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Hello!
Below
I have included three jpeg's and pdf pictures of the Zen Amp.I built
these units about 2 years ago, and they are still working every day.
The
first picture is four Zen amps using the constant current source. The
amplifier and constant current source MOSFET are on the same heat sink.
Each heat sink is about 8 inches wide, 7.5 inches tall, and 2.5 inches
deep. I am running a dual mono configuration shown here. I took a scope
and a 5 ohm, 50 watt power resistor and connected it to the output.
I
got about 12.5 volts peak-to-peak output before slight clipping. So
the power output is: ((12.5)*(12.5))*(.707)/5 = 22 watts.
The
power supply is in the picture on left. This is interesting. I had a
diffcult time finding this transformer but I'm glad I did. It is rated
at 900 VA.
The
filter cap is a Sprague unit I found at a flee market. It is rated at
40WDC 120,000 ufd. Luckly the guy had three. I bought them all! :-)
I
put a thermister and a fuse on the AC side of the transformer. The bridge
rectifier needs to be heat sinked as shown here.
The
last jpeg is a close up of each "plate" I decided to
do point-to-point wiring since this is a simply circuit. I used mica
insullators under each MOSFET. I used 4-40 machine screws to fasten
the transistors and the little solder points or lugs.
All
wiring is done with teflon insulated silver wiring I found at a surplus
electronics outlet. So far I have built eight of these plates. I now
run a bi-amp setup. I also built two Zen preamps not shown here.
Now
for the sound. I have tested and listened to many commercial grade amplifiers.
Nothing comes close to the detail you get from this amplifier. I can't
put my finger on it but it is by far the best sound amplifier I have
ever heard.
Several
of my friends in the audio hobby have heard my setup and are just amazed
at the sound. So much so that they are now building their own Zen amplifiers.
Even friends of mine that are not into the hobby are impressed.
I
spent a lot of time and effort building these and think it was worth
it. I can never go back to listening to anything else. Single ended
class A is the only way to go. I want to thank Nelson Pass for his time
and effort to lay this all out on a web page. My understanding of amplifiers
and circuit design have been improved. I look forward to any new designs
Nelson Pass comes out with. It makes this hobby very enjoyable to me.
Please write me if you have any questions.
Regards,
Fred |