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Amp to drive speakers

post #1 of 21
10/5/10 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 

Hi, that's my first post. I found this forum by looking around for a headset.

I found the DIY section pretty interesting. I would like to build a amplifier for speaker.

 

I'm newby but I have some skill in electronic. Is there a amplifier you can recommend to me.

I found the ''Bijou'' and the EHHA, they look pretty cool but can they drive speaker?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Max

 

ps... sorry for my English, my first language it's French.

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post #2 of 21
10/6/10 at 4:35am

The only "Headphone Amp" I know of that can drive speakers is the "Beta 22".

The "Bijou" is not suitable for use with speakers.

The "EHHA" could probably drive efficient speakers.

There may be others but I am not familiar enough with them to comment.

 

Oh yes, welcome to Head-fi and sorry about your wallet....


Edited by Avro_Arrow - 10/6/10 at 4:36am
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post #3 of 21
10/6/10 at 4:53am

Beta24 is about the only one you'll find info about on HF.

Here is the home page:

 

http://www.amb.org/audio/beta24/

 

 

Pass's F5 (or others):

 

http://passdiy.com/

 

and more info in the Pass section of diya:

 

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/

 

 

There are a plethora of both solid state and tube amps you could build.

I'd read around on diya before committing.

Your final choice will depend on both you capability to diy + what sort of speakers you wanna drive.

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post #4 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:38am

There are a bunch of projects here too...

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post #5 of 21
10/6/10 at 7:19am

The real question is how much power do you need? 

 

The line between headphone amps and speaker amps when you only need 2-4W is VERY blurry.

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post #6 of 21
10/6/10 at 7:55am

What are your speakers? You'll need to know the impedance and senitivity.

 

Do you want solid state or tubes?

 

Are you looking for a kit, a PCB, or simply instructions?

 

Depending on the design, you might also need a pre-amplifier (some power amps do not have volume control).

 

I would recommend checking diyaudio.com, speaker amps are not often discussed here AFAIK.

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post #7 of 21
10/6/10 at 10:35am
Good suggestions so far.

Another route you could take would be to build a headphone amp that doubles as a preamp, then build a separate power amp for your speakers.
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post #8 of 21
10/6/10 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 

First, thanks to all of you for your answer.

 

Ok... it will be my first project of this kind I do not want something to complicated.

I heard that tube amp have a more "warm" sound. And it look cool to.

 

The real thing I would like to do with this amplifier is boost my MP3 player sound before connecting to my audio receiver.

I think it will be an easier project than a speaker amp. To start...

 

My set up...

 

Sansa Fuze V2

Onkyo TX-SR605

Boston Acoustic VR2 speaker

 

I will prefert a Kit or pcb. 

 

Thanks again for your help,

 

Max

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post #9 of 21
10/6/10 at 4:43pm

*Ignore this, read the next post*


 
 
Boston Acoustic VR2 speakers
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity (1 watt (2.83v) at 1m): 93dB
 
All right, these look good for tube amps. However, I forgot to ask about your budget. How much are you willing to pay?
 
And are you able to make (read drill and punch holes into) the chassis?
 
In any case, I had already spotted the following kits that interested me at one time or another:
 
The Podwatt by Oddwatt Audio. It's not out yet, but it is an integrated amp (meaning you don't need an amplifier). They also sell monoblocks (need 2 + a pre-amp).
The Stereomour by Bottlehead. Another integrated amp, but it probably won't be strong enough for your speakers.
The Cymbal monoblocks by Hagerman Tech. I own two of his products and love them. You'll need a pre-amp.
One of Transcendent Sound OTL or their Cathode Follower. I plan to build one of these someday. Need a pre-amp
The Engineer's Amplifier by Millett (famous for his headphone amps). He sells PCB, and you'll need a pre-amp.
The clone of a classic, the Dynaco ST-70. Again, you'll need a pre-amp (or the stepped attenuator modification offered).

Edited by WyldRage - 10/6/10 at 4:48pm
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post #10 of 21
10/6/10 at 4:47pm

Forget eveything I just said.

 

 

Quote:
boost my MP3 player sound before connecting to my audio receiver

 

You do realize your receiver IS an amplifier? You might want to look at something like this instead: http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-9211-SNSADK-PowerDock-for-Sansa/dp/B000J1E2JU

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post #11 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 

I know that is an amplifier... it just not playing loud as I want.

I do not think this dock will amplified the sound of my Sansa? It will...?

 

Thanks for all the information on your previous post... This is pretty interesting. That a projet I want to do one day.

 

Regards, Max

 

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post #12 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:05pm

Your receiver is 90W/channel: it should be lood enough for everything... unless you plug your Sansa via the headphone out. Get a dock, it will send a line-level signal.

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post #13 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:06pm

You might want to check out the kits here, but you better hurry, he is

closing at the end of October.

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post #14 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by WyldRage View Post

Your receiver is 90W/channel: it should be lood enough for everything... unless you plug your Sansa via the headphone out. Get a dock, it will send a line-level signal.



 

Ok, you know what, I have two of these dock. But... I dont know why, it seem they dont work's with Rockbox.

I recently install Rockbox. 

 

I will remove it and give a try. 

 

By the way, the amplifier you list in the post related to the speaker look nice.

 

Thanks,

 

Max

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post #15 of 21
10/6/10 at 5:36pm

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedmax View Post

I know that is an amplifier... it just not playing loud as I want.

 


Is the volume control knob all teh way up? If not I know a really cheap way to increase the volume without adding anything...

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