Fist Amplifier - TPA1517NE HeadPhone Amp

[NebuK]

Heyyas, i've just completed my first amplifier, a TPA1517NE-based ChipAmps that runs on 18V, complete with PSU on one PCB.

It is powered by a high 0-18V supply to drive high-impedance (100-800(?) Ohms) high-end headphones (even though itself isn't that highend oO).

I've also built a case made from 15mm Multiplex, routered a knob for volume control and fitted everything in there nicely.

The sound itself was a amazing experience for me. While beeing able to drive my large speakers (DIY studio monitors Index of /speakers) and my surround-speakers at a high room-volume (hey, now i know why those tube-amp-guys are okay with 10watts!) it can drive a 200ohms Headphone at a okay volume and the sound is ... i'm sure there are plenty of better headphone amps out there, in fact i think most of them are better than this. still the sound really astonished me. The lower end was very detailed on both my dj headphones and the Beyerdynamics DT 770 i tested on (the amp is for a friend who's a real highend headphones freak, so i've not got the fancy equipment to test properly :/) which suprised me as i knew the dt770 as overly aggressive from the lower end. The mids and voice-band was very smooth, nice to listen to for a longer time and also very detailed.

All in all it was a sound experience i've never listened to...


aaand as everyone loves pics - here we go:
Schematic, PCB Layout and pics from testing: Cheen.Amp.waii 0.1 ALPHA d(^_^)b
Final casing: Amplifier Multiplex Case

The schematic is almost 1:1 the application note, i've only enlarged the output capacitors for a lower cutoff frequency...

I'd be glad for some criticism, although i'd ask you to go easy on me and this project - it's a first-timer after all Greetings - NebuK

[pacificblue]

Interesting that the TPA1517 should give decent sound on headphones. The high impedance obviously helps more than expected.

Nice layout for a first project. If you want to improve the solder joints, next time try thermals on planes and solder stop laquer. Avoid right-angled traces. And the next step is to give all polarised components the same orientation. Although even professional layouts often don't achieve that.