[Toddathan]

NickDangerous finally got his wish. Bottlehead's about to release a headphone amp kit. It's also an integrated amp.

http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/S.E.X./SEX.htm

This just might make me finally jump into DIY.

 

[chiefroastbeef]

where in dallas are you from texan?

careful driving in the rain this morning, my underwear is tumblin in the dryer right now because of the thunders

 

[Todd R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddathan NickDangerous finally got his wish. Bottlehead's about to release a headphone amp kit. It's also an integrated amp. http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/S.E.X./SEX.htm This just might make me finally jump into DIY.

YES! Finally.
I'm getting one

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Only $350? Are you Texans fixin' to get one?

 

[raif]

Are the tubes used in the design super expensive ala 6sn7 for quality NOS?

 

[smokey]

OK, who is going to be the first to advertise building these kits for the members of the "wrong end of the soldering gun" set?

 

[Todd R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey OK, who is going to be the first to advertise building these kits for the members of the "wrong end of the soldering gun" set?

Bottlehead kits are so good and easy to follow, anyone should be able to assemble a skill level 1 kit.
But I'd be glad to assemble some if someone needed it done.

BTW, I know this is an old kit that has been out before. Has anyone ever heard one?
TR

 

[ooheadsoo]

I think Doc had the S.E.X. as an amp of some kind before, but not as a headphone amp. This is probably a complete reworking of it. *sigh*, only 2 watts...This'll have to wait a decade or so until I get my line arrays...

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Yo Todd... it's been awhile, huh?

Darn. If only I had the opportunity to build this when I had my headphone gear.

Bottlehead kits are certainly affordable and very popular but the documentation, assembly procedures, and overall "polish" isn't quite on the same level as Mapletree and Welborne Labs. I'm not saying their S.E.X. headphone amp won't be a quality product... only that it should be rigorously compared with the other kits out there.

 

[Wodgy]

Very true. The Mapletree Ear+ Purist has gotten a lot of good reviews here on Head-Fi and is cheaper in kit form than the Bottlehead S.E.X. (plus Mapletree is currently throwing in free shipping), so it's still worth considering for those budding DIYers out there. Both kits use single ended triodes on both stages, with no feedback. The Mapletree does appear to use higher quality output transformers than the S.E.X., so it could have an edge in the bass. The Mapletree is also probably easier to tuberoll, since the S.E.X. uses 70's television tubes. On the other hand, the S.E.X. can drive efficient speakers.

I'm also a little curious why "Doc" Bottlehead had to hang a 120 ohm resistor network in front of the headphone jack. I'm assuming this is to reduce noise, but it will also reduce the amp's control over low impedance headphones. The Mapletree kit has an output impedance of 7 ohms with only 0.2mV noise, which is pretty darn awesome.

Hard decision. I'd personally love to build both kits.

 

[Todd R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Dangerous Yo Todd... it's been awhile, huh?

Sure has.

 

[tone]

I'm seriously thinking about buying this bottlehead headphone amp kit. It would be a blast to assemble my own amp (if given good instructions). i'll wait until the first reviews to come out before i put my order in though. Otherwise its time to finally pick up an mxp3 from singlepower. i've been ampless for way to long!