Doepfer A-100 DIY Kit #1

I don't know if I should rate this highly because its great or low because it caused me to spend an absolute fortune on further Eurorack stuff! This was my initial Eurorack purchase and its been a long, strange, costly and very rewarding road!

One thing worth mentioning and paying attention to is the Doepfer warnings about working with electricity. This is not an all in one/plug and play solution you do have to work with potentially lethal electricity voltages so PLEASE read Doepfers warnings, check out the set-up on their website and read the warnings again! Ask questions on forums and don't just take a chance yourself! Saying all that, it is not difficult to be safe and get a cost effective Eurorack system set-up. If your not confident get a friend or electrician to look over your system. If I can do it anyone can but please be safe! (All this has nothing to do with Thomann who just sell the kit at a very good price!)

So I bought one of these - and then bought another! Once you have set it up and find out if Eurorack is for you or not you will more than likely be buying another (and another...)

This is a well put together kit that with a little common sense is safe and has plenty of grunt to get you up and running. The only issue is when to buy another/a bigger case!

Pros - Everything you need to get going. Plenty of power to get started. Well documented on the manufacturers website. A big online community that can advise and help when needed. One of the cheapest initial solutions to get up and running. M3 screws and bolts are readily available from most home improvement stores should you need more/run out.

Cons - its not an enclosed system. You will need a case. Be careful working with live electricity. You CAN fry modules and yourself if you wire it up wrong and when you wake-up you'll be talking to St. Peter. Be careful!

I dont want to over labour the point but this is not a Happy Ending Kit, a Roland powered enclosure, nor does it have shrouded module connectors - just be sensible and you will have years of fun with this Doepfer kit.

Highly recommended (I couldn't recommend it higher to be honest) - be safe and have fun!

This was my first real introduction to a fully modular setup. I chose this over the Tip Top Zeus or Happy Ending Kit because I know I wanted to expand later on. This can handle the modules I've planned for the build and I recommend to build a setup on Modulargrid to make sure you have enough amps with this power supply.

All-In-All an easy build, good quality Personally, for the price I'd like a couple more mAmp's or a feature to not make it pull so much current at power-on. A capacitor might help. This is more of a problem when all module spaces are filled if you have high-current modules, but it might still cause some clicking or popping noises when you turn it on.

I didn't care much for the manual when I came to building a case for it. Mostly because it didn't explain much. Lucky, it turned out to be as simple as using the rails to measure length and inserting a module to get the right height. Having a shop cut the wood was by far the cheapest way of doing it.

The Doepfer DIY Kit is a great starting point if you can make a case for it; this was the most cost-effective option for me when starting out in Eurorack.

I began by making a cardboard case with two of the four rails supplied. As my collection of modules has grown, I've built a 6U, 84hp case with 12mm plywood. For my needs, at home, this is perfect. As time goes on, I'll probably make a hardwood case that's a fancier.

Several of the modules I own are heavy on power consumption, but the Doepfer DIY Kit has no problem accommodating them. When I want to expand into another case (it's inevitable!), I'll buy another of these; they're excellent value for money.

Service from Thomann was excellent as usual.