Press release | As diyAudio’s 25th year enters the 4th quarter, we have more exciting projects to announce and updates to share. We’re here because of enthusiasts like you, and our goal is to provide the information you want, when you want it. I remember waiting by the mailbox for my favorite hobby magazines, and we hope you’ll look forward to these news arriving as they continue to evolve.
Burning Amp Festival - BAF
Jason and I – I'm Patrick Anderson – traveled to Petaluma for BAF 2025 in early October. It’s always a pleasure to see DIYers from all over the world and listen to incredible systems. As a relative newcomer to the hobby, the innovation never ceases to amaze me, and I continue to learn from the expert presentations. A huge thank you to Sheldon and all the others who captured the presentations to share around the world. Watch the BAF 2025 playlist on YouTube here.
A highlight of BAF is the “camps”. This year, the organizers hosted two build camps. Attendees could choose one of two projects from Nelson Pass: a variant of the Zenductor or a new pre-amp / headphone amp. The goal of the build camps is to provide unique projects that can be assembled and tested in less than a day by new and experienced builders alike. Expert guidance is always on hand for assistance, and every builder left with a working project.
Scott Hinson also led two (yes, two!) hands-on speaker measurement camps. I had a chance to poke my head in and listen. He has a way of explaining how loudspeakers work and how to measure them properly that even I can start to grasp. His camps weren’t captured on video. However, if BAF is fortunate enough to have him do another camp, and if you’re interested in how actual speakers measure in a room, and more importantly, how to interpret those measurements. I’d strongly recommend attending.
Will BAF Build Camp Projects appear In the store?
We’re often asked if and/or when we will be offering Build Camp projects in the store. Here is the status:
- BAF 2024 Zenductor II - We did a limited release of the “BAF” edition. They will not be offered again in that configuration through the store, but all is not lost. More to come… Soon.
- BAF 2024 “Nube Cubes” - We’ve never done a speaker project, and I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. However, I have a personal passion for these awesome little speakers. So, they’re still on the “list”. It could happen soon, it could be years, or it may not happen.
- BAF 2025 Zenductor III - We will likely have some version of the Zenductor III, but we are evaluating options. We are discussing how the entire Zenductor family may be offered in various kit forms. We do not have a schedule specifically for the ZIII.
- BAF 2025 Headphone Amp / Pre-amp - We will be offering a variant of the headphone amplifier / pre-amplifier with the Lovoltech power JFETs. I do not have estimated timing, but we will provide updates as we make progress.
How are store projects chosen?
Several people at BAF asked how we decide what projects to sell in the store and roughly how long it takes. Below are examples, but certainly not an all-inclusive list, of key considerations. Timing can vary from 6 months to several years.
First - What is the anticipated demand at an estimated cost? It takes A LOT of volunteer effort to get a project from concept to store. Sadly, a few passionate people may not be enough to get a project launched. We’d love to offer everything, but we simply cannot.
Second - Where is the project in its overall development? What is left to do? What testing has been completed? Do we need to be specific in parts choices to ensure a level of expected performance? Do essential harder-to-find parts need to be provided? Is it best as a full kit?
Third - Do we want a beginner-friendly kit? Is the project best suited for experts only? The effort and coordination differs dramatically for each. It takes at least 100 man-hours with just a few people to launch a project for an advanced builder vs/ over 1000 man-hours over a greater number of people to launch a beginner’s kit.
Lastly - Who will provide the kits? It takes hundreds of hours to source parts and ship kits for each project. We have a dedicated group of volunteers who have packed tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of parts over the years with very few errors. People like that are rare.
We have a list of over 50 projects to prioritize, and we continue to add to the list. They’re all incredible in my opinion, and they should provide countless hours of fun. We’re working tirelessly to provide something for everyone each year. We are also updating our documentation and build guides to make it clearer what knowledge and skills are required to successfully complete a project.
What projects are coming up next?
- We are planning to launch a new Amp Camp Amp. It is a beginner-friendly project with a full build guide in the truest spirit of continuing the legacy of the ACA. We hope you love it as much as we do. Stay tuned.
- We will be launching Fearless Amplifier Builders - FAB for advanced DIYers. The first project is a 3-stage, Nelson Pass designed, 100W, Hitachi LATFET amplifier. Look for a formal invitation to join FABs before the end of the year.
- The F6M is on the way. Support for the F5M was overwhelming, and the F6M continues in the spirit of minimalism. It’s in the final stages of development.
Let us know about a project that should be in the store
Is there a community project you think deserves the spotlight? Do you have a project of your own you’d like to put in the store? We occasionally feature designs from the DIY community — two projects coming in 2026 are by DIYers just like you. If you’ve got something special, especially small, apartment-friendly builds or beginner-friendly kits that might engage people that have never held a soldering iron, I’m particularly interested. Let us know about a project that should be in the store here.
For further info:
to the Burning Amp Festival website
to the diyAudio website
