| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
11-08-2009, 07:37 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pullman, WA / Bremerton, WA
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Well, I've finally gone and ordered a kit. Hope to put it together over thanksgiving break, if it gets here in time.
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FS>MDR-AS100, CKKIII kit
WTB>Sennheiser HD600/650 grills
the member formerly known as squid+ (name change due to profile problems) - Feedback
GEAR
Headphones/IEMs: HD580, IE8, MDR-AS100W, MDR-EX082
Amps: CK²III , aune DAC/Amp, FiiO E1, Technics SA-EX310
Sources: iPod Touch 2G, Sony A816, Rio Carbon 5GB, computer+aune
Gone: ESW9, SRH-840, ATH-ES7, TF10, X10, SA6, SCL4, SCL3, DIY K272 tube amp, XM4, PA2V2, FiiO E3
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11-08-2009, 07:42 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus 10*2kaiHead-Fi's Most Prolific Poster |
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oslo, Norway
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Sweet little tube amplifier indeed! 
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11-08-2009, 09:35 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Fukuoka, Japan (was Australia)
Posts: 4,360
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Very cool work, especially building a balanced amp. Would make for an interesting transportable amp.
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11-08-2009, 01:49 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 202
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wow this looks perfect for a beginner wanting to get their hands dirty...since it is a kit later on do we have the option of running any kinda of tube amp we want?
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11-08-2009, 11:50 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 393
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I have been enjoying this amp so much. To my ears the magic is in live or acoustic instruments. Classical, jazz and none electric pieces just comes alive. Old recordings 60's, 70's and 80's recordings all of a sudden sounds like it just has been remastered. I am so happy that I took a chance on this kit.
Just in case anyone is worried that this little amp can drive full size cans. It has more gain than any headphone output that I've listen to before.
Last edited by sunneebear; 11-09-2009 at 08:58 AM.
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11-09-2009, 08:06 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: London
Posts: 275
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OK you've got me, I've ordered one...
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11-09-2009, 10:48 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Near San Jose, California
Posts: 326
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Tempting. I'm not clear on how you got balanced drive, though. I see two boards... one driving positive and one driving negative? The price seems right to build a nice little balanced amp.
I should resist!
Edit: I see it uses internal trimmers for the volume adjustment... could those be run to a normal pot? For the balanced, would a four-gang pot work to control the whole thing?
Last edited by Lou Erickson; 11-09-2009 at 10:52 PM.
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11-09-2009, 11:47 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: GreaterTorontoArea in Sub-Urbaine hell
Posts: 3,372
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In theory could this be used as a unity gain stage (by using two amps for balanced operation) to convert a SE'd analog output stage of a DVD player to balanced output ? All I would have to do is take the +/- gnd feeds off the L/R channel I/V conversion stage to the dual amp boards, set the trimmer gain to 2.0V output and whoila a balanced analog out for a DVDP ? Of course I'd need to install the XLR jacks/ hook up wire, get the boards a steady feed of clean power but that's the easy part....
I'd follow the builders lead and add the second 9V cell Sunneebear  Nice work BTW and a really cool find. You should try out the Jaycar SS head amp kit it's equally impressive and just as affordable.
Peete.
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Cans :HD650, AKG 240M (HD650 DIY cables SE and Balanced)
Desktop amps : LD MK III (6H30P-i DR's + DIY mods), Jaycar DIY kit amp (major DIY mods), Audio-gd Compass (test prototype), Audio-gd FUN (DIY mods),Audio-gd C-2C W/ Stepped pot Upgrade, DIY Upgraded Audio-gd Phoenix SS balanced preamp/headamp.
Transports: Windows 7 Ultimate, Auzen Prelude PCI 7.1 SC/ASIO native driver using Media Monkey (all EAC ripped FLAC/Wav), Vanguard CDM12 Pro (BNC mod), HK HD720 (completely upgraded), DIY Upgraded Audio-gd CD7 Transport. Denon 3910 SACD/DVD-A
Sources: FrankenDAC DIY 24/192 dac (HDAMs/Teflon/PIO cap mod),Audio-gd FUN DAC, See Corp Vintage UK TT(Mission arm/Ortofon OM20S MM cart), Yaqin MS12B tube phono preamp, TEAC V530X Tape deck, DIY Upgarded Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC. C2C DIY pot mod http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/ste...1/#post5846722
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11-10-2009, 12:04 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Thanks Peete, the truth is I had to ask around a bit cause this is my first time with balance. I could have used the 9v's but I have a lot of rechargeable AA and a handful of eneloops so I just put it to good use. I'll look into the Jaycar.
