Ebay hifi kits

[Smokebreak]

I'd like to put together something inexpensive to play CDs, Ipods, and records. What do you guys think about the cheap kits on ebay? There's a bunch for around $200. I'm sure they're not that great, but I'd just like to make sure they're not complete shite. Any experience?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fashion-HIF ... 3a901216a1

[drew]

Forget tubes. Get one of these: http://m.ebay.com/itm/400930718344?_mwBanner=1 (ignore the reference to Arduino in the title).

Power with an old laptop power brick, or a regulated power supply like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/22866715?revi ... ws_limit=7&

There's a huge thread about these on the Audio Karma forum. Some guys run a cheap Chinese tube preamp in front of them; others, like me, just plug the phone, computer, or whatever source directly into them. You can't believe how good they sound for $11 delivered.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Murphy's law subpart N paragraph 113 line Z explicitly says "you get what you pay for."

I'd think you could sling together something at least as good as the ebay offerings with some leftover/scavenged parts. If you have very efficient speakers available, you'd be surprised how good just a couple watts from a well filtered single-end amp (Champ) can sound. Spring for some better SE output transformers from say Edcor and improve your bass. Got less-efficient speakers? Should be able to put together a couple of p-p EL84 or 6V6 amps for 10-15W.

FWIW there is an outfit called Bottlehead that's made available a number of kits, usually involving neglected tubes IOW you won't be dealing with any of the usual suspects. Prices, you'll have to research.

Personally I'd stick with the devils I know and either copy a well known Fender power amp or find a stereo beater, Dynaco, Eico, Heath & put that into listening condition.

[xtian]

I got something like Drew suggested, except mine is only 15 watts or so per channel, powering two full-sized, old Fisher hi-fi, three-way cabinets as my garage stereo. Plug in my iPhone when I'm out there working. Plenty loud, and quality is just fine.

[Aurora]

If you want to build something useful for tube HiFi, take alook at the Dynaco replica kits from triodelectronics.com. Quite more pricey than the chinese stuff... US made, mostly, I think....?

[Smokebreak]

Thanks for the suggestions !

[drew]

My dual-3116 chip amp. Chassis is a metal box and trimmed-down cutting board, both from Ikea.