Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-07
Kits Are Hondy
Fan Able to Read Directions
Can Have His Hi-Ei Cheaper

EI.e,ronis Scientist, ha.;.aal su..a. q s.ands,d.

n
cIude the standard AM broad
cast band as WELD. q record
player. an amplifier whose Job
it Is to increase the power of
the electrical output Of either Of
the first two units. and q loud
speaker which converts the cleo
trical output of the amplifier to
sound.
The advanced enthusiast would
also include in this list q tape
recorder. for making his own rec
ords or transcribing off-the-air
programs, but most systems start
with the first four items as fun
damental.
Let us begin with the unit that
almost always limits the per-
Torrance Of the systematic
loudspeaker.
All modern loudspeakers re-
quire for their proper operation
some type of enclosure of fairly
large volume. Here again we find
ourselves in the cabinet-work
department, but enclosures are
also available in kit form, fin
ished and unfinished. The
variety is considerable, from the
inexpensive type of vented box
suitable for use with a single
"direct-radiator" loudspeaker to
the corner-type horn enclosure
for use with relatively expensive
multi-speaker reproducers. In
any case, saving can be made
by putting the enclosure to-
gether yourself.
Building the Amplifier.
The amplifier. central unit in
the hi-fi system. probably offers
more opportunity for the build
it-yourself approach than any
other item. Amplifier kits, rang
ing in price from about SIS UP.
come with a full set of electronic
componentS. a pre-drilled and
punched foundation chassis
eliminating the necessity of
any metal work., and full in
structions for assembling the
parts and wiring.
The only special ability re-
quired is that Of being able to
read a wiring diagram and to
make soldered electrical connec-
tons. Tools required will usually
be Screwdriver, a pair of pliers,
a knife for stripping wire insu-
lation, and soldering iron.
Radio tuners. both FM and
AM. are also available in kit
form, with some of these cost
ing about half as much as a COM
parable assembled unit. Tuners
are inherently more complicated
devices than amplifiers and after
being assembled require adjust
ments that may be beyond the
capabilities of the unSkilled con-
structor In this case, and in
fact with most home construc-
ton of electronic gear, it pays
to have a friend with some ex-
perience in the radio or cleo
tronic field.
In the absence of such a help
ing hand, the possibility of UNI
solved troubles is about the
only hazard involved in building
hi-fi equipment in kit form: you
may forget your fear of electro
cution if you simply remember
to keep YOUR fingers out of the
wiring as long as the power plug
is in the wall.
How to MOdernize.
Possibly you already own q
console radio or photograph that
you wish to modernize by in
stalling an FM tuner or phono-
graph mechanism capable Of
playing the superior records now
being made.
If the cabinet itself is suit
able for the substitute equip
ment, there is no objection to
such a project. but the mod
ernizer is warned that he will
probably be disappointed in the
results if he is not willing to
sacrifice the original console
loudspeaker in favor of a sepa-
rate loudspeaker with its own
properly designed Enclosure. Most
manufactured consoles simply do
not provide sufficient volume or
proper acoustic surroundings for
the best in loudspeaker opera
ton.