Why build? Well my reasons are given below:
1) I don't really want to take a chance at someone's used equipment. Though 80% of the time, stuff from ebay would be okay...knowing my luck...I'd fall within the other 20%. Not to mention, alot of companies won't honor warrantees if items are purchased through ebay. I've been told that plenty of times when I've asked for simple support for things I have bought through ebay.
2) I don't have a requirement for a 12 channel amp. Though it would be cool to own, there is no pratical reason for it, in my case.
3) Currently on ebay I see a Niles SI-1230 starting at $1,040.59 cdn (7d bid), a Knoll 12 channel kit for $694.49 cdn, and a another Knoll kit with a cooling fan (WOW) for $752.36cdn. Now I have to add in additional funds for shipping, so those prices will be even higher. A Gainclone for my purpose will run me around $300...it all depends on the size of the toroidal and the quality of the case to put it in.
4) Kinda goes along with the above reason, I don't have to spend all the money on the Gainclone all at the same time. I can do little purchases, build a circuit, test it out, buy some more stuff, try it out. This is more acceptable to the WAF and in my current economic position (another kid i the oven and soon to be going loosing the full second pay for maturnity reasons...but that's besides the point). What's really nice is that I can try a gainclone amp out...if it sounds like shit, then I can stop the project without having spent a boat load of money, or make changes to it to make it sound better. If one of the above amps sound like shit or doesn't fit my liking...then I have to offload the amp...hoping someone will buy it, and most likely take a lose...I don't feel like being in that position.
5) Performance wise, from everything I have researched and by looking at the NI datasheets on the LM3875, the Gainclone should be able to sonically compete with any of the above mentioned amps. For all we know, if you pop open the case of the above amps, they are most likely running some sort of chip amp as well (maybe not a reason for one over the other, but it would be very ironic).
6) If purchasing the controller (which I've seen a couple of Niles for sale currently for around $50 cdn, not bad, but you still have to buy additional controllers in some cases), then there is no reason to use Xlobby, really, which kinda defeats the whole Xlobby/Zoning thing to begin with.
7) I don't want to use wallplates to control. This means running lot's of cable around the house, which I don't want to get into. Not to mention, popping holes in the drywall to install the boxes. If I was in the midst of building a new home, then this would not be a problem. But since my home has already been built, using a PPC to control the system from anywhere in the house seems like a cheaper, more viable option for me. For what it would cost to actually install all that, you cannot guarantee to get that back if selling the house. It may not necessarily be a selling/buying feature for some people. This way, minus the bit of wiring for the speakers and the speakers themselves if ceiling or inwall, I can take everything with me, should I move.
Put aside economics, the even bigger picture, I don't mind doing the research and learning to build and getting my hands dirty, to me that is something that you can't put a price on and is one of the greatest joys and accomplishments of DIY'ing in the first place. It also gives me bragging rights, more soe than if I bought an off the shelf product. To some, that does not matter, to me that ranks high up there too.
Granted, it may not be for everyone and each to their own. I appreciate your view, but looking at my requirements, economics, installation and deployment of the system on whole, using the Xlobby/Gainclone option is the best one for me.
by Marbles_00 on Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:18 am 
. That was a rather long winded post wasn't it. Most likely burned some bandwidth there.