amcananey
Forever a 500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2010
- Posts
- 887
- Likes
- 43
I'm looking to build a tube-based headphone amp, as I already have enough solid state amps. The Beta 22 is often cited as the "best" DIY solid-state amp, is there any sort of consensus as to the "best" tube amp?
Right now I'm looking at the Bottlehead Smack WOT. I also saw the Mapletree Audio Design Ear+ HD kit, but right now I'm leaning toward the Smack. Any others I should be considering? Information on DIY tube amps seems to be tough to come by.
With regard to the Smack, I noticed that it has balanced outputs, but no balanced inputs (confirmed by Bottlehead). Can anyone tell me why a tube amp with balanced outputs would not necessarily nead balanced inputs, whereas a solid state amp would? Or is there no good reason at all? Obviously you can drive headphones balanced without balanced inputs, but I thought you lose most of the benefit of a balanced amp that way?
I'm also interested in advice on a good DIY DAC with balanced outputs. Right now I'm looking at the Opus from Twisted Pear. Any other suggestions?
I should add that I'm not looking to design my own amp or DAC, nor am I looking to modify or experiment with any designs. I don't have any technical knowledge in this area and would quickly get in over my head. I'm just looking for an existing design that I can build in a relatively straightfoward manner.
Thanks!
Adam
Right now I'm looking at the Bottlehead Smack WOT. I also saw the Mapletree Audio Design Ear+ HD kit, but right now I'm leaning toward the Smack. Any others I should be considering? Information on DIY tube amps seems to be tough to come by.
With regard to the Smack, I noticed that it has balanced outputs, but no balanced inputs (confirmed by Bottlehead). Can anyone tell me why a tube amp with balanced outputs would not necessarily nead balanced inputs, whereas a solid state amp would? Or is there no good reason at all? Obviously you can drive headphones balanced without balanced inputs, but I thought you lose most of the benefit of a balanced amp that way?
I'm also interested in advice on a good DIY DAC with balanced outputs. Right now I'm looking at the Opus from Twisted Pear. Any other suggestions?
I should add that I'm not looking to design my own amp or DAC, nor am I looking to modify or experiment with any designs. I don't have any technical knowledge in this area and would quickly get in over my head. I'm just looking for an existing design that I can build in a relatively straightfoward manner.
Thanks!
Adam