DIY Headphone Amplifier
OK. I've decided to try and make my own headphone amplifier. Why?
1) I've read on numerous occasions in various threads that the hifi manufacturers are overcharging for their products. This will give me a chance to more accurately assess this claim. I will be using someone else's design, so I will be unable to factor in the research and development costs. Still, it should give me a bit of an idea.
2) I've been looking at headphone amps for a while now. I was primarily interested in the Stello HP100, the offerings from Creek and Graham Slee, the Sugden Headmaster, etc. I tried to audition a model from Creek at the recent show.....but couldn't really hear it over the din from Nintendo's Guitar Hero stand. I also liked the look of the Little Dot V (dual mono).
It was the Stello which interested me most, but with the drop in the pound against the dollar, the risks of buying from abroad, my lack of success with brokering a recent deal with the single UK reatiler and Russ Andrews simply charging too much, I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money.
3) I like tinkering and understanding how things work. I really liked Ray Palmer's Speaker cobbling thread (whatever happened to those speakers Ray?).
So, I've taken the plunge, bought the tools and ordered the parts. I intend to update this thread to record how I get on.
You may be wondering why I have posted this thread in the Computer-based Music forum. Well, for me, a headphone amp is a critical part of my PC based system ie PC->DAC->Headpone Amp->Headphones.
Currently, a Beresford DAC is performing the role of DAC and Headphone Amp. I am hoping that a dedicated headphone amp will improve sound quality.
This looks interesting PJ Pro, going to keep an eye on this to see how it develops. Do you have much experience with electronics, or is this all new to you?
This seriously interests me. I too currently use the Beresford as my headphone amp, and have recently been interested in building a headphone amp (after reading claims that manufacturer-built ones are grossly over-priced). I have the electronics experience and the necessary equipment, so I look forward to seeing your results.
What 'phones are you using?
What is your estimated time-span for this project?ÿ
Sorry I didn't find this post sooner PJ. Very interesting. Of course this is how everyone starts, I have never attempted anything like this but the idea takes you everywhere. Let us know how you get on.
By the way, the Beresford headphone output is not anywhere near as good as everyone seems to think it is in my opinion, but if you build something that beats it my hat is off to you.ÿ
lonely boy:This looks interesting PJ Pro, going to keep an eye on this to see how it develops. Do you have much experience with electronics, or is this all new to you?
Err no. No experience at all really.
Olli1324:[snip]....What 'phones are you using?What is your estimated time-span for this project?
I use Grado SR80s
Time-span? Hmmmmmm. Tangent gives an estimate to complete each section. But I'll be surprised if I can match it due to unforeseen issues cropping up. Moreover, the elapsed time will be greater than the effort required....due to getting additional parts (I still need a box), family commitments, screw-ups, etc.
Given all that I reckon two weeks max. But it should take a few hours!
Well I'll let you amke all the errors the first time. Make sure you record everything you do 
PJPro:...but with the drop in the pound against the dollar, the risks of buying from abroad, my lack of success with brokering a recent deal with the single UK reatiler and Russ Andrews simply charging too much, I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money.
Indeed. I ordered a Fubar II USB DAC for £105 just over a week ago from RA.
Just checked today and they are now charging £126. I got there just in time.
However the dollar/pound exchange rate has plummetted and Firestone Audio are an American company so it is not that suprising. Pound is currently 1.49 dollars (has gone down to 1.42 and lower in recent days) so I don't think there is rampant profiteering going on. It will be a long time (maybe never) that we will see the 1.98 dollar/pound rate back again.
If I had ordered direct from Firestone's official ebay dealer (in Canada) it could cost me £87 + 17.5 percent VAT + import duty + $32 delivery and I would have no UK backup/warranty/return policy etc. (+ Russ Andrews delivery is free.)
The Stello HP100 is $595 (according to April Music's own website) and the RA HP-1 version is £499 so allowing for the p@ss poor dollar pound exchange rate and the VAT + import duty charges (and free delivery) and the 1 year UK warranty it isnt that bad.
OK. But I thought this might be a little fun too.....although I'll probably just end up losing my rag.
saw your post and this got me thinking about building one.... i know in one of your posts you mentioned trying to narrow it down to one supplier, not sure if you have researched this but it seems you can get all the components from rs components, although they only sell most of the components in packs of ten,,,
Protoboard arrived today. Shocked at how small it is, especially as I will only be using half a board for a single amplifier!
Also got some difficulties with my order for my components (don't know how they will all fit on that tiny board). Seems my credit card had been rejected for some or other reason. Had to ring up the States. Just to make sure I wasn't ringing while they were in bed I checked out where the company is based. Turns out it's Texas...in a place just north of Waco!
Have to say the whole episode was somewhat bizarre. I was put on hold and was listening to american voices advertising who knows what on the phone. I sort of drifted off and was unable to remember my own phone number when the telephonist returned and asked me for it! I laughed. She didn't. Humourless? I was disappointed when she didn't say "Missing you already".
Bottom line is that they were still having difficulty with my card/order (exchange rates this time) and promised to ring me back or email me. They haven't. It's been nearly an hour. They said 10 minutes. This project is starting to hack me off already!
daveh75:[snip].....you can get all the components from rs components, although they only sell most of the components in packs of ten,,,
Not so. I've gone for the high quality precision resistors which they do not appear to stock.
And, yes. I do have the list of component part numbers from a single supplier. It took quite a lot of effort going to multiple suppliers (using Tangents parts numbers) to narrow down the manufacturer part number and then going back to my preferred single supplier to identify the part and get their stock number.
Actually went through a number of single suppliers until I found one that did the lot. Major hassle!
nice one... be interesting to see how you get on
One good bit of news is that I've managed to secure the use of an oscilliscope? Might be useful for diagnostics when it all goes wrong!
A number of people on the forum often bleat about the lack of technical measure of equipment. So, I'd thought I would test the amplifier using the oscilliscope. That's great. But I don't actually know what needs to be done or what represents a good result! My technical friend reckons pumping a sine wave through the amp would probably be the way to go. But what would a good result look like? I haven't a clue. Any ideas/advice?
Incidently, I have other ideas for normal testing using one's ears.
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I am going to make the Tangent variant of the CMoy headphone amplifier. This is a relatively simple design, should be easy to make and should provide relatvely good results (apparently the Grado RA1 is a CMoy variant).
The Tangent website provides parts lists from various suppliers. He also provides lots of alternative parts for the builder to select. I aim to simplify this by providing a single definitive list and limit the number of suppliers. I'll also provide a fairly accurate view on costs for a UK builder of this amp using the parts I define.
I also intend to capture all the issues I encounter to help anyone who decides to have a go themselves.
The Tangent site can be found here and the CMoy tutorial can be found here.
My useful(?) What HiFi Forum threads can be found here.