DIY "Ring of Honor"

[pabbi1]

Possibly the most ambitious thread ever started on Head-fi.

Goal: To honor those who have made it technically possible to enjoy building our own headphone products, created in our own image, with whatever parts we could scrounge (or wildly overspend on), enduring the horrors of casework, resulting in (both) the "Thrill of Victory and The Agony of Defeat".

The REAL thread (this just to discuss how to form, qualifications, vote / autocracy, categories (OR, just amps?)).

For meritorious acheivement to the community, there should be a lifetime membership (for which we need to figure out how to pay).

To wit: First cut at categories:

Amps
Source
Cables
Headphones

OR, maybe NO categories - just overall body of work?

Founding fathers:

First nominee: Chu Moy
HeadWize - Breaking News
Body of Work: Without Chu (founder of Headwize.org - headwize Resources and Information. This website is for sale!), there would be no HF, as this was to be an interim respite during a Headwize outtage. Others can better tell the tale, and I remember a Jude post from back when, though I may have poorly paraphrased. Father of the most built amp ever, simply known as the CMoy.

In no particular order...

Tangent
www.tangentsoft.net
Body of Work: The first site dedicated to DIY, from the conceptual to the practical, as well as the first parts shop, not just a few boards. Along with a team, gave the DIY community the META42 (Morsel, Eric, Tangent, and (FIFM)), and later the first mini amp, he has been there from the beginning. Always available to help DIYers troubleshoot their builds.

RickCR
OK, I did not get along with Rick, at.all., BUT, we cannot deny him recognition. Sure, he could be further down the list, but look again at the linked list he created under the DIY rules sticky - it showed he cared about us, albeit he ruled that care with a rather iron fist. If it is too distatseful, consider this like lancing a boil. A really OLD boil.

Pete Millett
Pete Millett's DIY Audio pages
Body of Work: I don't know if anyone has more designs built than Pete, and he has given them all freely, with entire 2nd and 3rd generations of his designs prospering. I have owned HA-1, HA-2, and think the HA-4 his most intriguing design ever, with schematics / BOM available. The outright gifts of the MillettHybrid (now MillettMax, and MiniMax) as well as the Millett Starving Student (Most furiously built amp in headphone history) are just altruism incarnate. I still own and use a MillettMax. Thank you, Pete.

Kevin Gilmore
Body of Work: Dr. Gilmore has given us designs in distinctly different worlds, Dynamic (Dyna - High, Mid, Low) and Electrostatic (Current Domain, KGSS, and Blue Hawaii). Dynafet and other new designs are coming, and while fewer build these designs (mainly due to the unobtanium of parts), the designs are superior, but demand a bit more capable (or at least determined) builder. Willing to help troubleshoot issues where given enough data.

Ti Kan (Amb)
AMB Laboratories DIY Audio Site
Body of Work: Ti has given us outright the m³ (which was a group development, with Headfi feedback, and Morsel teaming on design). After that was the e12 muting circuit, used by several other designers, the beta 22, and sigma PSU. All the technical pinnacle of solid state (sand) design. And, he runs a first class parts shop for boards and hard to source / matched parts. Always available to help DIYers troubleshoot their builds. he has also branced into DAC with the y1, showing range and versatility. (Note: yes, speaker amps to, but this is strictly headphone).

ps: If only we could get Ti more into tubes...

Alex Cavalli
Cavalli Audio
Body of Work: A relatively new player, but quite prodigious with CKIII, SOHA(II) and Bijou. These designs are outstanding hydrid and all tube designs, equalling any commercial designs available, and bettering most in the ability to roll tubes. Very hot on continuing new versions of the existing designs, and a known killer amp just about ready for release (Stacker II). Always available to help DIYers troubleshoot their builds.

Colin Toole
beezar.com welcome page (FIFM)
Body of Work: Colin has gained most of his following from the Millett Max, and MiniMax, but is now als working shunt regulators (parts of upcoming amps

, as well as some DAC work). May be a bit early for full inclusion, but certainly on a trajectory for eventual inclusion.

Ok, that is a start - alpha or omega, as I have pitched the idea. Pity I don't have an editable version of MindMap to draw a 'Connections' like diagram of DIY designs, and how they have evolved. One fact is that this has become a multi-million 'business' of it's own (some argue taking sales out of MOT / manufacturers), but it will live here, or elsewhere, long after the current players transition over time.

And, we ALL owe these guys for showing us the way.

Please, add anyone I forgot.

