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What to build next?

post #1 of 26
4/24/10 at 1:32pm
Thread Starter 
I just finished my Cmoy (from tangent)...where should I go from here?

I was thinking of maybe either a Pimetav2 or a mini^3 (or possibly a bantam/grub DAC? I want to build one of those eventually). What would be the next step? I don't want to jump to anything too expensive in case I mess something up.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 26
4/24/10 at 1:35pm
You can try building the Carrie amp which is basically the Mini3 and Bantam/Grub DAC in one box.
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post #3 of 26
4/24/10 at 2:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Knight View Post
You can try building the Carrie amp which is basically the Mini3 and Bantam/Grub DAC in one box.
I can't seem to find the assembly instructions on the website for the amp. I want an amp with relatively little casework also (if possible).
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post #4 of 26
4/24/10 at 2:44pm
What do you mean by saying 'assembly instruction'? The Carrie board is exactly like the Mini3 which can be found on the AMB website. The Grub also has its own site with instructions. You only have to drill 4 or 5 holes for the Carrie.
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post #5 of 26
4/24/10 at 2:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Knight View Post
What do you mean by saying 'assembly instruction'? The Carrie board is exactly like the Mini3 which can be found on the AMB website. The Grub also has its own site with instructions. You only have to drill 4 or 5 holes for the Carrie.
I was talking about the 'construction' section on the left.

So the 'Carrie' Mouser BOM on the website is identical to the mini3? Okay.

Do you have any opinions on trying the Pimetav2 (that's what I meant in the first post, woops) compared to the mini3?
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post #6 of 26
4/24/10 at 3:57pm
here is the website and bom for the carrie

The Carrie USB Headphone System - Jonathan P. Le

here is the purchase site for the grub (they also sell the bantam)
http://beezar.com/oscommerce2/catalo...roducts_id=128

and here is the project site
http://www.diyforums.org/GrubDAC/GrubDACoverview.php

if you think that you can handle a grub dac, i would definitely recommend the carrie/grub or carrie/bantam as your next build, as it sounds great and is an all in one package that can handle a really nice range of headphones, however boards for carrie were group buy only so you will have to wait for another, or hope to find someone who has an extra, and dac chips for grub (2707/2706) are hard to find right now.

i think when i built my carrie/grub protos, that i paid around 160 or so for enough parts to build 2 carries and 3 grubs, so the build prices for this project are not bad if you can get parts

as for the pimeta, i have not built or heard any so i cant offer any useful information on the subject
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post #7 of 26
4/24/10 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistolsnipe View Post
if you think that you can handle a grub dac, i would definitely recommend the carrie/grub or carrie/bantam as your next build, as it sounds great and is an all in one package that can handle a really nice range of headphones, however boards for carrie were group buy only so you will have to wait for another, or hope to find someone who has an extra, and dac chips for grub (2707/2706) are hard to find right now.

i think when i built my carrie/grub protos, that i paid around 160 or so for enough parts to build 2 carries and 3 grubs, so the build prices for this project are not bad if you can get parts

as for the pimeta, i have not built or heard any so i cant offer any useful information on the subject
Yeah I've already researched some on the DACs and the carrie amp.

Which DAC should I build--bantam or grub? Any advantages to one or the other?

I'll be on the lookout for a carrie board. That's not too bad price-wise either.

I wanted to build a better portable (battery-powered) amp as well, so if I can't find a carrie board somewhere I might build the mini^3 instead.. I want to eventually build a Millet hybrid amp or something similar, so these are just some stepping stones I'm using to get there.
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post #8 of 26
4/24/10 at 8:32pm
i thnk that a millett hybrid max (not really easy to find plain millett hybrid boards anymore, although they pop up from time to time) would be easier than a carrie/grub, maybe not easier on the wallet though. i would recomend the millett starving student, but it will end up costing you over 100 dollars, and you still wouldnt have a dac.

i have never built a bantam, i chose the grub because it has a mini usb connector instead of the larger connector, and because it is basically a gamma 1 lite
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post #9 of 26
4/24/10 at 8:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistolsnipe View Post
i thnk that a millett hybrid max (not really easy to find plain millett hybrid boards anymore, although they pop up from time to time) would be easier than a carrie/grub, maybe not easier on the wallet though. i would recomend the millett starving student, but it will end up costing you over 100 dollars, and you still wouldnt have a dac.

i have never built a bantam, i chose the grub because it has a mini usb connector instead of the larger connector, and because it is basically a gamma 1 lite
Yeah...I think I need something in between a Cmoy and a Millet. (I don't really know which one to build...the Minimax, maxed, or max mosfet, but I'm not looking at one now so...)

If I built a SSMH I wouldn't have much use for it after I build a more expensive Millet hybrid, so I'm not sure. I think I'm leaning towards either a carrie or mini3. Either way, I'll end up building a DAC eventually--whether it's in the carrie enclosure or standalone for my computer.
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post #10 of 26
4/24/10 at 9:59pm
well if you can get ahold of carrie/grub parts, i think it is your best bet. i have a ssmh, millett hybrid, doobooloo balanced amp, mini 3, and a gamma 1, but i use my carrie/grub almost exclusively because it is all in one and only has 1 cable, on top of sounding great. it drives my sextetts just fine
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post #11 of 26
4/25/10 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistolsnipe View Post
well if you can get ahold of carrie/grub parts, i think it is your best bet. i have a ssmh, millett hybrid, doobooloo balanced amp, mini 3, and a gamma 1, but i use my carrie/grub almost exclusively because it is all in one and only has 1 cable, on top of sounding great. it drives my sextetts just fine
Hmm ok. Only thing is I want to eventually get a better portable (battery-powered) amp built...and I'd rather not build a carrie then another mini3 (for portable use). Because eventually I'm gonna build a Millet hybrid for a full size amp so I'm not sure exactly what to do yet...
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post #12 of 26
4/25/10 at 7:34pm
why would you build a mini3 after a carrie?
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post #13 of 26
4/25/10 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistolsnipe View Post
why would you build a mini3 after a carrie?
Because I'd like to also have a portable that I can use with my PSP or any other mp3 player (I don't have a laptop).
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post #14 of 26
4/25/10 at 10:18pm
ah i see, well mini3 is definately no slouch
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post #15 of 26
4/26/10 at 12:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pistolsnipe View Post
ah i see, well mini3 is definately no slouch
Yeah. I may end up doing the mini3 because the boards are more widely available. Not completely sure yet though. Trying to decide whether to go with a Glass Jar Audio kit or buy the parts myself...
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