"WHAMMY" Pass DIY headphone amp guide

[esgigt]

Coupling caps.

The UES are the preferred cap for that position.

No.

6L6, could you please tell me which caps are better than the UES's? (and why, because I like to learn something )

 

[Ak76]

Looks great, what's the case?

The same Hammond as 6L6's, there's a link to it from him on the first or second page.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9s]

6L6, could you please tell me which caps are better than the UES's? (and why, because I like to learn something )

The Nichicon Bi-Polar (UES) are what Wayne has selected for those positions. He talks about it in the video. Pass was using Silmic IIs (brown colored caps by Elna) but since the manufacturing has moved to China the reliability has taken a hit in their experience, so the Nichicon Bi-Polar (bright green iridescent caps) are the next best. You can use the Silmics but they are harder to fit as they are physically larger. If you'd rather not use either for some reason, you can always use Nichicon Fine Gold, Nichicon Muse, or whatever other audio electrolytic you fancy. If you aren't sure, I'd advise going with Wayne's choice of the Nichicon Bi-Polar as the only electrolytic caps that can really rival it is the Silmic and the impossible to source Black Gates.

Finished my build tonight, thanks @6L6 for the quick replies and help. It turned out awesome.

Great work! Nice and clean!

 

[wayne]

Hammond 1455T2201 available in clear, black, blue and red. They are about $32 US.

 

[6L6]

6L6, could you please tell me which caps are better than the UES's? (and why, because I like to learn something )

I'll let our colleague Stuart Yaniger (SY here on the forum) explain --

SYclotron Audio | Why are people obsessed with coupling caps?

SYclotron Audio | Why are people obsessed with coupling caps? Part 2

 

[Moon Indigo]

Quick question: I am about to order from BOM. Mouser is out of these. What is a substitute (on Mouser)? Thanks (Noob here).

(6) 1N4004 D1,D2, D3, D4, D7, D8 1N4004 583-1N4004-T

 

[Zen Mod]

anything between 1N4001 and 1N4007

 

[Moon Indigo]

anything between 1N4001 and 1N4007

Thank you so much for the quick reply!

 

[Moon Indigo]

anything between 1N4001 and 1N4007

How about 1N4004G-K R0G? Data sheet attached.

 

[Zen Mod]

yup

 

[Moon Indigo]

yup

Thanks!

 

[Moon Indigo]

Another noob question - what is a commercial headphone amp this would compare to? Currently using a Fiio E09K and what to know whether the Whammy will be a step up.

 

[wayne]

Hard to say what is close in the commercial world but this will be better because you built it yourself.

 

[promitheus]

just a quick shot with the phone. finished just now. will listen to tomorrow morning Fun build!!!

Does the Alps Pot get centered by itself in the Hammond enclosure.

 

[silasmellor]

What is the opinion on using the WHAMMY as a preamp for e.g. a firstwatt or ACA? How easy would it be (for a beginner) to implement something that would let it switch between headphone and RCA outputs (for power am)?

 

[Zen Mod]

easy

just a pair of RCA on back , with or without switch for cans output

 

[silasmellor]

I had a feeling it would be simple So i guess the extra current going into a 10-47k load from the power amp will just be trivial when the amp is already delivering for a 30-60 ohm load?

 

[Zen Mod]

waste of power and maybe even confusing (peripheral sound) , if you leave cans connected , while using line pre out

.... other way , while using cans , just leave power amp powered off

 

[silasmellor]

Fair enough. Would there be any detriment to a switch, if used while WHAMMY is powered on?

 

[WalterW]

I'll let our colleague Stuart Yaniger (SY here on the forum) explain --

SYclotron Audio | Why are people obsessed with coupling caps?

SYclotron Audio | Why are people obsessed with coupling caps? Part 2

Thanks! very interesting and just what I always expected. Though I always thought there would be a very small difference, SY is teaching us there is NO difference at all