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Tube headphone amp kit for $25!? - Page 5

post #61 of 206
3/5/10 at 8:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iPoodz View Post
I'm having some trouble though... I'm only getting sound in one channel {right}. Is it possible that I blew out something, like a tube? I bought a spare, but have no idea whether or not that's the problem.

Question about the two blue things with white knobs on them (a type of pot?): should they be sitting on the board, or a little raised? I ask because they seem to be the most finicky component. I accidentally bumped into one, and the volume on the only channel dropped down significantly. After hitting it a few times, it came back to the regular volume.

Sorry, don't know why I missed the update on this post. Hows the kit coming? If you are still wondering, the two things you mentioned are trim pots. Use a small screwdriver to adjust the level balance of the two channels.

I recently rewired my kit with silver plated copper wire and it improved the over all body of the sound. I suggest to anyone building this kit to use quality wire and pot. It does make a difference.
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post #62 of 206
3/14/10 at 1:19pm
I''ve bought this amp today and now i've seen this thread
This is my first experience in DIY in this kind of electronics, I'd like to assemble this amp with a potentiometer for the volume and use a power unit instead the batteries for a better sound and hoping to have more current for my headphones (AKG 240 coming soon).
Can be work?
Anyone has already do this tweak? How?

Sorry for my bad english
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post #63 of 206
3/15/10 at 7:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by netsky3 View Post
I''ve bought this amp today and now i've seen this thread
This is my first experience in DIY in this kind of electronics, I'd like to assemble this amp with a potentiometer for the volume and use a power unit instead the batteries for a better sound and hoping to have more current for my headphones (AKG 240 coming soon).
Can be work?
Anyone has already do this tweak? How?

Sorry for my bad english
Bump
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post #64 of 206
3/15/10 at 8:00am
Thread Starter 
Running off batteries is quite economical for this kit. They last very long on rechargeables. Batteries are also cleaner than most power supplies. A good power supply will also cost more than the amp kit itself.
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post #65 of 206
3/15/10 at 8:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunneebear View Post
Running off batteries is quite economical for this kit. They last very long on rechargeables. Batteries are also cleaner than most power supplies. A good power supply will also cost more than the amp kit itself.
I would use my power supply to have a better current/power for my headphones.
I'd like build an upgraded version of this amp, it worth?
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post #66 of 206
3/15/10 at 9:04am
Thread Starter 
There's no problem with that if you plan to mod or upgrade the amp. You should email Mark Houston who originally posted this kit on DIY forum. He may be able to give you some ideas, he has a lot of DIY items there. It in the link at the start of this thread.

High end audio components are quite expensive. Four good capacitors may cost more than the amp and the increase in sound quality may not be worth it.
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post #67 of 206
3/20/10 at 4:18pm
I'm a new owner of AKG 240mkII that have 55ohm, is too much for this amp??
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post #68 of 206
3/20/10 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
I have no experience with AKGs other than a few auditions very long ago at stores like Guitar Center. I do have a few headphones that are 32 and 42 ohm and they work find. Easily drives them If that's what you're wondering. I am running two amps in Balance configuration though.
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post #69 of 206
3/21/10 at 12:46am
Hiya guys, that looks like a really neat little kit, so I bought two of them a couple of hours ago I'll keep one stock initially and hotrod number two, a bit like Mark Houston has done, I have Nichicon Muse FA's and 0.1uF Black Gates that will drop right in there.
I'm looking forward to something a bit different than the 2 or 3 KHA (the Jaycar amp taken to whole new levels) versions that I'm running at the moment. A portable version looks most intriguing, with signal being taken from the dock output of an iPod.
The KHA amps have turned out awesomely good and this isn't the posting to chat any further about them, but to have a little valve preamp/headamp in one iddy biddy package looks just so much fun. Thanks heaps for bringing it to our attention, sunneebear! ) S-man
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post #70 of 206
3/21/10 at 2:15am
Thread Starter 
I wanted to try the Jaycar kit but right now I can't even find the time to do some mods to this kit.
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post #71 of 206
3/21/10 at 3:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunneebear View Post
I wanted to try the Jaycar kit but right now I can't even find the time to do some mods to this kit.
Any time you would like to check out what I've done with mine, sunneebear, just give me a hoy, KHA can be taken quite a long way and I've had a ball with my amps! KHA II sounded amazingly fine recently with a $3300NZ Triode Corporation TRI TRV-4SE tube preamp ahead of it, it's taken me two weeks to get over the shock of having to give the preamp back! The TRI showed me how good this amp really can be.
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post #72 of 206
3/21/10 at 7:34am
Thread Starter 
Great. Love to see a few photos of your Jaycar.
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post #73 of 206
3/21/10 at 8:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sennsay View Post
Any time you would like to check out what I've done with mine, sunneebear, just give me a hoy, KHA can be taken quite a long way and I've had a ball with my amps! KHA II sounded amazingly fine recently with a $3300NZ Triode Corporation TRI TRV-4SE tube preamp ahead of it, it's taken me two weeks to get over the shock of having to give the preamp back! The TRI showed me how good this amp really can be.
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post #74 of 206
3/25/10 at 6:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by netsky3 View Post
No really, I did, netsky3 A truly shocking experience to have to hand back a piece of kit like that!
Ah well, my upgraded Trevor Lees tube preamp is running in nicely and is virtually up to the same levels of detail and grainless beauty. Still .......

My two little tube kits arrive on my doorstep in the next day or two, so I'm looking forward to having a play ... wow, a portable tube headamp ... seriously cool! S-man
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post #75 of 206
3/25/10 at 8:19am
Certainly an interesting little kit.

If only I had the time....
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