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Does this amp exist? Should I make it?

post #1 of 6
2/5/12 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 

 

Hello fellow Headfi-ers. I am a long time lurker and I would like your advice. I'm an electronic engineer and musician with a big interest in hi-fi and headphones specifically. When I first got into headphones I built my own basic opamp driven headphone amp. I recently got interested in an upgrade but I've been unable to find exactly what I want.
 
I really like the idea of the direct USB DAC and headphone amp combo. There seem to be plenty of these products out there based on chips like the Burr-Brown PCM2902. Does anyone know of a USB DAC / amp with all the following features
 
 
  • Powered from USB port
  • or internal batteries (lithium ion)
  • USB port charges internal batteries.
  • digital audio decoding from USB.
  • or analogue 3.5mm stereo jack with amplification.
  • 3.5mm and/or 6.35mm output jack. 

 

There seem to be plenty of offerings similar to this, but nothing with everything. Basically I want an amp that sits on my desk, plugged into my computers USB jack. An analogue volume pot on the front for desk listening. I want to simply unplug it from the computer and use it on the go with my phone or other source as an analogue headphone amp. All this without having to worry about the batteries. If this product exists I will buy it, If it doesnt I will consider developing the product, if people think its a good idea.

 

Tell me your thoughts, 

 

Alex.

 

 
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post #2 of 6
2/6/12 at 10:39am

I am still eager waiting for the FiiO 17 to be available on Amazon. If you can beat that price tag and all the function in a stylus package, go ahead.

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post #3 of 6
2/6/12 at 12:28pm

Sorry ALEX...but...there are many many many many amps that do that. the E17 and E10 would be one. but basically the e17...is what is going to do everything and be portable. it's said to be better than E10. so if you like the E10..get the E17 anyway. has more power and optical and coaxil usage with a dual op amps in a pre amp and power amp setup

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post #4 of 6
2/6/12 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Guys, thanks for your replies. The E17 certainly looks very compelling. Pity it doesn't have a volume pot. Bowei, you say there are many amps that do this but I dont think that's right. The only one I see is the E17. The E10 doesnt have a line in or batteries, so its not actually a portable amp. The amp Im looking to buy/build would be a combination of the E17 and E10. All the features of the E17 but with tactile power controls and a volume pot. 

 

You say there are many many amps with the specs I was looking for, can you suggest some of the others?

 

Alex.

 

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post #5 of 6
2/6/12 at 5:23pm

ibasso DB2

ibasso D-Zero

nuforce icon HD

Fostex HP-1

headroom portable micro amp\

Cypher Labs Algorythmn

 

hmm i think those are the main ones.

 

FiiO wanted a digital volume control on there on purpose. i forgot the reason. >_<

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post #6 of 6
2/7/12 at 1:21pm

I'm no amp designer, but I believe part of the issue is that a) the low voltage provided by USB does not lend itself to a particularly powerful amplifier, so b) most portable amps use a higher voltage battery and/or wall wart to get more voltage swing.  Charging that higher voltage battery from USB then becomes a technical challenge in a diminutive device . 

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