[Kitarist]

So i'm looking to make my own headphone amp

So i'm asking whats the best DIY headphone amp (kits...)

Thanks!!!

 

[Sherwood]

Well, naturally "best" is extremely subjective...

My vote for "best" goes to AMB's Balanced 4 board Beta 22. Kits can be bought here

 

[Kitarist]

Did anyone try the amp from the Systm episode. Its an amp based on a chip and its extremely easy to make but i wonder how does it sound

 

[scootermafia]

Lolz, probably not as good as a 4 channel Beta22.

This should be in the DIY forum.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scootermafia /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lolz, probably not as good as a 4 channel Beta22. This should be in the DIY forum.

We talk about DIY amps in the main amp section all the time .... the post is fine here.

Back to the topic, try a Hybrid. I love the sound of these amps with low impedance Alessandro/ Grados.

The Milet starving Student amp is inexpensive, easy to build and sounds great. If you want something more upscale the Millet Max or Mini- Max is a superior sounding amp. If you want the top of the line try a Stacker.

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitarist /img/forum/go_quote.gif Did anyone try the amp from the Systm episode.

Yeah, that's called a CMoy. Everyone and their dog has built one. It's not bad, by any means, but hardly "the best". It is, in fact, pretty near the bottom of DIY amps. Here's a bit more info on it.

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitarist /img/forum/go_quote.gif So i'm looking to make my own headphone amp So i'm asking whats the best DIY headphone amp (kits...) Thanks!!!

More info needed.

What headphones will you be using?
Do you want tubes, opamp, or solid state?
Is price a concern? (it always is a concern what is your limit)
What is your skill level? Comfortable doing case work and small soldering, can you debug your build. Many of the higher end DIY amps are much more open ended in design and makes debugging harder.
Do you want balanced, SE, active ground?

Basically you need to define "best". What you are asking for is basically the same if I were to post on these forums, "What is the best food? I want to make myself dinner tonight."

 

[krmathis]

A couple of candidates:
* Quad β22 (balanced), with dual σ22
* KGBH

 

[Uncle Erik]

The best? Take a look a nmaher's Menace, designed with Pete Millett. Gilmore's Dynamight, or a four channel Beta22 are also excellent. If you like minimalism, take a look at Ciuffoli's SESS - my next project. If you really want to go for it, ask Frank Cooter for some of his schematics - his amps are incredible. You can also clone any number of high-end commercial amps. It might take some digging to find schematics, but many of them are out there if you know who to ask.

Anyhow, what are you looking for, how much do you want to spend, what are you comfortable working with, and what's your associated equipment?

 

[Kitarist]

Well i'm also looking for something thats the best in price / perfomance

)

I'm interested in all 3 versions but i would like to start based on an opamp

)

Thanks!!!

 

[MoodySteve]

As far as price/performance ratio, my vote would go to the CK²-III.

For 'cost no option' go ß22. 3-channel (active ground) is fine unless you're planning on running balanced.

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitarist /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well i'm also looking for something thats the best in price / perfomance ) I'm interested in all 3 versions but i would like to start based on an opamp ) Thanks!!!

I do not have personal experience with it, but it is on my list to build and the is AMB M^3 The M³ Stereo Headphone Amplifier

Is a highly respected opamp design using an active ground and mosfet output stage. Pair it with a sigma11 power supply The σ11 Regulated Power Supply. You can probably find these from some vendors as a kit.

I have built a few of AMB projects and he does a standup job supporting any questions and in general just helping the DIY community. I did a price out for just the M^3 with case and I think my BOM came out to ~$300 US.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoodySteve /img/forum/go_quote.gif As far as price/performance ratio, my vote would go to the CK²-III. For 'cost no option' go ß22. 3-channel (active ground) is fine unless you're planning on running balanced.

How much does a no boutique parts CK²-III cost to build?

 

[applevalleyjoe]

At the risk of showing my ignorance, what is the first three-tubed hybrid headphone amp on the last row of the pictures that SACD placed on this thread? I see that it's a Cavalli Audio(???).

 

[sacd lover]

Stacker 2 .... the original Stacker center with two upgraded builds on the ends.