[evilsync]

  I use the O2 and ODAC with T90's all day long....
 
one word "EXCELLENT"...
 
Alex

 
Thanks, that's reassuring.  Did you look at any other alternatives for the T90's?

 

[miceblue]

I prefer the Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies for the T90 since the T90 has a pretty prominent treble response and I didn't like it out of the O2/ODAC combo too much.

* Not my rig, but I listened to it at a local Head-Fi meet

 

[agdr]

 
I've been doing some googling and haven't quite found an answer - but wasn't there meant to be a ODA (desktop amp), whatever happened to this concept?
.

 
The designer of the O2 headphone amp never did post his ODA before he dissapeared last year.  Earlier this year I whipped up a DIY version of an ODA, based on the original O2 design.   Same overall design as the O2 just with each section upgraded to take advantage of the additional space and power supply in a desktop design.   See this post:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/616331/o2-amp-odac/1635#post_9748634
 
Hey my appologies to Currawong!  I hadn't followed up on this thread in awhile and never saw his post #1677 until now, when I went back to find the post number of my old post.  I'll follow up with him to find out the best way to post the files here.  I haven't tried posting those yet because I want to do a couple of small updates (then fab and test the boards), but got sidetracked on another O2-related DIY project, an O2 output upgrade PCB.  This one slides right into the top slot on O2's standard B2-080 case, above the O2 PC board, and plugs in place of the two O2 NJM4556A chips.
 
The O2 booster and upgrade board does a few things.  It replaces the O2's two NJM4556A output chips by a lower distortion (by datasheet numbers, NOT dScope tested) and lower output DC offset OPA140+LME49600 pair.  I have measured the DC output offset.  20uv vs. 3mV (3000uV) for a standard O2 with the NJM4556A chips, a 93% reduction.  The O2's designer noted in his posts that the output distortion of the NJM4556A output chips swamp that of the NJM2068 gain chip, making it pointless to replace the NJM2068 with something even lower distortion.  The upgrade board solves that problem. The board also includes a few optional O2 modifications I've posted elsewhere over the years including: output anti-thump resistors; power manageement latch circuit to prevent that oscillation noise when the batts get low; and an optional 1/4" Neutrik jack that fits upside down (but the 1/4" jack does require the taller B3-080 case). 
 
The OPA140 is a DC precision op amp with good AC datasheet parameters (around 8x better than the O2 designer's posted dScope measured numbers with the NJM4556A) while the LME49600 is the well known 250mA audio output buffer.   Note the O2's power supply in the O2 won't allow continuous (sine wave) output past around 200mA but it certainly can burst up there in a "music power" sense where peaks in music are 3x to 4x the average.  The OPA140 has extremely low current draw, just 2mA, and the LME49600 is run in low bandwidth mode (still 110mHz which is way above what is needed for audio).  So the upgrade chips pull only slightly more current than the original NJM4556A, making it still battery friendly.  The OPA140 can be replaced with the OPA827, OPA627, OPA1641, LME49710, LME49990 but all with differing effects on DC output offset and current draw.   See the build instructions. 
 
Both boards are 100% DIY.  The files contain Gerber files you can send out to Seeed Studio or other 4-layer fab house and make your own boards.  If Currawong will allow I may make single PC boards available at cost if anyone is interested if there is some way to do that and stay within forum rules.  The fab house has a 5 board minimum which is a bit of a DIY hurdle.  The ODA board has a lot of surface mount parts and has parts on both sides of the board, although I kept the minimum part size on either board 1206 SMD (larger size) to make them as DIY friendly as possible.  The O2 upgrade board is all surface mount but on just one side.  So both are  essentially solder skills V2.0 vs. the O2.

 
Best to wait a little bit on the ODA since I am doing a few small updates on the design and want to fab/test it first.  I'm slowly tinkering around a whatever a V2.0 might be, but that wouldn't be until later next year if at all.
 
(image missing) 

 

[adydula]

Hello,
 
Ever since the designer disappeared there has been a lot of activity on other sites on the Objective 2 amp.
 
If your into DIY you can put a desktop version of the O2 together.
 
AGDR is one of the most knowledgeable people on the O2 that I know other than the designer himself.
 
He has done and shared many, many updates to the O2.
 
Even though to me, the O2 is pretty close to sonic perfection and a stellar deal when it comes to price and how it performs against other headphone amps, there are always areas and ways to make things "better" in many respects.
 
Less noise, more power, useability, etc..
 
AGDR has and is doing a "stellar' job working on the base O2 amp and making it even better in that context.
 
I cant wait to get the boards and start building another derivative of this marvelous design.
 
Alex

 

[Battou62]

It should be noted also that the designer of "The Wire" is releasing some new amp versions and possibly a dac on the DIY audio site.

 

[lokesen]

 

 
 
I just made a custom O2 amp + ODAC, but I didn't like the front panel with the power plug in the front. So I designed one myself with a laser engraved silver front and 2 mm acrylics on top of that. I made 4 spare ones. The front panel is 1mm larger around the edge, than the original and I really think that make it look much better than the original. The panel is anodised aluminium, rather than the shiny brushed original ones (they look very bad my opinion).
 
I couldn't get the camera to capture the nice silvery finish though, hope you like it anyway.

 

[adydula]

Very nice!!
 
Alex

 

[idlelabor]

Hi guys, recently decided to try IEMs and bought the VSONIC GR07 Bass Editions. Having a hard time trying to decide whether or not to get this combo or the Schiit Magni and Modi stack. Just wondering if these will bring about any positive difference towards the sound of IEMs in general?

 

[miceblue]

Hi guys, recently decided to try IEMs and bought the VSONIC GR07 Bass Editions. Having a hard time trying to decide whether or not to get this combo or the Schiit Magni and Modi stack. Just wondering if these will bring about any positive difference towards the sound of IEMs in general?

For sensitive earphones, you'd probably be better off with the O2 due to its lower gain and lower power output, meaning you'll likely hear less background hiss and be able to listen to music at a quieter listening level.

 

[adydula]

Agree....

 

[austonia]

.

 

[Peti]

I was wondering if anyone have a first-hand experience with the O2+Odac & HD800? The nominal impedance of the HD-800 ,as we all know, is 300 Ohms. BUT, based on the innerfidelity's impedance graph (http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD800.pdf) for lower frequencies, the HD800 requires ~640 ohms! Would the O2 be able to properly drive the HD800 to bring out the best from the HD800 when it comes to bass?
 
I'm having hard time to find an expert answer for this question...

 

[GigArt]

I would not recommend using ODAC\O2 (which has brighter sound signature) with HD800 (bright too). Russian headfiers spend thousands and thousands of bucks to make HD800 sing perfectly 

 

[James-uk]

I own the O2 and HD800. The only reason I now use the HDVD800 instead is because it had more inputs, looks pretty and has a higher output impedance so it adds a touch of warmth which suits my taste.(although this could be placebo) If I had to do a blind test between the 2 I would probably fail. The only thing I find with O2 is that on some quiet recordings I had to have the volume pot high and I'm a moderate volume listener. Any louder though and it would be into dangerous territory . It's a transparent amp and won't sound any different from any other transparent amp regardless of cost.

 

[James-uk]

In response to GigArts comment. O2/odac is transparent therefore neutral. HD800s are also neutral therefore transparent. The resulting sound is neutral. They might sound bright compared to lesser phones on flawed amps. Now my subjective taste means I like a touch more warmth than neutral which is partly why I chose the HDvD800. I've done some sighted a/b comparisons and I think I would probably fail a blind test. It Made me realise that the O2 is all anyone needs for sq.