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11-23-2009, 01:18 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pullman, WA / Bremerton, WA
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So I started putting my kit together yesterday, got most of the soldering done. Had to run out and grab some more parts and I finished it an hour or two ago. I couldn't find a suitable case either, but I eventually dug one up and had a load of trouble cutting holes out.
once I had everything set, I plugged it up and I thought "what the hell is this sound? It's all distorted and bad!". Then I realized the gain switches were high and turned them down.
Now my problem is that I have to turn it up almost all the way to get reasonable volume from it. I think it might be from the pot for the volume. It gets loud enough, just a little surprising how much I have to turn it up.
From my brief listening so far, the first thing I noticed was increased bass presence. The sound is warmer and smoother. Hope to get some more listening tonight.
I'll add some pics in a little bit.
__________________
Inland Pacific Northwest meet! click here for details!
FS>MDR-AS100, CKKIII kit
WTB>Sennheiser HD600/650 grills
the member formerly known as squid+ (name change due to profile problems) - Feedback
GEAR
Headphones/IEMs: HD580, IE8, MDR-AS100W, MDR-EX082
Amps: CK²III , aune DAC/Amp, FiiO E1, Technics SA-EX310
Sources: iPod Touch 2G, Sony A816, Rio Carbon 5GB, computer+aune
Gone: ESW9, SRH-840, ATH-ES7, TF10, X10, SA6, SCL4, SCL3, DIY K272 tube amp, XM4, PA2V2, FiiO E3
Last edited by earthpeople; 11-23-2009 at 01:40 AM.
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11-23-2009, 01:40 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Bainbridge Pa
Posts: 111
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I just got mine built ( had an friend at work help me with the board layout) and have burned it in for about 30 hours this weekend. Hooked a used battery up to it and it's still going strong. Now that it's working I'm going to mount it in the case I made and use 2 9 volt batteries in series so it should last awhile. I can't beleive the volume it puts out. I have sennheiser cx-300b earbuds and I believe I could blow them if I turned the potentiometers up the whole way! Built this a work so I can't wait to get it home to try it out with my hd265's! It's alot of fun to build and impressive sound for a small package.
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11-23-2009, 04:27 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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You would want those batteries in parallel, not series. Series will overvolt the components to 18V, which will blow them up depending on their specs. Parallel wil maintain 9V, but will draw the power from each battery equally, thus doubling run time.
-Nkk
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11-23-2009, 04:29 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2009
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Yes, your right Parallel man these 12 hour shifts are starting to burn me out!
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Home:PowerWerkz1620 power conditioner, Ipod 6th gen classic, Blue Dragon lod, BBE Sonic Maximizer, LD MKIII, Ah-D5000's w/Markl mod,Senn HD 265's with Kimber custom cables. Portable: Ipod Nano Senn HD 238's or CX300-b's
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11-23-2009, 04:33 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CONUS
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Lol. No worries. I actually just PMed you to make sure you stayed safe and did not blow a cap in your face or something.
-Nkk
__________________
My Feedback
Look at my profile for my gear. I am sick of updating it in two places.
My favorite graph is z=(e^x)(cos(y)). That is all you need to know
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11-23-2009, 04:40 AM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Pullman, WA / Bremerton, WA
Posts: 1,137
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Here are some pictures of what I slapped together. I can't figure out why I have to turn the volume knob up so much before it reaches reasonable volumes.
I seriously need to have the knob at 3/4 for quiet listening levels. Anyone have ideas why this may be? If I turn up the gain, the sound gets dirty. I don't think the power switch would affect it. The potentiometer is a Panasonic something something, the same one that is recommended for cmoys on the cmoy website. this is the only thing that I think would be causing problems, but I don't understand why. Any help and ideas would be appreciated.
Otherwise, I'm enjoying this amp quite a bit. It's reasonably small and battery powered so it works well as a transportable amp.
__________________
Inland Pacific Northwest meet! click here for details!
FS>MDR-AS100, CKKIII kit
WTB>Sennheiser HD600/650 grills
the member formerly known as squid+ (name change due to profile problems) - Feedback
GEAR
Headphones/IEMs: HD580, IE8, MDR-AS100W, MDR-EX082
Amps: CK²III , aune DAC/Amp, FiiO E1, Technics SA-EX310
Sources: iPod Touch 2G, Sony A816, Rio Carbon 5GB, computer+aune
Gone: ESW9, SRH-840, ATH-ES7, TF10, X10, SA6, SCL4, SCL3, DIY K272 tube amp, XM4, PA2V2, FiiO E3
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