I was at a HiFi show at the weekend and it got me thinking... I have a really nice pair of Grado headphones kicking about and nothing to plug them into. They had little valve headphone amps there and I thought, that would DIY no probs. I know it's not really guitar related, but I wonder if anyone has built a headphone amp for a stereo? Or has any recommended places to look, schematics, etc.
I've built a handful of solid state ones. Tangentsoft.net is usually a good place to start.
There are certainly plenty of tubed based options out there. I may want to go down this path as well. If you feel like it, shoot me a PM and we can start planning it out.
I'll have a read up first, but yeah. I can see this being a fun project to do ;)
I'd love to build a tube headphone amp. If you guys find a good all in one kit, we could make it a group build project together. That would be fun!
Bottlehead! Great people to work with, great products. I haven't built a headphone amp, but the preamp I built and then upgraded is fantastic. Excellent documentation and support.
http://bottlehead.com/headphone-amplifier-kits/ (http://bottlehead.com/headphone-amplifier-kits/)
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113883.0 (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113883.0)
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/marvelously-addictive-bottlehead-crack (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/marvelously-addictive-bottlehead-crack)
Quote from: madbean on February 24, 2014, 04:15:11 PM
I'd love to build a tube headphone amp. If you guys find a good all in one kit, we could make it a group build project together. That would be fun!
Sounds great!
I'll design the headphones . ;-)
In the meantime...To get those nice Grado headphones back into service STAT build yourself a lowly Cmoy, quick, easy chip amp that sounds terrific, can use a NE5532 if you have one on hand or the more exotic ie., expensive chips usually listed. A step up would be something like Erix 47 which really packs a wallop and can be deafening loud to really drowned out the voices. Headphone amps and Grados were my gateway drugs to amps and pedals.
http://www.head-fi.org/f/6/diy-do-it-yourself-discussions
An interesting hybrid.
http://www.pmillett.com/hybrid_head.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/319231/millett-starving-student-hybrid-amp
dave
Actually, I'd spend a touch more and build a Pimeta. It sounds better than the CMOY and you can order a PCB for under $10.
All good stuff.
Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....
Do love those 'phones!
Quote from: juansolo on February 24, 2014, 09:29:57 PM
All good stuff.
Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....
Do love those 'phones!
Yeah, I have a pair of Grados that need new pads. I've got a set of Sennheisers and a set of AKGs (that I've had forever). And, of course, I've got about a billion IEMs.
I know you said HiFi but this might be a fun project to play with.
http://stompboxed.blogspot.com/2012/07/12ax7-tube-headphone-amp.html (http://stompboxed.blogspot.com/2012/07/12ax7-tube-headphone-amp.html)
and just found this one also.
http://kk4eqm.com/?p=176 (http://kk4eqm.com/?p=176)
Quote from: davent on February 24, 2014, 06:38:23 PM
In the meantime...To get those nice Grado headphones back into service STAT build yourself a lowly Cmoy, quick, easy chip amp that sounds terrific, can use a NE5532 if you have one on hand or the more exotic ie., expensive chips usually listed. A step up would be something like Erix 47 which really packs a wallop and can be deafening loud to really drowned out the voices. Headphone amps and Grados were my gateway drugs to amps and pedals.
http://www.head-fi.org/f/6/diy-do-it-yourself-discussions
An interesting hybrid.
http://www.pmillett.com/hybrid_head.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/319231/millett-starving-student-hybrid-amp
dave
Yes, I built a CMOY headphone amp with my son and he listens to his Grados through it all the time. It sounds great.
If there is a tube head amp project I want in!
Quote from: pickdropper on February 24, 2014, 09:45:08 PM
Quote from: juansolo on February 24, 2014, 09:29:57 PM
All good stuff.
Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....
Do love those 'phones!
Yeah, I have a pair of Grados that need new pads. I've got a set of Sennheisers and a set of AKGs (that I've had forever). And, of course, I've got about a billion IEMs.
You can get replacement pads for your Grados from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Grado-L-Cush-Large-Replacement-Cushions/dp/B0006GCCO0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393307157&sr=8-2&keywords=grado+labs+pads
More interesting reading
http://www.platenspeler.com/hifi/headphones/uk_littledot_1.php
It's not tube but I've been wanting to build this one...
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html
Quote from: muddyfox on February 25, 2014, 02:43:37 PM
It's not tube but I've been wanting to build this one...
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html
I think I've built four of those for me and for friends. It's decent enough, but it's far from my favorite. My Pimeta and PPA see a lot more usage.
Well I think I'm going to have a go at a 12AU7 Starving Student and see how it goes ;)
I actually have a Millet hybrid-- offshoot of the starving student-- if anyone needs one. I'm not really using it right now.
Quote from: thesameage on May 30, 2014, 02:55:49 PM
I actually have a Millet hybrid-- offshoot of the starving student-- if anyone needs one. I'm not really using it right now.
Do you have a pcb or complete amp?
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I've got the whole working amp and some extra tubes along with a simple USB DAC. It sounds great, but I have it at work and it's a little bit of overkill. I bought it off of someone on headfi a few years ago and have been trying to use it over the years but it's always too much for my work situation. Sounds awesome, though!
Are you looking to sell or trade it?
Quote from: thesameage on May 30, 2014, 03:37:56 PM
I've got the whole working amp and some extra tubes along with a simple USB DAC. It sounds great, but I have it at work and it's a little bit of overkill. I bought it off of someone on headfi a few years ago and have been trying to use it over the years but it's always too much for my work situation. Sounds awesome, though!
How much are you asking for everything?
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Good question! :)
It's been in my desk here at work for a while now and I'm finally coming around to realizing that I won't be using it. So, just thinking about passing it on to someone who can really use it.
As always, I have a few projects to fund, but could do the right trade.
I just looked back and I bought it for $100 (cheaper as it needed some resoldering on the switch) and the DAC for around $45. Here are some original pictures of it from that sale:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44936083@N04/sets/72157622749291721/
So... somewhere in that area. Comes with two sets of tubes. Let me know if anyone is really interested and I can give it a once over this weekend. Make an offer. :)
BTW, Pickdropper, I'm the one who bought the Shoot the Moon from you last night on BYOC.
Quote from: thesameage on May 30, 2014, 04:00:13 PM
BTW, Pickdropper, I'm the one who bought the Shoot the Moon from you last night on BYOC.
Ah, cool.
Can you shoot me your address? I've been having trouble getting to BYOC.