The Millett Hybrid MiniMAXed, or Millett MiniMAX, or MiniMAX for short, is a vacuum tube and discrete solid state hybrid headphone amplifier. It is the latest refinement in a series of headphone amplifiers that began with Pete Millett, its namesake. The Millett MiniMAX was designed by Colin Toole (cetoole) to incorporate many new features and advances previously unavailable, while still adhering to the famous Millett heritage. Two new outstanding features distinguish the MiniMAX from its predecessors:
1) A superior low-noise power supply. The standard configuration has been optimized for less than 0.040mVAC in the power supply, measured at V+ and Gnd, with the tubes burning and the buffers biased at 50ma each. This is outstandingly low noise performance for a linear regulated power supply. Moreover, this is all imbedded in the PCB design - only requiring a 24VAC walwart for complete power.
2) A custom-machined case from Lansing Enclosures, designed by Tom Blanchard (tomb). Based on their "DT1" case design, the MiniMAX is optimized for the smallest volume, width, and length practically possible with through-hole components and full-size extruded heat sinks.
Like its larger cousin, the MAX, the MiniMAX incorporates a full-size, BJT diamond buffer for the best in high frequency response and bass slam, combined with the tubes' natural midrange and liquid sound characteristics. This, of course, is fed from the low-voltage tube gain stage made famous by Pete Millett's original design and now augmented and refined with Colin Toole's Mini-MAX layout and low-noise power supply design. The low-noise power supply design creates tighter, cleaner bass, better high-end detail and greater transparency than previous MAX models.
For more information see the official
MiniMax Website
Build Specifications:
Nichicon Muse ES boutique output capacitors (at CA7)
VitaminQ 0.18µF boutique output bypass capacitors (at CA8)
Nichicon Muse ES boutique cathode bypass capacitors (at CA2)
Wima MKP 10 film capacitors used in all amplifier film capacitor locations
Panasonic FM at all electrolytic power capacitor positions
2SA2344/2SA1011 BJT pair - set at 30mA class A bias
Transistors types matched within 2%
Alps RK27 ("Blue Velvet") potentiometer
Vishay resistors throughout, except R1 (heater voltage knockdown)
22R KOA/Kiwame output resistors
24VAC, 750mA wall plug power transformer (for 120V wall outlet)
AC input internally fused with 1A slow blow
Tube circuit and Discrete Buffer protected internally with a 0.5A Polyfuse.
Power supply set at 27VDC internally
Kilo machined aluminum volume knob
Neutrik silver plated 1/4" headphone jack
Gold plated, Teflon insulated RCA jacks
4 wire litz braid signal wiring using the new Whiplash Audio CFDCT-UP-OCC wire
22AWG silver plated copper power wiring.
Orange tube lights
Case mounted test points for tube bias
**One pair of 12FM6 tubes burned in for 12 hours and biased to 13.5V included
We highly recommend MiniMAX owners pick up an inexpensive multimeter and bourns trimpot tool for adjusting tube bias. These items as well as additional MiniMAX tubes are available at Beezar Audio
Introducing Whiplash Audio's Mini Millet Max!
