Just listened to some Fostex T50RPs today... WOW!

[drexman]

i don't like DIY. unless it's super easy to make because i have zero experience. where to order it? how is the o2 compared to matrix m-stage?

 

[kingoftown1]

haven't heard the m-stage so I can't compare, but a fully assembled & cased O2 can be ordered from JDSlabs.

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

i don't like DIY. unless it's super easy to make because i have zero experience. where to order it? how is the o2 compared to matrix m-stage?

LOL!  The O2 is probably the easiest amp to build from ordering, building, and using. Don't knock something until you've tried it.  Also, DIY is amazing because you get quality tha'ts usually 4-5 times the price of what you paid to build it.  In the case of the O2, you get more quality than that. 
 
Just go read on NwAvGuy's blog about how to do it.  There is a BOM that you can import directly to Mouser.com and order just like that.  There's no surface mount parts, no wiring, and no board mounting to the enclosure at all.  The board slides right into the case, and there are pre-made front panels you can purchase for only $10.
 
Its basically a no-brainer.
 
 
EDIT:  I think this is the best portable amp I've used to date.  Not sure exactly how it stacks up against my Bijou tube amp that I use as my main amp at home though, because that thing has got serious sound.  I'll do a comparison sometime at my leisure.

 

[drexman]

it's really cheap, only 60$ right? i'll consider it. though i don't believe an amp this tiny can be as good as bigger amps.

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

it's really cheap, only 60$ right? i'll consider it. though i don't believe an amp this tiny can be as good as bigger amps.

I think its time to drop some of the audiophile voodoo.  Bigger does not equal better.  Superior design wins sound quality.  Most bigger amps are only bigger because they sell better that way.  Many of them are filled with lots of air.  Furthermore, you can make this amp bigger by building a desktop version.  I built a portable version because its slightly cheaper and I wanted to see if it really was all it cracked up to be.  And yes, it is what its cracked up to be.  Its a very clear, very good sounding amp. 
 
I own 6 amps and have heard other amps, and this one is up there.  I have not compared it directly to my Bijou yet (but I think it will fare well) so I can't say if its as good as that yet but the Bijou is #7 on the Skylab's "best tube amps" list and competes with many high dollar "big amps". 
 
The Bijou by the way is that monster on the top of the tower in my avatar.
 
 
To stick on topic with the T50RP's.  I really need to build a quality 1/4" --> 1/8" adapter so I can test out my T50's on this amp.

 

[liamstrain]

Quote:

The Bijou by the way is that monster on the top of the tower in my avatar.

I was wondering what that double cased beast was.

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

I was wondering what that double cased beast was.

 
 
 
The Bijou is on top, and the Opus DAC is on bottom.
 
 

 

[liamstrain]

Opus is balanced no? Is the Bijou? That looks like a regular locking TRS jack on the front. 

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

Opus is balanced no? Is the Bijou? That looks like a regular locking TRS jack on the front. 

Well, any DAC is balanced by nature of what it is.  I'm using a Ballsie Lite single-ended converter on the output of the DAC inside the case though.  You're correct, I'm using a standard 1/4" headphone output on the Bijou.

 

[rhythmdevils]

Quote:

I think its time to drop some of the audiophile voodoo.  Bigger does not equal better.  Superior design wins sound quality.  Most bigger amps are only bigger because they sell better that way.  Many of them are filled with lots of air.  Furthermore, you can make this amp bigger by building a desktop version.  I built a portable version because its slightly cheaper and I wanted to see if it really was all it cracked up to be.  And yes, it is what its cracked up to be.  Its a very clear, very good sounding amp. 
 
I own 6 amps and have heard other amps, and this one is up there.  I have not compared it directly to my Bijou yet (but I think it will fare well) so I can't say if its as good as that yet but the Bijou is #7 on the Skylab's "best tube amps" list and competes with many high dollar "big amps".

 
I think you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 

 

[FlySweep]

I really need to build a quality 1/4" --> 1/8" adapter so I can test out my T50's on this amp.

 
I've been using this.  Works great, BTW.

 

[LFF]

Quote:

I really need to build a quality 1/4" --> 1/8" adapter so I can test out my T50's on this amp.

I am using this and it works very well.
 

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

 
I've been using this.  Works great, BTW.

 
Quote:

I am using this and it works very well.
 

 
Honestly, I can just order a female cable-mounted 1/4" jack and use a 3.5mm jack that I've got lying around here, coupled with some spare Mogami star-quad cable that I have lying around and make one cheaper.  I just don't currently own a soldering iron.  I've been using the Michigan State University soldering facilities up until now, and we're about to go on holiday. 
 
I used to use the Sennheiser HD650 1/4" to 1/8" adapter but that went away with my HD650's. 
 
I appreciate the links though, I'll save them in the case that I can't source parts quickly.

 

[DaBomb77766]

I've been considering building an O2, but I'm probably just gonna wait until the specs for the desktop version are released.  I have no need for a portable amp that big...
 
Also, JDSLabs doesn't seem to be selling it yet?

 

[wdahm519]

Quote:

I've been considering building an O2, but I'm probably just gonna wait until the specs for the desktop version are released.  I have no need for a portable amp that big...
 
Also, JDSLabs doesn't seem to be selling it yet?

How big?  Its roughly 3. x 2. x 1.