What to build? DAC, amp, power supply?

I'd like to do some upgrading to my setup, and I've been planning some builds that I could do in the summer. I've been mainly looking at the AMB designs, namely the Gamma1, the CK2III, the M3, and the Sigma11.

Too long; won't read: CK2III or M3.

DAC: I'm not looking for anything much more than the Gamma1. I don't think power is going to be a concern here, since I'll most likely be using USB. I'm not sure I want to go to a Gamma2, but it seems simple enough to bypass the upsampler, skip the digital outputs, and stick with the WM8740 for analogue output.

A full Gamma1 would cost me $100 CAD, and I haven't done a BOM for the lite or the Gamma2.

Is there anything else I should consider?

Amplifiers: What to do? There's plenty of amplifier designs, but for whatever reason, I've been looking at the M3 and CK2III.

As far as I can tell, the CK2III differs in that it has the power supply on board, and that sinking options are different. The M3 I'd have to build a power supply for, but I could also do the same for the CK2III. Both builds come out to about the same price. Is one any better in any area (build ease, power, sound, enclosures) than the other? Should I just build the M3 because it's more popular?

Will I get a popping noise when I turn on the amp? Will I get a "boom-fwooooooooosh" noise when I turn it off? I'd like the boom-fwooooooosh that my D2 gets.

Power supplies: I'm no EE. Let's get that straight. But I'm pretty sure something like a TREAD isn't ideal to handle the M3 or CK2III. I mean, it's small. Am I wrong? Should I stop poking around inside Seasonic power supplies?

If I've got my head on right, the power supply receives AC voltage through those lovely, common, 18AWG power cords that computers use, into those potentially expensive IEC power inlets (not sure what they're called, that's just what it says on the BOM), goes to the power supply which does its thing to turn it into DC voltage, and then does the filtering and whatnot to turn it into the correct voltage. The fuse protects against surges, and something in the power supply should protect it against extreme current draw, correct?

I'm not sure how much a Sigma11 would cost. $50? $70? I haven't done a BOM yet.

I couldn't find any of the recommended toroidal transformers on Mouser, so I had a go at it, and picked out this: VPT36-690 Triad Magnetics Transformers Any good?

Enclosures: I'm thinking of running the DAC open box, at first anyways. I haven't got the necessary tools to do panel work, and I'm pretty sure a place like Front Panel Express or a local shop would charge an arm, a leg, and a kidney to do laser cutting (and more for engraving or silk screening, I'd imagine). I'll put it off till later.

But when I do get a case, how do I get the standoffs into the case? Do I just tap the bottom panel in the correct places and put in some standoffs?

I'd like to do something like MisterX's CK2III that you can see in the AMB gallery. Brushed alu front panel, black chassis with heat vents. It gives me a hard on, if you don't mind me saying. Does having the power supply in the same case present any problems as long as I keep everything shielded?

I'm planning on using the Hammond 1455T2202 for the amplifiers (hopefully it's wide enough) and the Box Enclosures B2-080 for the DAC.

(Why can't I find the knobs I like?)

Build order: I'm thinking of doing the DAC first. It's cheapest, and my headphones are all low impedance, high sensitivity. I'm just worried about some of those chips. With through hole soldering, I'm all "how hard can it be?" (Clarksonius, 300 BC). But those chips are small, and look easy to heat kill. Do I need to sink the chips when working with them? How do I go about doing that?

The amplifiers will come later, when they're needed/I have time.


So, all in all, how bad is my plan?

$100, eh? Seems like I'll be putting off an amp for a while yet. Guess I'll just use my D2 instead (if I even need it).

I forgot to mention that I was planning on using the Box Enclosures case for the Gamma1. It's Gamma2 compatible and it just plain looks better. The downside is that I'd have to order it from Allied Electronics (instead of all Mouser), the panels are $48 from AMB (probably a bargain though, I'd imagine), and I'll probably end up using it with the side panels off.

I saw the video linked on the AMB site. It blows my mind.

Ideally? Around $300; the same you'd pay for a LD Mk3. The goal here is to pay the same as you would for consumer equipment, but get much, much more out of it.

What're my power supply alternatives to the Sigma11 (STEPS, TREAD, ???)? I'm not planning to drive speakers (although I've been eyeing a pair of ELT525s), so I imagine current draw to be pretty low, relatively.

Why not compare a tube amp to a solid state? They're both amplifiers, and in this case, they can both be in the same price class. I don't see it as much more than that.

I build my own computers for the same reasons. It's a mixture of "it sucks less" and "it saves me money".

Tools: Iron, multimeter, solder braid, flux, wire cutter. That's about it, right? If so, I've got it all.

If the M3 is going to cost as much as it seems like it's going to cost, I guess a CK2III is more budget orientated. How does that transformer I linked to on Mouser look though?

Ideally, I'd order from Mouser. It seems they're cheaper across the board, and there's only a few parts that Digikey stocks that Mouser doesn't. Namely, a 15V+15V transformer. Seems I'll end up needing to order some parts from Digikey.

I'm not exactly interested in anything involving tubes (the LD Mk3 was an example) on account of having to acquire those tubes, and potentially developing a tube rolling addiction/fetish. It looks like all of the Cavalli designs are hybrid amps except for the CK2III. Is there any advantages to having a hybrid design? How does a hybrid design work anyways?