Looking for a balanced amp need advice

[slypher]

I am curently interested in building a balenced setup. I have a thread in the dedicated source forum looking for a balanced DAC and now I need to search for a balanced amp.

I know of a few options like m^3 balanced amp and the Beta 22 but I do not know of many others. I think the 2 DIY amp I listed would give me the best bang for buck but I have no electrical skills to take on a project of this scope.

Are there any builders or websites I should look into for the m^3 or the Beta 22? Are there any mass produced headphone amps with balanced outputs I should consider?

Thanks for any input.

 

[vcoheda]

there is a reasonably priced DIY bal amp in the FS forum. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f10/fs...argain-414018/

Also see here: http://www.rockhopperaudio.com/Rockh..._Prebuilt.html

 

[slypher]

Thanks vcoheda I do not curently have the funds for the amp ckIII in the forsale forum you linked to I wish I did as it would go to the sellers good cause.

The rockhopper audio site is a good option for a future buy if I time the release of an amp right. Do you know if rockhopper audio builds amps to order for customers or do you just wait for a prebuilt unit to be released?

How do you contact falenangel or other DIYers to request a build would I simple PM them on this site?

 

[apatN]

^ You can simply shoot the DIY guys a PM if you want. Rockhopper don't take orders at the moment.
Also look into the Little Dot MKVI.

 

[slypher]

Thanks apatN I guess I will have to send some PMs out and check out Little Dot.

The only builders I Know of are MisterX and rockhopper audio from the recommended builders list on AMBs web site. I also see FalenAngels name pop up frequently as a builder of DIY products. Is there a list of biulder on this site or any other recomended biulders?

 

[slypher]

Wow I just saw a beta 22 and sigma 22 in the forsale forum from rockhopper audio and it is going for 2050. Are they that expensive to build, as the glass jar audio kits sells for 370 dollars for the amp and 104 dollars for the sigma 22 power suply. Dose the rest of the cost come from upgraded parts, case work and labour? I do not have the budget for 2000 dollar amp so should I set my sights to a different amp?

 

[Kees]

Balanced amps are expensive. I don't think there is a decent one under $1500. I think the Headroom balanced desktop and the Rudistor NX-33 are the lowest in price.

 

[apatN]

^ Nope. There are cheaper options. Of course there is DIY (and many amps can be made balanced) but other than that the Little Dot MKVI is balanced.

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slypher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow I just saw a beta 22 and sigma 22 in the forsale forum from rockhopper audio and it is going for 2050. Are they that expensive to build, as the glass jar audio kits sells for 370 dollars for the amp and 104 dollars for the sigma 22 power suply. Dose the rest of the cost come from upgraded parts, case work and labour? I do not have the budget for 2000 dollar amp so should I set my sights to a different amp?

First I do not think that kit includes the cost of a transformer. Not sure about Rockhopper's amp but many builders use 2 sigma 22 psu for a balanced beta22 (not required).

Cases are expensive
High end 4 channel POTS or Stepped Attenuators are expensive.
High end connectors are expensive
Custom case work is expensive

The cheapest part of building an amp like the beta22 is the parts that actually make it work! This is true more for DIY than for commercial however even with commercial products case work is general a good chunk of the cost of the device.

Oh forgot another expensive part, building a beta22 is a pretty difficult task to get right. Just the number of parts makes it a time consuming task. So time for the builder is expensive, however from the prices I have seen of DIY amps many builders do not value their time HIGH enough IMHO.

 

[slypher]

apatN is corect as there is a balanced mini3 for 310 dollars in the forsale forum unfortunatly it is beins sold in the united states only. There is also a balanec ckIII for sale for 600 dollars but I curently do not have the funds for that amp at this time. My current search is more of a fact finding mision for a future purchase.

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slypher /img/forum/go_quote.gif apatN is corect as there is a balanced mini3 for 310 dollars in the forsale forum unfortunatly it is beins sold in the united states only. There is also a balanec ckIII for sale for 600 dollars but I curently do not have the funds for that amp at this time. My current search is more of a fact finding mision for a future purchase.

The mini3 is a great portable amp, I have one and love it. However I really do not see the point of making it balanced beyond just to see if I could. You would be better served by a M^3 than a balanced mini3.

 

[slypher]

m1abrams thank you for the clarification I wish I had the skills to build my own. about the only way I could save sone money is by building my own case. I could also be mistaken on the modle of amp I thought the mini3 was a portable amp but the one in the forsale forum has large case work also rockhopper audio has a mini3 balanced amp as a future build. Is the m^3 a more powerfull amp than the mini3 given that I do not have the 2 mixed up.

 

[PFKMan23]

The M^3 and the Mini^3 are 2 different amps. And yes, the M^3 is more powerful and is a physically larger amp.

 

[m1abrams]

M^3 - The M³ Stereo Headphone Amplifier
mini3 - The Mini³ Portable Stereo Headphone Amplifier
beta22 - The β22 Stereo Amplifier

The M3 and beta22 are desktop amps, the mini3 is a portable amp powered by a 9V battery.

 

[manaox2]

Balanced M^3 should be utterly amazing. I've only seen one in pictures, but I bet from my SE version that I would be perfectly happy with that over any other solid state amplifier.