HiFi Kit Building- have you ever built any hifi gear?

A Dynaco and Heathkit builder here. When I moved out of the dorms, we bought some pro JBL drivers and built very large speaker cabinets. This was the start to many years of multi-amping. Still listening to a quad amp system to this day. 

When I was first venturing into commission-designed and built audio equipment, especially Valve Amps and a Phonostage. I was also offered by the EE, to be a trainee of theirs to learn about electronics and assembling audio devices.

Being with a young family and already working a long week with other hobbies, I was not able to accept.

Today, other hobbies are not participated in, but audio as a hobby remains.

The choices we make are what makes we. I feel quietly confident my audio system would not be any further advanced if I were to have been the assembler of a design produced for me. Waiting times being decreased may have been the result? 

I’m running a Hafler DH200 with the Fantasia Audio upgrade boards designed by one of the original Dynaco and Hafler engineers. Built an Elekit TU8500 preamp kit with Mundorf caps, Burson v5i op amps (bypassed with a better Schiit Mani 2 though) and rolling NOS tubes like Millard’s and Amperex Holland. Sounds fantastic with Focal Electra 1037 be speakers. Great bang for the buck. 

Great memories building first a Dynaco pre/power amp followed by Hafler combo.  Multiple speaker builds as well.

I must admit I do get the itch every once in a while to build a tube kit.

Did a Heathkit amp with my dad and a huge console TV later with my brother. More recently, the CSS Criton 1TDx.  Great kits.