Building a Pre Amp

There's not really a course in the world that will teach you how to build poweramps. Your best bet is obviously any electronics course which doesn't skimp on the practical side - but don't be thinking you won't be able to avoid some tough maths for the best results. There are also a lot of mechanical considerations with power amps and for the DIY'er those are learned mostly through experience.

Pre-amps are easier being all low level. If you start playing with op-amp circuits you'll be on the right track.

Unfortunately many people who set out to DIY a power amp want to start with a 500W/8 Ohms monster (which it would be for a first DIY build). I was also guilty of this when young! If I could find my teenage self I'd give them a talking to (about many things) and then make them build a 10W class A amp to start with. (Which would still need a good heatsink).

I am glad selector Waxx or someone said this because I think the whole market is falling foul of amateurs and everyone needs to buy stuff with more caution.  I recon to many people copying stuff and trying to make some chop shop electronics.

The above is OK to do for yourself, But not what you sell to others. 

I am a very experienced engineer, my CV makes me worth a lot of money and when I look for a job and I always get a few offers at the same time. I hold BSc(Hons), I designed MOD style equipment for 4 years, worked for Toshiba for around 1 year after. Been messing with audio most of me life. I also used to build FM radio transmitters which is probably more tricky than making preamp. been Self employed for a good few years now also, after I got pissed of with my Toshiba design job and the amount of over time I had to do free of charge. I am really thinking now of going back to get a proper paying job and leave the sound system electronics to the youngsters who cant find job.

The problem is. Education and Experience both required. You need to understand how radio frequency work and a whole heap of unrelated subject or your sound will fall very quick to problems. Unless you know the fundamentals and have the correct tools your in deep shit at that point. 

Some people try take many design and mash it all together into a larger system`. the result loads of mismatched impedance's, the design without proper bandwidth limiting and hence oscillation and RF pickup. more gain more stages more problems. There is a thing in industry we say EMC + EMC != EMC and it could not be more true with these larger preamp systems built from DIY websites information. 

Many can nock up something like a dub siren, LED box or synthdrum. But try design something clean that can compete with the likes of Allen Heath is not that easy. I am only just now finding confidence to take people like this on and I am not scared to admit it. I have designed now a pre amp which is in testing, I have never looked inside JTS, Mostec, Bah bah like the other builders, I do on my own back. It taking weeks to get just one board correct. If I sell it I will probably unlike the other builders publish full specs such as noise floors, input and output reference levels etc. If the other builders even know how to make the measurement and have the tools they probably will be ashamed to publish. 

I do know a few that know what they are doing and hats of to them. most others I am skeptical. and maybe you should never go with the man who dose it cheapest haha. 

I probably will get loads of rebuttal as per usual. I doubt I will come back on this website again. I say it every time but then I flick though and it say something.

@ rigsmith, very interesting post, respect to you sir. Also heard one of your sirens ( used at a gig by Ben Alpha ) and I have to say there was no complains there, good bit of kit. 

^ demo please 

Wha no experience in electronics , and at 16 with that wealth of knowledge must of been blessed and meant to be born with a soldering iron in yu hand and some great knowledge ,

Im the 5th gen to inherit my sound so all the skills i know have been taught by my uncle who used to do similar projects.

The best was i learnt was to practise and READ and WATCH.. It's the best way i learn.
Now I want to learn how to design power amps. I'm slowly gettin there (built a little 20w amp when I was 13/14) and when i do get there a new competition will be on the market :)

When i finish school i will be doing an apprentiship in electronics as well as sound engineering and carpentry.