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Looking for a decent desktop build

post #1 of 29
12/11/09 at 4:21am
Thread Starter 
Budget under $100 usd. I've been browsing for over a month now, and I just can't figure out what to build. I don't have any experience, but I'm feeling a bit cocky about my abilities. I can read a schematic XD. Can anyone shed some incite?
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post #2 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:19am
Decent + $100 = Not Likely.
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post #3 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:21am
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the feedback?
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post #4 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:21am
^definitely plausible.

Build a PIMETA like amplifier with opamps such as AD825, AD744 and discrete diamond buffers.
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post #5 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:23am
edit:double posted
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post #6 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:28am
Yep, definitely possible.
Pimeta + Sijosae Class-A or Class-AB buffers

Use a simple LM317-based PSU if it's a stationary unit, you can breadboard one for under $10, use a 12V+ wallwart you have lying around, everybody does.
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post #7 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:28am
Yeah, it's plausible - what about the chassis?
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post #8 of 29
12/11/09 at 5:53am
D.I.Y!
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post #9 of 29
12/11/09 at 6:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnwmclean View Post
Yeah, it's plausible - what about the chassis?

plastic cases

Go to your local electronics store to get those.
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post #10 of 29
12/11/09 at 6:46am
Guess my idea of ‘decent’ is way off track... sorry OP for the negativity, I’ve had the week from hell.
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post #11 of 29
12/11/09 at 6:54am
We all have some of those, and we all lose track of comparable references. Since I've noticed that I answer a lot more question which really fit into the "audio consulting" category, I've noticed that "good" is a VERY relative term. I have known this with wine from years ago, just recently have I really understood that this relates to all matters. With $200 you can have something VERY pleasing, just as you can have with $200,000. It's all a matter of relative judgement and a fine bit of perspective.

I won't go into details, but lets simply say that the road of the audiophile is a journey, it has a start and a progression and sometimes, it even ends. We should all enjoy the journey and the landmarks along the way. I was overjoyed with my CMOY running KSC75 compared to my previous setup and make no mistake, the CMOY is a DAMN GOOD AMP! You may want to replace the input caps with a 1K resistor, but it's a very nice amp for most headphones, especially when the opamps are reasonably close to rail-rail and have decent current output.
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post #12 of 29
12/11/09 at 7:50am
Nice post FA
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post #13 of 29
12/11/09 at 8:57am
Well Jeff @ GJA offers a mini3 kit which shipped to AU is probably just under AUD$100 thanks to our snazzy dollar at the moment.
I have used the mini3 as a desktop amp (when all of my gear simultaneously had problems) and it was great for what it is.
Boon is that it is portable too =)

EDIT: LOL you're in Utah haha... how did I get AU!? Either way still under USD$100 I'm sure~
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post #14 of 29
12/11/09 at 10:31am
Try a starving student if you want to go that way, you can always point-to-point it since the kits are gone for now, and there are mods to the original design that use readily available tubes.
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post #15 of 29
12/11/09 at 1:48pm
The SSMH is an excellent choice for what you're looking for, if you're into tubes or want to try them. Regarding the Mini3 suggestion above, that's not exactly a desktop amp, especially considering that almost half the board space is reserved for a battery. True, any amp can be used on the desktop, but you'll get more sound with your $100 with something else.
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