So I very recently got into headphones and I am loving this hobby. I now have the itch to build my own amp. I don't have a need for a portable amp as I do all my listening at home. I would love to build a simple tube amp but most of the DIY "kits" I see are solid state or have solid state components to them. The Crack kit looks very nice but I would like something where I can choose each component of the build. Any suggestions as to where I could look to find info on an all tube DIY headphone amp other than the Crack or Mapletree?
 
Thanks for your suggestions!
 

amb and cavalli audio
 
but amb doesnt have a tube amp (as far as I know)
 
check glass jar audio for kits. also beezar is where you can find millet max kits

Plenty of DIY tube amps here.
 
cheers!

 
 
Well, if you want to choose all the components, that's not really a kit. Are you just looking for a good design?
 
Without any solid state components, you need to use good single-ended transformers (or go balanced), and things can get expensive fast.
 
With solid state current sources as the anode loads (for instance, the less pressivo), you can use 'parafeed' output transformers that don't have to carry DC current, so things stay more reasonably priced.

I really suck at not being clear in my initial posts. I am not really opposed to a kit persay but I would possibly want better components than included in a lot of kits I have seen. I think its a waste to buy a kit, then replace half the stuff. Some of the CMoy kits have a parts list and you could buy your own components. This is what I would like to do except with a tube amp. I need to clarify that statement as well. Solid state current sources are acceptable but I am glad that Resue Toaster mentioned parafeed transformers, as I had never heard of such a thing and now have some more reading to do . As always you guys amaze me with your depth of knowledge. Thanks for the great information and the great links so far!

I've been at this DIY thing for less than a year but have learned a lot.  A few thoughts:
 
- if you pick a complex build and select all the parts, and then have a problem during the build, it is going to be harder for the DIY community to help you troubleshoot.  It is easier to get help if you are using a standard bill of materials
 
- if this is your first DIY project, you might want to avoid projects that involve high voltages.  Not that anything is necessarily going to happen, but until you learn what to touch and what to avoid this is best.  It sounds easy to measure voltages and play with jumpers but it can be a challenge in the tight spaces you'll find yourself in.  Start with something that is powered by a walwart
 
- point to point is much harder than it looks.  Start with a project that has a PCB
 
- you learn just as much by building a straight forward project and then tweaking it.  Everything from upgrading caps to adding led's to changing the gain.  You'd be amazed at how small changes have a large impact on what you hear.
 
- one amp I built that has a PCB but also allows you to choose parts and options is the Pimeta V2.  Tangent has a great website that helps you work through the choices and tradeoffs and he is extremely helpful if you run into a problem.  It isn't a tube amp but is a high quality amp that you can cut your teeth on.  And it has a dedicated part of the board for tweaking: a great little lab for experimenting.  You can build it battery powered with a walwart trickle-charger or skip the batteries and run it directly from the walwart.

Tube amp for a beginner, bad idea.
 
Anything that plugs into the wall have the potential to see a mini display of fireworks and then exploding caps if you wire it wrongly and your entire project up in smoke.
 
Tubes use lethal voltages too.
 
If you think that you can cut it, then go ahead but you have been warned.
Not that I'm a wet blankets but I've heard many stories of DIY gone wrong.

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weibby said:

Tube amp for a beginner, bad idea.
 
Anything that plugs into the wall have the potential to see a mini display of fireworks and then exploding caps if you wire it wrongly and your entire project up in smoke.
 
Tubes use lethal voltages too.
 
If you think that you can cut it, then go ahead but you have been warned.
Not that I'm a wet blankets but I've heard many stories of DIY gone wrong.

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Sorry, I completely disagree. The Millett designs are specifically low voltage (max 28v, but split so mainly 14v), and is one of the easier builds available. It is also substantial enough where you won't have to immediately build something else. Finally, there are almost endless support resources to solve almost any build faux pas.
 
Warnings in this case are totally overblown.

^^..pfft..rather build an EHHA if you ask me..30V max. The general rule is
 
"Voltage doesn't kill you..your stupidity takes care of that".
 
Just be safe with whatever circuit you are working on and observe all safeety practices. Many websites like tangent and DIYAudio have detailed safety precaustios list. I dare say AMB might have a page or two on it too. 
 
REad up on all that stuff before you go sniffing some fumes.
 

There's nothing wrong with the millet (or any other) hybrids, but they are not going to sound anything like a normal tube amp with transformer output coupling. I'd be hard pressed to even call them 'tube amps' really.

Quote:

rescue toaster said:

There's nothing wrong with the millet (or any other) hybrids, but they are not going to sound anything like a normal tube amp with transformer output coupling. I'd be hard pressed to even call them 'tube amps' really.

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Disagree again - and speaking from experience at having built all sorts of tubed and hybrid amps. Just look at my sig.
 
I have also listened to quite a range of 'pure' tube amps - not at all sure how you 'hear' the difference - maybe on the most extreme lower end, but not where I live.
 
 
 

You don't think there's a big difference between the Raven and the hybrids?
 
What tubes are you using in the raven?
 
Also, as far as I knew, this is a raven: http://www.nutshellhifi.com/Raven-MarkII.gif
 
The k and k audio design you have linked in your sig is very different.

Yes, there are several different (and no 'official') Ravens. L'espressivo is also similar, with cheaper iron. My Raven has 6n23 input and 6h30 output. My source has the same compliment, except the tubes are mid 1980's vs 1990s in the amp.
 
I am listening to a bjt SS SE amp at the moment that sounds similar to the Raven, as does Pete Milletts 307a - gross generalizations about how different amps sound, for folks still a few steps off a cmoy is just a generalization that means nothing without context.
 
All amps sound different, to some degree, even similar topologies with a few different parts (changing caps and attenuators, specifically), not to mention rolling tubes.
 
Point being they do sound different - but I doubt you could tell the topology just looking at the outside of my amps, well, except for the vent holes.
 
BTW, all my amps will be in Chicago - no guarantees they will all be operational, but we can hope.

Quote:

dynasonic said:

I really suck at not being clear in my initial posts. I am not really opposed to a kit persay but I would possibly want better components than included in a lot of kits I have seen. I think its a waste to buy a kit, then replace half the stuff. Some of the CMoy kits have a parts list and you could buy your own components. This is what I would like to do except with a tube amp. I need to clarify that statement as well. Solid state current sources are acceptable but I am glad that Resue Toaster mentioned parafeed transformers, as I had never heard of such a thing and now have some more reading to do . As always you guys amaze me with your depth of knowledge. Thanks for the great information and the great links so far!

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just get kits and get your upgrade parts as well so for your future diys you will have some components left(it helps sometimes).
as said above kits are easier to troubleshoot and will be much easier to diy.
its my opinion anyway.

I ended up going with a well known CMoy Kit. I also bought a couple of boards for the ckIII amp. I am going to start with the 2 CMoys. After that I am going to finish off the ckIII's. I won't know what to do with all these amps!