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DIY Electrostatic Headphone amp

post #1 of 16
3/21/04 at 2:03am
Thread Starter 
i am preparing to build the ES headphones from the plans at headwize, which say you need an amp before their stepup amp
what would a amp that i can build on protoboard
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post #2 of 16
3/21/04 at 6:45am
You could build a KGSS (Kevin Gilmore Solid State). Dont know about the total price on that thing though. And then there is the Blue Hawaii wich cost about $1500 in parts. You can build both of these on protoboards.

You should probably have some DIY expirience before taking on any of thoes projects, including the headphones.
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post #3 of 16
3/21/04 at 7:24am
Yes, DIY experience is necessary before you attempt any of the Gilmore electrostatic amps.

Unless you're zzz, whose first DIY project was the KGSS. But then again, he's nuts... he even did his own boards.

You, on the other hand, want some experience first in order that you don't kill yourself.
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post #4 of 16
3/21/04 at 8:05am
And he really means so that you wont kill yourself. There is ALOT of current in these amps in order to drive these headphones.
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post #5 of 16
3/21/04 at 9:55am
quote
Unless you're zzz, whose first DIY project was the KGSS. But then again, he's nuts... he even did his own boards.


Actually his first amp was a blue hawaii, and he did make
the board himself. I believe he actually etched it himself too.

quote
There is ALOT of current in these amps in order to drive these headphones.


Actually there is a lot of voltage in these amps. Its the voltage
that kills you, not the current. In the right place 15ma will
kill you. Just about anything can supply 15ma even a 9 volt
battery.

The 4 big electrolytic power caps store virtually the same
voltage and energy as that used by heart defibrillator units.
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post #6 of 16
3/21/04 at 10:39am
Oh, sorry. Thanks for the correction though Kevin
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post #7 of 16
3/21/04 at 11:44am
I use this bad boy





which can be found here

http://headwize2.powerpill.org/proje...ilmore_prj.htm

another es amp

http://headwize2.powerpill.org/proje...lmore2_prj.htm

as mentioned above the voltage levels can be lethal but so can the trasformer circuit you referenced above due to the bias voltage requirements of electrostatic headphones .

the transformer designs enable you to forego an actual separate amplification stage and use your present power amp as the driving force with the step up transformer providing the bias voltage.

This can be OK in some instances but any deficiencies the amplifier will be magnified . Only superior amplifiers with extremly low noise can stand up to the scrutiny provided by the electrostatic headphone connection .

In a pinch OK and hany to have such a transformer interface to allow for evaluating power amps but in the long run a dedicated amp is the way to go.

Electrostats really do deserve the best
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post #8 of 16
3/21/04 at 1:04pm
read these first before messing around with lethal voltages :

http://www.bottlehead.com/loosep/Safety.htm

http://www.siteswithstyle.com/VoltSecond/index.html

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post #9 of 16
3/21/04 at 1:56pm
Two great links.

Love both the safety discussions and the pics of people and their tube obsessions. Sigh, wish had the room and money for some of this stuff.

Thanks for sharing
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post #10 of 16
3/21/04 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally posted by kevin gilmore

Actually his first amp was a blue hawaii, and he did make
the board himself. I believe he actually etched it himself too.
Not had your morning coffee yet?

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...highlight=kgss

Quote:
The idea of building a Gilmore solid state electrostatic amp came to me out of nowhere about 3 months ago. I didn't have any electrostatic headphones, haven't ever heard them, and had no experience building an amp yet alone a high voltage one. I guess I was just really bored on the day I started ordering parts. Anyhow, here is a poor photo of the result:
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post #11 of 16
3/21/04 at 4:16pm
quote
Not had your morning coffee yet?
2 espresso's, but that was many hours ago.
Have real espresso machine in the kitchen. My normal
wake up is a double double.

Forgot all about that one. But those were hand etched
boards...

Brain full of swimming traces. Hate new circuit board
layout thing. Can't get the ground plane right.
I'm not going to key in the schematic just so i can get
a crapy netlist, so i can tie the ground to ground.
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post #12 of 16
3/21/04 at 4:58pm
Quote:
Originally posted by kevin gilmore

Brain full of swimming traces. Hate new circuit board
layout thing. Can't get the ground plane right.
I'm not going to key in the schematic just so i can get
a crapy netlist, so i can tie the ground to ground.
What board layout package are you using?

Most advanced packages have functions to just create a ground plane. And using the schematic capture feature usually makes everything a lot easier, especially in checking boards for errors.
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post #13 of 16
3/22/04 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 

Nice replys

#1 I have wired up houses & garages at mains potential (115+230VAC) as well as small electronics(fm transmitters, clocks & timepieces) with no accidents insofar

#2 i should have said that im looking for a solid state amp thats
about the size of a cigar box

Thanks for all the replys this far
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post #14 of 16
3/22/04 at 3:03pm

Re: Nice replys

2 - One channel of the Teucer layout (what everyone's using) is about the size of a cigar box. You might be able to squeeze the KGSS into a cigar box if you use a minaturized layout such as the one Kevin has kicking around or my (untested but with a few known and documented problems) uKGSS layout.
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post #15 of 16
3/23/04 at 7:21pm
You could easily fit two amp channels into a cigar box, probably enough heatsink as well, but you'd have a problem with the power supply. There's no substitute for big iron caps and transformers.

If you want a kgss or any other electrostatic amp then seriously consider having one built for you. Building your own can be a rewarding experience but is more work than most people expect. Headamp.com and zzz are known to accept kgss commissions.
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