Best SQ Portable DIY amp?

[jamess71]

Now that the nice weather is here, finally.

I would like to have a portable to bring out in the yard. What is the best SQ DIY portable out there?

Thanks
James

 

[Gautama]

Lisa III followed by Mini^3

 

[synaesthetic]

Lisa III is DIY? 0.o

 

[pinkfloyd4ever]

I don't know if I would call the Lisa III portable, it's pretty damn big.

so my response would be the Mini3

 

[bperboy]

Yeah, Mini3 is pretty sweet! I only wish I had it powering something better than KSC75s...

Maybe PX100s?

 

[FallenAngel]

I'd say there are a many designs I like more than Mini^3, but it is a nice amp.

Lisa III is pretty awesome if you can DIY it.

I personally like the Pimeta much more as I like buffered designs more than opamps alone and of course if you can find a PPAS board, that'll be one of the best amps, my personal favorite amp by a mile

If you're not scared for perfboard, a 3-channel Sijosae Class-AB is very sweet. Modify it a little to include rail isolation JFETs for the opamps and you've got something similar to a PPAS with Diamond Buffers

I really liked the Class-AB, it's cheap to build, sounds fantastic, great battery life, it's just an awesome amp. The 3-channel version is even better.

You can of course run a JISBOS off AAA for awesome results, as long as you don't need gain.

 

[jamess71]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'd say there are a many designs I like more than Mini^3, but it is a nice amp. Lisa III is pretty awesome if you can DIY it. I personally like the Pimeta much more as I like buffered designs more than opamps alone and of course if you can find a PPAS board, that'll be one of the best amps, my personal favorite amp by a mile If you're not scared for perfboard, a 3-channel Sijosae Class-AB is very sweet. Modify it a little to include rail isolation JFETs for the opamps and you've got something similar to a PPAS with Diamond Buffers I really liked the Class-AB, it's cheap to build, sounds fantastic, great battery life, it's just an awesome amp. The 3-channel version is even better. You can of course run a JISBOS off AAA for awesome results, as long as you don't need gain.

FallenAngel The PPAS board you mention with the Pimeta. Are you talking about the PPA Battery board or the PPA v2 Amplifier Board? Looks like all the Pimeta / PPA and companion boards are available at tangents shop, Tangent’s Parts Shop. Hmmmmm which one? So these definatey a step up from a mini? thanks again everybody.

James

 

[BradJudy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamess71 /img/forum/go_quote.gif FallenAngel The PPAS board you mention with the Pimeta. Are you talking about the PPA Battery board or the PPA v2 Amplifier Board?

The PPAS was a surface mount board design based off the PPA circuit. IIRC, Tangent didn't make any boards, but someone else did one run of them. There's a pic of one here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/2588717-post172.html

 

[earcotton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaesthetic /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lisa III is DIY? 0.o

Crazy how much traffic these forums generate.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/lisa-iii-dyi-284157/

 

[Lil' Knight]

The PPAS looks very interesting

I wonder if anyone here can build it?

 

[bperboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif The PPAS looks very interesting I wonder if anyone here can build it?

I haven't built one; I never got in on the group buy, but I'm sure that since there was a GB, somebody has a working version

 

[Lil' Knight]

How does the PPAS compare with Mini3 ?

 

[FallenAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil' Knight /img/forum/go_quote.gif How does the PPAS compare with Mini3 ?

I like it more, opamp choices, different buffers, I just like buffered designs much more. It's a personal opinion, but most that have heard my PPAS like it

 

[eeerie1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like it more, opamp choices, different buffers, I just like buffered designs much more. It's a personal opinion, but most that have heard my PPAS like it

Can you elaborate on this? What are the sonic advantages of buffered? Sorry, new to DIY.

Oops, didn't realize this thread was a month old.

 

[jh4db536]

here's my noob conception on buffers

buffer ie BUF634 amplifies an opamp's current (based on the voltage?). It has a higher current output rating. It basically runs series to the opamp (IC or discrete based) and you can stack 1 or more on top of a regular dip8 if applicable. There are discrete buffers like the jisbos, sijosae. Rid the current/thermal protection that might get in the way of SQ, could be adjustable for class A. Headphones need current and voltage swing. The opamp is good for voltage swings which is supposedly the most accurate. AD8397 is supposedly acceptable at both which is why it is chosen for the mini3 (has no easy provision for outside buffers), but then your options are kind of limited in opamp choice because the functions must be combined.