 

[holland]

wow, that's quite an initiative. You're going to have to list influences as well. I'm not well versed in audio history.

I'm sure these guys will show up one way or another. Walt Jung, Morgan Jones, Nelson Pass, John Curl, and John Linsley Hood. I'm sure there are others.

 

[n_maher]

I'd recommend adding Phil LaRocco (ppl) to that list.

[edit] and I'd add MisterX for the same reason you included Rick (correctly, even though my personal relationship with him is less than *cough* friendly). Marshall does more behind the scenes assistance with projects both large and small and is always willing to lend a hand (and often parts) when someone blows something up.

 

[digger945]

Another vote for MisterX.

 

[pabbi1]

x³ on Marshall... though we are gonna have do do some boundaries, methinks - I started to list Nate, and Tomb, who both come right after Marshall when it comes to helping people.

Lest this become a circular self flagellation, this really is for everyone to vote - and help define 'how to do this'.

Then, there are the Twisted Pear guys on sources...

"Hall of Shame" belongs on the other site.

Sigh - if only we had an Acedemic among us...

 

[JMT]

You can't have a thread like this without mentioning Apheared. If you search the Headwize archives you should find a lot of his projects.

 

[digger945]

^agreed, every time you turn around you find info from nate, tom, mr.x, Ti(I'm sure I've left someone out?).
And I'm sure each HF'er has thier fav.
that one who helps them along with thier project/interests.

'how to do this', indeed.
Oh yea, dsavitsk on tubes(for me)

 

[00940]

PRR should certainly be somewhere near the top of the list.

 

[dBel84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pabbi1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Possibly the most ambitious thread ever started on Head-fi.

an understatement Al, but a commendable effort.

The only other person I can think of who deserves acknowledgment is PRR ( he is a rock at HW)

I am not sure if Broskie qualifies as his headphone involvement is coincidental to his love of tubes.-- referring to the Aikido here-- That said Alex reworked the CJ (Cavalli-Jones) back in ?2002 with his input and anyone who built the BCJ can attest to the amp.

Who to include / exclude / where to draw lines etc becomes a difficult undertaking. If this is a popularity contest, some of the most deserving will be excluded.

I think some lines are going to have to be drawn in the end and it has to be done as impartially as possible so as not to offend anyone excluded.

To start some form of discussion I would recommend that we look at least at 2 variables, possibly more.

1. Time involved contributing
2. Body of work

Fantastic idea in the spirit of the season

..dB

 

[vixr]

Morgan Jones...

 

[Uncle Erik]

Dr. Meier has made a few contributions to DIY, as well. His crossfeed filter is open for use, as well as an amp or two. He has also had a few very generous giveaways and has contributed the HeadFive and HeadSix to the community.

 

[chobint]

So are we just naming designers? Or is that the sort of thing that's open for discussion?

Depending on what type of categories we're going for here...

Enablers (b/c diy is a drug):
-Jeff Rossel @ glassjar provides the "gateway" for a bunch of us first time noobies to take a crack at DIY. I don't think I would have made the initial leap into DIY if it were not for Jeff's kit.
-Twisted Pear guys are very helpful over on diyaudio, and again the kits make it really easy to jump right into DIY (my second project). Technically not headphone specific tho...so I guess that's the kind of criteria that needs to be set.

Mentors:
I know I would have sunk on my Bijou build without the help of Amphead, and Alex of course. I'm sure some of the Millett SS builders feel the same way about Dsavitsk (sp?). Unfortunately, this category would be hard to determine without becomming a popularity contest, but nontheless there are non-designers who's effort seems worth mention.

 

[TzeYang]

What?

Where's Phil Larrocco?

He inspired me as much as Amb and don't forget who popularized Three Channel Amplifiers.

Also, PRR should sit wayy on top of the list too for being so analytical about criticism.

 

[MASantos]

What about Tyll Hertsens? He started the whole headphone business and I think that without him, many of the designers mentioned here would have never designed some of the best projects around.

He should be somewhere on this list too.

I guess this should be divided into categories like: designers, DIYjunkies, DIYgurus, service provider(glassjaraudio), and so on!

 

[joneeboi]

Another plug for Thomas Blanchard. There are his obvious efforts in the Millett MAX project and associated MiniMAX and BantamDAC, but he has been around supporting diyforums.org, the AlienDAC thread and other various "Please help me!" threads. I mean, just look at how big the Millett MAX thread is. Tom's a cool guy.