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Starter Desktop Amp with USB?

post #1 of 12
8/31/10 at 7:39pm
Thread Starter 

Hello,

 

I am a complete newbie when it comes to building amps. I would like to build a SS desktop amp with a USB input?

 

Are there any kits or recommendations? I would like to have 50mw or higher.

 

Thanks,

RH

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post #2 of 12
8/31/10 at 7:45pm

Meier Concerto, or the Violectric V200 (look at my review) and there are plenty of reviews on the Meier

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post #3 of 12
8/31/10 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 

I need USB, this will be used with FLAC and my Win 7 machine.

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post #4 of 12
8/31/10 at 7:53pm

It would depend on if you just want to stuff a board (full kit) or learn to do a BOM.

 

I really like my Pimetas (both V1 and V2).  They are portable, but you can plug them in.  But you have to do up a BOM and order you own parts.

 

Glass Jar has the Mini3 which could be use as a desktop amp if you kept it plugged in.

 

Increasing the challenge a bit would be a CK2III.  I personally haven't built one, but I like the design a lot.  I'm building an amp based upon the original Kumisa III.

 

If you want to open you choice to tubes as well, there is more options available as kits.  There doesn't really seem to be a desktop SS kit that I've seen, unless you want to go all the way up to a beta22. 

 

As for the USB input, it would depend on how much space inside the case you want to dedicated to it.  You could put a BantamDAC or grubDAC in many cases pretty easily.  If you have more space, a gamma1 gives you SPDIF as another input.

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post #5 of 12
8/31/10 at 8:02pm
Thread Starter 

Like I said I know very little on how to make an amp. Desktop space is not limited so I can make it as bit as needed, well reasonable. lol USB is a must as this will be the main source, So, I need something simple perhaps has instructions and all that good stuff.  I would like to keep it under $150, and I can used an AC psu if needed.

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post #6 of 12
8/31/10 at 8:52pm

The uDac-2 is $129, the EF2A is $169; these are decent starter USB amps but not in the V200's class by any means!

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post #7 of 12
8/31/10 at 9:24pm

USB is digital, so you'll be building a DAC as well as a headphone amp.  With a $150 budget, your choices are somewhat limited.  I would do something like a BantamDAC or GrubDAC and a PimetaV2 amplifier with TREAD power supply. 

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post #8 of 12
8/31/10 at 9:33pm

What's a tread?

 

http://tangentsoft.net/audio/

 

 

Edit... stupid smiley images. :(


Edited by MisterX - 8/31/10 at 9:34pm
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post #9 of 12
8/31/10 at 10:12pm

*SHOCK* It's gone!

 

Could go with Sigma25 or simply use the scratch-pad on the Pimeta2 board for some simple LM317 or 78-series PSU. :)

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post #10 of 12
8/31/10 at 10:14pm

Perhaps the Carrie Amp?  The group buy is going down soon.  Will need to choose between a grubDAC or BantamDAC to add with it.


Edited by WC Annihilus - 8/31/10 at 11:26pm
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post #11 of 12
9/1/10 at 5:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FallenAngel View Post

*SHOCK* It's gone!

 

Could go with Sigma25 or simply use the scratch-pad on the Pimeta2 board for some simple LM317 or 78-series PSU. :)


Not totally gone:

 

http://tangentsoft.net/elec/tread/

 

But no more boards.  The circuit on stripboard is pretty easy. 

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post #12 of 12
9/1/10 at 9:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WC Annihilus View Post

Perhaps the Carrie Amp?  The group buy is going down soon.  Will need to choose between a grubDAC or BantamDAC to add with it.


I'll second that recommendation. I am planning on building a Carrie with a a grubDAC once the new Carrie boards are produced. It will be my work setup and will be really great for my needs: small, discrete, and tidy. It's powered by USB so you don't have a bunch of cords and it is portable, which is nice if you travel with your laptop. The Carrie circuitry is more or less a Mini3 without the battery and associated circuitry, and room for a DAC such as the Bantam or Grub mated to the board. It will fit in the same size case as the Mini3, which is a nice benefit. Anyway, something to look into!

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