Buffer headphone amp

[ChUmI]

... and photo

[karahara]

Wow, looks good. Maybe you want to share your layout, I would be very interested.

Here's my LT1010, no listening yet because I currently building the amp. PCB is ready but PSU and Case not.

[percy]

Hi Chumi, great work. Its good to know that the LT1210 will not dissappoint.

I used LT1210 and it works like a best sounding chip headphone amp in my collection My Sony MDR-F1 headphones have only 12 Ohm and are driven perfectly - so deep bass I never heard form a small chip

Since you already have an opamp (OPA627) driving the buffer I'd imagine the buffer would be within the feedback loop of the opamp ?

I am trying to see if its possible, or if anyone has already made a buffer-only headphone amp. Although the LT1210 does seem well suited for the task.

Anyone willing to throw some ideas together to build such an amp ?

[ChUmI]

Unfortunately this time the PCB is not my design but works as great as my first project assembled on protoboard I ordered PCBs from www.unisonus.com - fully recommended source of PCBs - high quality at low price

Percy - DIL8 opamp (OPA627 - last time changed to MAX400) works as a DC servo to reduce DC voltage on output. It's quite important when driving low impedance headphones LT1210 works also great without DC servo (<40mV output DC) however only the best possible solutions are good enough

I still have 4 spare PCBs - 2 stereo amps could be made. So, if You (Percy, Karahara) want to have a pair I can share with You just send me a delivery address me via email

Now I'm testing +/-12V PSU units (4*MUR860, Rubycon ZL) with voltage regulators (LM2941/LM2991 as well as LT317/LT337) and without and ... unregulated is going to be my favorite! but final verdict is not jet announced What is yours experience in this area?

[ChUmI]

... one more thing - complete documentation including schematic you can find also on www.unisonus.com -> last project LT1210 pre/power amplifier

[percy]

in my quest to find a simple compact headphone amp solution, I have now also found the TPA6120 !
Now I am two minds whether to go with the TPA6120 or the LT1210 ? For the TPA I again see two options - the TPA6120 board from unisonus, or the EVM from TI direct. I like the simplicity of the unisonus TPA amp but I am gravitating to the TI EVM.
http://focus.ti.com/lit/ug/slou169/slou169.pdf

Help me decide!

[ChUmI]

I have experience with both. LT1210 were better to low extremely low impedance like my 12ohm. Specially better bass and dynamics. Bought are very detailed, high grade in high frequency and overall quality of bought is very good LT is already better from mechanical point of view – it is simple TO220 housing For TPA you need a special PCB with solderable PowerPad. My choice for the real best power headphone chip amp is LT but for a compact one … could be TPA

[tobias_svensk]

percy, you can also check out peranders or daki][ers TPA6120 boards if you want more to choose from

I'm also gonna do a TPA-amp, haven't fitted the elcos yet though
http://www.ettnet.se/~tobias/diy/tpa...pa6120_top.jpg
http://www.ettnet.se/~tobias/diy/tpa...120_bottom.jpg

[percy]

yeah I have seen perander's project but I'd really like to keep it simple.

Chumi, whats your impression of the LT1010 though ?

[ChUmI]

I do not have any experience with LT1010. But it is just a simple buffer and max. current is just 150mA In my opinion even BUF634 could be a better choice and TPA for sure. But nobody knows really without listening – this is the final test – always so try it and tell us how it sounds

If you are looking for really simple but high grade designs perander’s projects are not a best choice - are rather complicated and first impression is a little bit oversized. But Veteran www.unisonus.com seems to be good source – sometimes those projects looks like too universal but all the time keep high grade and are simple