[Modular]

I know there are many of these threads, but I have searched and none were a big help.

I'm looking to build my first headphone amp. I'm sure that I could build the CMOY with no problem at all and was thinking that even though I have a decent amount of experience, it might be a good place to start. My concern is that I will be disappointed with its sound. I currently use an X-Fi Xtremegamer card (great deal from Newegg) and would want the amp to improve on the sound cards musicality, particularly in the warmth of tones area.

So I have 3 questions I suppose:

1. Can a CMOY amp drastically improve the SQ of an X-Fi card?
2. What is the next step after a CMOY?
3. Given my level of experience, would it be better to invest the $$ I would spend building a CMOY into the next level of headphone amplification?


I have a decent electronics background, including soldering and basic digital/analogue circuit design experience from college. I have built several "kits" for fun like color organs, strobe lights, etc. and have modified stupid things like bubble lights to make them dim when shut off

 

[balou]

1. Not 'drastically'.
2. Hm... Mini^3 or a Pimeta
3. If you know to solder, I'd say go directly to the next step

The Mini^3 is a portable amp, using the AD8397 opamp - it's an opamp with a buffer already integrated. The Pimeta could be either configured as low current portable amp, or it can maxed out as a home amp

 

[vixr]

I second balou... the mini is going to be very nice. amb is doing a group buy for front and rear panels too...

 

[Modular]

Nice amps Vixr.

I'm wondering how much I can expect to spend on the M3 amp with power supply and all parts (including the case I suppose). Will it be offered as a complete kit at some point that just requires soldering?