DIY headphone amp for IEMs

[ctechdx]

Hello my friends,

I would like to build a DIY headphone amplifier to use as a desktop amplifier, but I use only IEMs such as Westone 4r, Duno DN-2000. Then I don´t need a powerful amp... but I would like to build a decent amp, that could give me a good sound quality. Also would be great to build something with crossfeed.

I found a lot of diy amps projects in the internet... and also many kits in ebay or aliexpress. There are so many options, and I´m kind of lost!

I would like to have some suggestions, Which amp should I get for a good iem experience with crossfeed?

Thanks my friends!

 

[MooCow]

AFAIK there is no DIY amp -kit which has crossfeed per default.
For your IEM's maybe an O2 with OPA1688 as outputbuffers would be optimal(very low output impedance + very low DC-offset).
There is also spare space inside the case to implement a crossfeed filter:


🙂

 

[ctechdx]

AFAIK there is no DIY amp -kit which has crossfeed per default.
For your IEM's maybe an O2 with OPA1688 as outputbuffers would be optimal(very low output impedance + very low DC-offset).
There is also spare space inside the case to implement a crossfeed filter:


🙂

Thanks MooCow,

The OPA1688 is a default part in O2 amp, or would be a customization to get best results for IEM. Please explain me better 🙂

I´m checking the o2 documentation and seems to be a quite interesting project. Please let me know if you suggest any changes on this project to fit better to my IEMs.

 

[ctechdx]

AFAIK there is no DIY amp -kit which has crossfeed per default.
For your IEM's maybe an O2 with OPA1688 as outputbuffers would be optimal(very low output impedance + very low DC-offset).
There is also spare space inside the case to implement a crossfeed filter:

🙂

Thanks MooCow,

Please, explain me better about the OPA1688. Is this a default component of original project or would be a good customization for iems?

 

[abraxalito]

Build a pair of step-down transformer for your IEMs. I'm in the process of making some transformers to drive some 16ohm IEMs, using PQ ferrite cores. If you're interested I'll share details. With step-down transformers the driving amp's quality becomes less crucial to getting pleasant (i.e. non-fatiguing, engaging) sound.

<edit> Forgot to mention, transformers provide an easy way to implement crossfeed. I made a blog post about this - http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/blogs/abraxalito/1343-transformers-crossfeed.html

 

[MooCow]

Thanks MooCow,

The OPA1688 is a default part in O2 amp, or would be a customization to get best results for IEM. Please explain me better 🙂

I´m checking the o2 documentation and seems to be a quite interesting project. Please let me know if you suggest any changes on this project to fit better to my IEMs.

The OPA1688 is not the default, i meantioned it only for the sake of "optimal", and if your not from the US, it's pretty expensive because it's not available yet at the casual shops(only at mouser ect., where you pay 20€ or so for shipping unless you order all the parts for the O2 there, and make it over the free shipping threshold) - the original O2 should do just fine already with IEM's when it's adjusted to unity gain.