Technical Support
Below are frequently asked questions, organized by kit and
a general category. If you have a question not answered here, please send it to
us at support@a-and-t-labs.com
General
K10 Mapper8 cable
tester
K6 Switching power
supply amplifier
K7 Gold Standard
Amplifier
K9 Gold Standard
Amp in Aluminum Casting
K2 Lab Power
Supply
K8 Garage Door
Keypad
K3 Magnetic Field
Detector
Links
General
Q: How do I choose between the different
amplifiers ATL offers?
A: K6, the amplifier with the switching
power supply, is our most powerful amplifier, delivering at least 350 watts
per channel. This unit is therefore able to drive the most inefficient home
systems or can provide the largest margins and range for large home theatre
installations. The light weight nature of this design can also be very useful
in sound reinforcement applications where equipment is often transported.
Despite it enormous power, no compromises were made in the K6 amplifier's
sonic performance.
K9, our audiophile performance amplifier housed
in a unique aluminum casting, provides the ultimate in fidelity at an
intermediate power level. It also provides an artistic deviation from the
usual "box" look of typical alternatives.K9 is most suitable for
studio, audiophile home and home theatre applications.
K7, the "Gold Standard" amplifier, is
essentially the same circuit design as K9, offered as a basic kit that the
builder can customize as mono or stereo, in an enclosure of the builder's choice. The
amplifier is layed out in a conventional manner that will easily mounted on a
variety of flat heat sinks, and is offered with power supply components.
Q: Where do I find parts if I choose to
buy just your bare circuit boards?
A: Our kits are designed for easy parts
procurement. Parts that are hard to find or unique, we will supply. Others
typically will be available from major suppliers. Several key suppliers are:
DigiKey
1-800-344-4539 www.digikey.com
Mouser 1-800-346-6873 www.mouser.com
Jameco
1-800-831-4242 www.jameco.com
Hosfelt
1-800-524-6464
Q: What tools will I need to build an
ATL kit? What tools are included?
A: Tools are generally not included.
Full kits do include solder and other necessary building materials. Typically
you will need a soldering iron, diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, and
screwdrivers. In most cases, it will also be desirable to also have a digital
voltmeter to check components, make measurements, etc. An oscilloscope may
also be helpful with some of the amplifier projects in case there are any
de-bugging problems.
Q: What happens if I have trouble
getting my kit to work?
A: First, we strive to provide
instructions with sufficient detail and order that following them carefully
will lead to success. In case of difficulty, we will continually update the
Q/A on this support page to address the most common issues. Finally, you can
send us your questions for eMail support at support@a-and-t-labs.com
K10 Mapper8 cable tester
K6 Switching power supply amplifier
K7 Gold Standard Amplifier
K9 Gold Standard Amp in Aluminum Casting
K2 Lab Power Supply
Q: Will this kit be offered with a
case and meters?
A: Our plan is to provide a case and
digital meters. For the time being, many builders have been able to find
mechanical meters on the surplus market and provide their own case, so we
continue to provide the hard to find parts and the board mounted components.
K8 Garage Door Keypad
Q: Why would I build this kit when there
are many commercial products in this market already?
A: Better security: 1 to 99 digit codes
rather than fixed 4 digits, no battery to fail at the most inconvenient time
and no wall-wart transformer required, an industrial grade keypad, and it's a
fun way to learn more about the popular PIC microcontrolers!
Q: Will this kit work with all garage
door openers?
A: It will work with all openers that
have a two wire button for activation inside the garage. In most cases the
keypad will power successfully off the pushbutton circuit, but occasionally,
it may be necessary to provide external power.
K3 Magnetic Field Detector
Links
There's been some interest in a construction article published in Audio Magazine
some time ago about a high performance THD analyzer. Here are
the three parts of the article (in PDF form) : To satisfy the legal eager
beavers and copyright law, I will check first with the current owners of the
intellectual property before these links are livened up.
July 1981
(659K) August
1981 (689K) September
1981 (846K)
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