Could this accomplish what I'm after?

[Formula350]

I'm wanting to get either a fairly inexpensive DIY kit, or even something preassembled, which will offer room for future upgrades (part replacements). My hope was something OpA based, to be able to inexpensively and easily swap out for different models. I'm not going to be driving anything big or high end, and the input source (for now) also won't be anything that is by any means acceptable by you all lol I'll be using my computer, with it's onboard VIA VT2020 codec through it's internal Headphone Out header (compared to the back panel 3.5mm jacks, it provides almost no noise). Speakers aren't but Logitech Z-560 satellites (Tang Band 8Ω), so basically mids and highs, but they would only be for basic Windows audio.

What I use for music, games and video are my Shure SE210s, who's specs are:
Transducer type: Balanced-armature drivers
Sensitivity (at 1kHz): 114 dB SPL/mW
Impedance (at 1kHz): 26Ω
DC Resistance: 19Ω
Frequency Rang:e 25Hz - 18.5kHz

I'm not particularly needing anything that is going to offer stellar audio. While it'd be nice, aside from my gear, the other limiting factor is my budget. I'd like to keep under/around $30-35. Though I'd willing to bend that, based on your recommendations...

I was looking for kits, and a lot of the stuff I thought may work well all seemed to be labeled as Pre-Amps. My understanding was that for headphones at least, that would work out fine. Is that a correct assumption?
Here is the OpAmp based kit I was thinking about (keep in mind, any included components will inevitably be replaced):
Current boosted diamond buffer preamplifier stereo kit (Not really sure what caps it does come with now, but would've been nice had it been the Elnas.)
Pre-AMP Peramplifier KIT Tube 6N11 SRPP for DIY (While OpA would likely be better suited for me, I will admit I'd curious about tubes, even if these included ones would likely even suck by my standards heh)

So any and all suggestions are welcome. I know I don't REALLY need a headphone driver, but this would be something to help me break into DIY. Plus I'd like to maybe make a DAC if this goes well, so I don't have to get a sound card :P

[pacificblue]

Type headphone amp kit into the ebay search. It will turn up something like this. Or start here

The amps you linked to are a chipamp driven solid-state preamp and a tube preamp.

Both are probably better than what you wanted as preamp. The tube amp may not make for a good headphone amp. The output capacitors are too small to get deep bass into a load with relatively low impedance. The solid state amp comes without the opamp, so may need some tweaking according to the opamp you actually use.

Both will exceed your budget, because you need more than just the kit. You need a transformer, fuses with holders, a case, feet for the case, connectors, wires, mains cable, main switch, volume control potentiometer, a knob for it, maybe a power indication, etc.

By the way, a DAC does not substitute a soundcard.

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by pacificblue

Type headphone amp kit into the ebay search. It will turn up something like this. Or start here

The amps you linked to are a chipamp driven solid-state preamp and a tube preamp.

Both are probably better than what you wanted as preamp. The tube amp may not make for a good headphone amp. The output capacitors are too small to get deep bass into a load with relatively low impedance. The solid state amp comes without the opamp, so may need some tweaking according to the opamp you actually use.

Both will exceed your budget, because you need more than just the kit. You need a transformer, fuses with holders, a case, feet for the case, connectors, wires, mains cable, main switch, volume control potentiometer, a knob for it, maybe a power indication, etc.

By the way, a DAC does not substitute a soundcard.

I've been seemingly all over the web, searching for some sort of amp to build. I've got a few through-hole OpAs that I'm going to try and piece together a very pathetic amp just to learn to basics from, since my little solderless breadboard came (only 700pin, but should be enough room). I've looked at the CMoy a couple different times and have considered it. While I know getting something a little more advanced isn't necessarily the smartest thing to do, I'm somewhat trying to "future proof" the purchase. Something that will get me by for now, yet offer a fair amount of potential upgrade room by replacing the kit parts with higher grade ones.

That being said, I also know that both are Pre-Amps. I had thought I read (various places, here being one) that a pre-amp can work fairly well as a headphone amp, and so I was sort of hoping that was correct. While neither of my links had a volume control (or gain, if that is more accurate), a fair number of the pre-amp kits I had seen were configured with one.
Pre-amp Tube PRE Amplifier Buffer 6N3(5670) Kit For DIY That for example is one of them, but figured it would not be all that good of a choice. :\

I have 2 transformers, but I was not able to find any info on them last night, and is why I didn't mention them. Now when it comes to transformers, I'll admit I'm not all that knowledgeable, but the tests I conducted last night on the one revealed it capable of around 30v AC (unloaded) and I believe it was around 50v DC (unloaded). Where the "not knowledgeable" comes in, is my testing involved hooking it up to the wall and testing it's various legs with my multimeter, and only changing from the "AC" reading over to "DC" in order to get those numbers. Though depending on the leg I read from, it was anywhere from 10v AC to that 30v AC. With out rambling on futher, my understanding is I can make a "diode bridge" to make +V 0 -V power should it be needed. Should that not be the case and if what ever I happen to get can accept DC, then I have three different suitable AC adatpers: 19v 3.25A, 12v 2.5A and a 12v 1.5A.

As for the rest of the stuff, I've got fuse holders, wire, switches, various metal cases (or push comes to shove, I can MIG weld one together), all execpt the volume pot. The voltage meters I don't have, but I do have an inexpensive analogue sweeping dial voltage tester that I could use, or a DMM I could dedicate to the amp heh

I am a newb to this realm, there is no denying that. Though I have been reading up for the last few months in an effort to try and spare you all from having to answer a bunch of questions :\ So it finally just came time where I reached my limit and needed some expert advice and opinions :P If a CMoy is what everyone things is the best option, then I won't argue any further and that will be the road I start down!



I'll leave the DAC discussion for a much later time.

[wakibaki]

Why not take a look at Rod Elliott's site:- Elliott Sound Products - The Audio Pages (Main Index).

It has loads of info about audio (including power supplies) and if you read it thoroughly you will have a better idea how to evaluate the transformers you have. He also has a straightforward headphone amplifier design that will fall within your budget I think Headphone Amplifier

w

[Formula350]

Originally Posted by wakibaki

Why not take a look at Rod Elliott's site:- Elliott Sound Products - The Audio Pages (Main Index).

It has loads of info about audio (including power supplies) and if you read it thoroughly you will have a better idea how to evaluate the transformers you have. He also has a straightforward headphone amplifier design that will fall within your budget I think Headphone Amplifier

w

Took a look-see, and seems like that would work out fairly well I suppose.
I'd PREFER to use a premade PCB, but $20 for his would pretty much eat up all the cost for components lol I have DEFINITELY bookmarked that though, thanks! I mean, I might be able to concoct most of one from the old computer motherboards and power supplies I've got around (hey, my one Gigabyte is 90% Ruby MBZ and the DFI one is 95% Matsushita(sp?)! ). I might be able to make one with the last, small, breadboard I have but that really isn't something I'd want to use for an amp I might keep lol

I meandered about his site for a bit, found the guides on transformers... Ugh, THIS'LL be a read and 1/2 I think for now, if it's doable and depending on the amount of amperage needed for either that one, or a desktop version CMoy, I'll stick to DC. At least till I can read up more on that is and conduct some tests on these.