[Bleuburd]

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of trying out my first diy project. But, I want to try and avoid a cmoy and do something that I can use as dedicated amp after my ibasso D2. I'm basically just looking for something with really good instructions, or something that can sort of teach me as I go. I'm going to make a few interconnects to get my soldering skills up to par so I think that should be fine. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
~Bleuburd

 

[MisterX]

Detailed like the instructions linked below?

http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/epluskitmanual.pdf

 

[Bleuburd]

Yes. They look really good, but is there possibly something in more of the $150 range?

 

[linuxworks]

a pimeta is not too hard (if you use all thru-hole chips). its a nice first project and its way more than a 'cmoy'

 

[Bleuburd]

I was checking out the pimeta, but I know nothing about the values (capacitance, resistance, etc) of the parts. I guess my lack of knowledge just makes me think that I won't be able to understand how the amp should be assembled.

 

[Daveze]

The Jaycar/Silicon Chip headphone amp? Should be in your price range, plenty of room to learn by modifying and has sound quality of an amp well above its cost.

 

[Bleuburd]

I'm pretty sure, I'm go with the pimeta and stick it in a hammond case. I think I should be able to make it work.

 

[royewest]

There are wonderful current projects that fit your bill, IMO.

The gamma-1 DAC and amps from amb labs are very well documented:

AMB Laboratories DIY Audio Site

Glass jar has a good selection:

Glass Jar Audio : Home

tomb has a great assortment with more to come (supported with his store, which is really a service to the community at beezar.com):

DIYForums.org

And if you want a full kit, I just adore my Single-Ended Experimenter's headphone amp:

Single Ended eXperimenter's Kit

We sure are lucky to have this wealth of well-documented, community-supported projects.

__Roy

 

[linuxworks]

I think the gamma1 is a BIT too advanced for a first timer.

2nd, ok. but really not first.

 

[nsx_23]

I just finished constructing the hohodiy AMB mini3 and Grado RA1 clone kit. Complete part, quiet easy assembly if you take your time.

They also have a blog with very good construction photos and instructions (which, unfortunately, are in Chinese). AMB mini3隨身耳擴è£æ©Ÿå*±å‘Šç¬¬1篇 - 主æ¿è£½ä½œ1 - Neo's Blog

Linuxworks, do you think a Gamma1 would be within my reach? I've just finished the mini3, did a couple of CMOYs before and finished a Grado RA1 clone kit from hohodiy.

 

[Gautama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleuburd /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm pretty sure, I'm go with the pimeta and stick it in a hammond case. I think I should be able to make it work.

Pimeta 2 is currently in development. Not sure how close it is to completion, might want to wait a bit.

HeadWize: DIY Workshop > PIMETA v2

 

[-=Germania=-]

Why not wait for the SSMH partial kit that is underway?

Great amp for the money and pretty simple to build - PCB will make it easy. Plus a nice intro to tubes.

 

[Bleuburd]

I was considering the starving student. If you guys think I can guide myself through it with a pcb and little patience, then I'll probably wait and go for it.

 

[pdupiano]

Bleuburd, no offense but I think you gotta put in a little bit of work as well. No kit can give you every step by step instruction including how to read resistors/capacitors etc.. (unless you order a beginner kit from greymark/chaney electronics , but they're usually not audio related). I'm 100% shure that all of us are more than willing to help you, but I think you've got to do a bit of work on your own first, especially on how to read the values of electronic components, how to test if they work, and setting up a good work area for yourself (decent soldering iron/pencil, tweezer,s helping hands, loupe's magnifying glasses etc...). After you get through with that, the partial Starving student kit should be done and you'd be able to jump on board.

 

[scytheavatar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleuburd /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was checking out the pimeta, but I know nothing about the values (capacitance, resistance, etc) of the parts. I guess my lack of knowledge just makes me think that I won't be able to understand how the amp should be assembled.

If you don't know and have no interest to learn basics like how to read the values of a part, please do yourself a favor and stay away from DIY amps. Otherwise when something goes wrong you'll have no idea what to do. I'll recommend the pimeta, Tangent's site is a terrific starting place for learning how to build a DIY amp and he has a detailed step by step guide to assembling the pimeta. Please read through all the stuff in his project FAQ and you'll learn a lot about how to assemble the amp. And as a beginner please do not get a kit; the parts selection process teaches you a lot about the components for the amp.