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Noob help with CMOY/Mini^3

post #1 of 25
6/5/10 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking for a CMOY/Mini^3 kit so that I can build. My budget is $50, I don't mind paying a bit extra for any parts that I need to build it. I need a kit as I'm not sure how to look for parts, I'm literally completely new to this stuff.

 

The kit I'm currently looking at the Mini^3 kit found here for $10: http://www.amb.org/audio/mini3/

I'm open to any "better" amp that you'd recommend (Under $50 of course). And yes, I'd like to be able to fit this Amp in an Altoids sized tin.

 

I have a 15W Radioshack soldering Iron and .022 62/36 Silver Bearing Solder, although the guide says to use other items, can I make what what I currently have suffice? I'm not that good with those circuit diagrams, do you think I'll be fine with just looking at pictures or something and doing it that way? Also, does anyone have a recommended multimeter that I could get/any tips that would help me on the long run? Thanks.


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/5/10 at 9:52pm
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post #2 of 25
6/5/10 at 10:41pm

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that $10 is only for the PCB, theres a lot more money to be spent for a mini^3

 

cheers

FRED

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post #3 of 25
6/6/10 at 12:38am
Thread Starter 

I was wondering why I saw a few for $90 and $130 assembled. So I won't be able to find an Mini^3 for under $50?

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post #4 of 25
6/6/10 at 1:25am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan117 View Post

I was wondering why I saw a few for $90 and $130 assembled. So I won't be able to find an Mini^3 for under $50?

 

Under $50? Not in this lifetime mate, sorry. It costs $90~$100 (depends on the parts) to make one yourself. Do the math over @ AMB. I can however heartily recommend the Mini^3, I made the Hi-Performance one and it sounds awesome!
 

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post #5 of 25
6/6/10 at 2:22am

I think a mini3 would be a big ask as a first project, the cmoy is the rite of passage, get your feet wet with one first

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post #6 of 25
6/6/10 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 

Well can anyone recommend where I can find a CMOY kit of some sort?

 

I've been reading up on this: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/parts.html#req but I can't seem to wrap my head around the parts list and how I'd find each of them without researching each one to figure out what the heck I'm looking for.


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/6/10 at 9:42am
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post #7 of 25
6/6/10 at 10:33am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan117 View Post

Well can anyone recommend where I can find a CMOY kit of some sort?

 

I've been reading up on this: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/parts.html#req but I can't seem to wrap my head around the parts list and how I'd find each of them without researching each one to figure out what the heck I'm looking for.


That's why there's a Y in DIY... The Y is why DIY is such fun.

 

Cmoy kits? eBay perhaps.

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post #8 of 25
6/6/10 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beftus View Post

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan117 View Post

Well can anyone recommend where I can find a CMOY kit of some sort?

 

I've been reading up on this: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/parts.html#req but I can't seem to wrap my head around the parts list and how I'd find each of them without researching each one to figure out what the heck I'm looking for.


That's why there's a Y in DIY... The Y is why DIY is such fun.

 

Cmoy kits? eBay perhaps.

This was all I could find: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Stereo-CMOY-Audio-Headphone-Amp-Amplifier-CAPS-kit-/230483893719?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Other_MP3_Player_Accessories&hash=item35a9e91dd7


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/7/10 at 3:44pm
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post #9 of 25
6/6/10 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 

Edit: Double Post


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/7/10 at 3:44pm
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post #10 of 25
6/6/10 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 

Heh, I figured I could make the Y in DIY would be me building it, rather than looking for parts.

 

Anyways, I only found one eBay listing, and it has the following:

 

1- printed circuit board
1- JRC 4560D OpAmp IC (EVC foam mounted)
1- 8 pin socket (EVC foam mounted)
2- stereo jacks
2- ELNA 470mF 25 volt capacitors
2 - 9 volt battery leads
2 - 5K Blue resistors
5 - 1K Blue resistors
1 - 20k Volume Potentiometer (pot)
1-  Pro Aluminum Knob
3 - jumpers
1- jumper bar
2- jumper wire lengths
1- 6" length of solder
2- 6" wires for soldering to the switch
1- Super Bright Indigo Blue LED
2 - 2" wire insulation sleeves for the LED
1- switch
 

Is there anything else I need? Also, what's a good Multimeter that I should get?


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/6/10 at 12:19pm
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post #11 of 25
6/6/10 at 1:37pm

Quote:

Also, what's a good Multimeter that I should get?

 

Spend between $5 and $10 on a digital multimeter. It's good enough for your humble needs.
 

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post #12 of 25
6/6/10 at 10:34pm

you could look into a jds labs cmoy

 

http://www.jdslabs.com/diy.php

instructions and bill of materials on the left

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post #13 of 25
6/7/10 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 

I'll look into it, just canceled the offer the guy on ebay for the kit. Is there any way I can mod it to have two batteries instead of one?

 

As for the Bill of Materials, any recommended alternatives? Are potentiometers internal or external if used to replace the bass switch? If I go with a potentiometer, I should choose the High gain option since I'd have more room to adjust, or does it not work that way?

 

I know this is pretty controversial, but can someone recommend me a good opamp?


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/7/10 at 5:01pm
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post #14 of 25
6/7/10 at 9:26pm

I have made 3 of these and they do sound good.

 

 

In regards to the materials and alternatives, my suggestion is that you get everything from mouser (nothing against Digi).  It is just that the only thing that you need from Digi is the volume knobs. Mouser has plastic ones that will fit for under $1 and if you are doing the bass boost you will need 2. This will save you like $18 over getting the 2 knobs that are recomended.

 

Second recomendation is to get 2 of the LED grommets and use the second one for the the power jack. It looks better.

 

Lastly I have found that with the bass boost knob is that the default gain does not add much until you turn it up a lot. So the high gain might be what you want.  Also with the default, it does get a muffled bass sound when you turn it up a lot.


Edited by broken24 - 6/7/10 at 9:29pm
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post #15 of 25
6/8/10 at 10:55am
Thread Starter 

Yeah I was trying to see if I could get it all from one company (Not including the board from JDS Labs) to drop $8/9 shipping but that doesn't seem too likely; the shipping isn't flat rate, is it?

 

Erm the second LED grommet replaces the [J5] CUI 2.5mm Mono Jack, right?

So you're saying get two: [J3] Alps 50k Potentiometer (Bass Knob) rather than two volume knobs from Digi? If the bass knob is external, I'd rather have two of the knobs from Digi for looks. If it's internal, I'd rather have the [J3] for the inside (recommended). I'm more about the looks rather than saving money as long as it's not a lot more expensive.

 

What Opamp should I choose? I've looked them up and it seems AD8066, OPA2227/2228, and AD825 are highly recommended. I've also read that it really depends on the cans being tested; I'm intending to get a Sennheiser 555 and mod it into a 595.

 

What about Resistor [R3]? I read that one battery can only handle 4/5 Gain and two can handle up to 11 Gain, so if I wanted the 10 Gain one and mod my battery, do I just buy another battery connector and connect it to the same spot as the first one?

 

Do I just get the default for Capacitator [C1] and [C2]? No idea what the difference between them are.


Edited by Spartan117 - 6/8/10 at 10:57am
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