What is a Gainclone?

A GainClone is a clone of a product called the "GainCard", made by 47-Labs. This "GainCard" cost USD$4000 for the Amplifier and USD$1800 for the power supply. They have VERY few components and are based on the National Semiconductor LM3875 IC. If you want to know more about the Gainclone just google as they are VERY popular and there is heaps of info on the internet about them.

I bought a kit from BrianGT, you can see it here

The PCBs and components are very simple and quick to make, only took about 20 mins to assemble both amps and rectifier board:

Testing the assembled amps on a desk:

DC offset was about 80mV on one channel and about 40mV on the other. I used the optional Ci capacitor in the national datasheet for the IC which reduced it to between 0-4mV:

This is the capacitor I chose, its an Elna Starget (expensive):

The case was MUCH more time consuming and difficult to make though. I bought all the aluminium from a scrap metal yard including the heatsink.

I got my aluminium panels cut at a sheet metal shop as I cant make straight cuts with a hack saw:

My DIY spike :-)

And after powder coating the panels and dying the wood with spirit dye:

Testing it out:

The underside:

Conclusion:

I haven't heard sound this good before. I had no idea a better amp would make a such a big difference to my system. I wont go on, it just sounds amazing and its so cheap to build!

Here are some very helpfull and interesting links regarding Gainclones:

http://www.mhennessy.f9.co.uk/gainclone/

http://www.decdun.fsnet.co.uk/gainclone.html

http://www.vikash.info/audio/gainclone02/

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/

And you can buy a kit like mine from here:

http://www.chipamp.com/