kerelybonto
doo-di-doo-di-dum doo-di-dum doo-di-doo-di-dum
- Joined
- May 6, 2002
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After building my first CMoy as a soldering project, I'm ready to build one that sounds good. I tore apart that CMoy and am ready to go as soon as the fried parts' replacements get here. Since I do want this amp to be more than an experiement in soldering, I have some questions:
1. Which type of solder should I use? I used 63/37 .050 diameter wire on my test amp, which worked fine except that the wire was a little too thick sometimes. I also have .032 diameter 60/40 and .022 diameter 62/36/2 wire lying around. I don't suppose any of them will have noticable sonic effects in a $30 amp, so should I just go with the easiest to use?
2. What type of wire should I use for the input/output/power lines? I tried using both solid and braided copper wire on my test amp and neither soldered well at all. I had all kinds of problems with it. Should I try some aluminum wire?
3. Do the power toggle switch or the input/output jacks need to be grounded?
4. How do I install the potentiometer? I have a 10kohm 12mm Panasonic, but I don't know which pins are which ... or basically anything.
5. How do I install a DC-in jack into the power supply apparatus? Is there anyway to wire it to automatically run on DC instead of battery when it's plugged in, or will I need a three-position toggle switch? Any suggestions for this switch? Also, any suggestions for and AC/DC converter that will give me the proper voltage/current? Any simple way to have the DC power charge a rechargable NiMH 9V?
6. Any suggestions on case design? Anyone have a schematic showing how they hooked up the main circuit to the case components?
7. Should I use pliers or something to heat-sink components as I solder them in? It's kind of hard to do with parts as small as what goes into these tiny amps, but I don't want to fry anything.
8. When testing the circuitry (using an analog Sperry SP-10A multimeter), am I just looking for current? Is it safe to assume that if there's current, everything's in working order? Any other testing tips?
9. I need a small volume knob. I've noticed that a lot of mint tin amps (at least those I've seen pictured) have volume knobs that are disporportionately large. I have a Kilo JD-50-1-5 (DigiKey 226-2033) and I'd like something a bit smaller, at least depth-wise -- the diameter's about right.
10. The op-amp. I used a pretty generic dual (DigiKey OPA2132PA) in my test amp. I think I may have fried it removing it -- how can I test it? Also, any suggestions on better dual opamps that will work in a CMoy?
11. I assume it's pretty difficult to design a circuit usable by both high- and low-impedance cans. Right now I only use Sony MDR-V6 and Grado SR80 anyway, so I can just design for low impedance, but it'd be interesting to be able to use high-impedance cans too. Too difficult?
12. Anyone know what the two IC socket .300 Gold 8 DIP (DigiKey AE7313) are in tangent's optional parts list or what they do or where they go?
13. Suggestions for a good mini-mini and RCA-mini interconnect? What about putting RCA inputs on the amp? Possible while still having the mini input?
Any other tips or suggestions are welcome. Also, I'd very much like to see some extreme close-ups of anyone's CMoy (or other simple amps), especially the case components and wiring that's not shown in tangent's pictures.
Thanks.
kerelybonto
1. Which type of solder should I use? I used 63/37 .050 diameter wire on my test amp, which worked fine except that the wire was a little too thick sometimes. I also have .032 diameter 60/40 and .022 diameter 62/36/2 wire lying around. I don't suppose any of them will have noticable sonic effects in a $30 amp, so should I just go with the easiest to use?
2. What type of wire should I use for the input/output/power lines? I tried using both solid and braided copper wire on my test amp and neither soldered well at all. I had all kinds of problems with it. Should I try some aluminum wire?
3. Do the power toggle switch or the input/output jacks need to be grounded?
4. How do I install the potentiometer? I have a 10kohm 12mm Panasonic, but I don't know which pins are which ... or basically anything.
5. How do I install a DC-in jack into the power supply apparatus? Is there anyway to wire it to automatically run on DC instead of battery when it's plugged in, or will I need a three-position toggle switch? Any suggestions for this switch? Also, any suggestions for and AC/DC converter that will give me the proper voltage/current? Any simple way to have the DC power charge a rechargable NiMH 9V?
6. Any suggestions on case design? Anyone have a schematic showing how they hooked up the main circuit to the case components?
7. Should I use pliers or something to heat-sink components as I solder them in? It's kind of hard to do with parts as small as what goes into these tiny amps, but I don't want to fry anything.
8. When testing the circuitry (using an analog Sperry SP-10A multimeter), am I just looking for current? Is it safe to assume that if there's current, everything's in working order? Any other testing tips?
9. I need a small volume knob. I've noticed that a lot of mint tin amps (at least those I've seen pictured) have volume knobs that are disporportionately large. I have a Kilo JD-50-1-5 (DigiKey 226-2033) and I'd like something a bit smaller, at least depth-wise -- the diameter's about right.
10. The op-amp. I used a pretty generic dual (DigiKey OPA2132PA) in my test amp. I think I may have fried it removing it -- how can I test it? Also, any suggestions on better dual opamps that will work in a CMoy?
11. I assume it's pretty difficult to design a circuit usable by both high- and low-impedance cans. Right now I only use Sony MDR-V6 and Grado SR80 anyway, so I can just design for low impedance, but it'd be interesting to be able to use high-impedance cans too. Too difficult?
12. Anyone know what the two IC socket .300 Gold 8 DIP (DigiKey AE7313) are in tangent's optional parts list or what they do or where they go?
13. Suggestions for a good mini-mini and RCA-mini interconnect? What about putting RCA inputs on the amp? Possible while still having the mini input?
Any other tips or suggestions are welcome. Also, I'd very much like to see some extreme close-ups of anyone's CMoy (or other simple amps), especially the case components and wiring that's not shown in tangent's pictures.
Thanks.
kerelybonto