for the power supply, power transformer, input jack and potentiometers.
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6
Cut a length of power wire for each chassis-mounted component. Cut one piece of ground wire for connecting the IEC power supply. Remove a half-inch of insulation from each end of the wire. This exposes the metal, which makes soldering easier. Connect a piece of power wire to the output terminal of each chassis-mounted component.
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Connect all chassis-mount parts, except for the power supply. Connect the loose end of each power wire connected to a chassis-mount part to the correct eyelet on the circuit board. Refer to your color-coded schematic for guidance.
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Fit the power supply. Solder a length of power wire to the positive terminal on the IEC power supply and solder the loose end to the positive eyelet on the board. Repeat with ground wire between the negative terminal and the negative eyelet. The negative eyelet is located next to the positive eyelet on the PCB.
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Enclose the chassis. Screw on the lid, then slot the dials onto the potentiometer poles. The potentiometer poles will be exposed through the front panel of the amplifier chassis. Line the dials up so zero is level with the notch on the potentiometer pole.
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Tips & Warnings
Invest in some high-spec speaker cables. There's little point having a high-quality amplifier and sending the signal down a cheap speaker cable.
Always solder in a well-ventilated area.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Michael Blann/Lifesize/Getty Images
