Hi!
First of all i'd like to say i'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread. If it's wrong feel free to move it right 😀
Well, the thing is i use my headphones quite much, especially on the evenings. Much because my parents don't want me popping Meshuggah at full volume (sort of).
Right now i power the with *badam-tisch!* built-in soundcard of Asus P6T Deluxe V2. Quite shitty. And the headphones are a pair of SteelSeries Siberia V1. Not the best but i can't afford any better atm and they've been whole for almost two years.
So i thought of building an extremely cheap headphones amp that are better than the built-in soundcard. I want to get it as cheap as possible (how cheap is it possible to go?) and the size to be quite small. It will be on my desktop but i still want it to be portable. I will connect it to my computer and probably my phone (when in the car).
Is it possible to get one for around 20-30$? I can order from Elfa, i think they're located here in sweden.
//Niklas
First of all i'd like to say i'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread. If it's wrong feel free to move it right 😀
Well, the thing is i use my headphones quite much, especially on the evenings. Much because my parents don't want me popping Meshuggah at full volume (sort of).
Right now i power the with *badam-tisch!* built-in soundcard of Asus P6T Deluxe V2. Quite shitty. And the headphones are a pair of SteelSeries Siberia V1. Not the best but i can't afford any better atm and they've been whole for almost two years.
So i thought of building an extremely cheap headphones amp that are better than the built-in soundcard. I want to get it as cheap as possible (how cheap is it possible to go?) and the size to be quite small. It will be on my desktop but i still want it to be portable. I will connect it to my computer and probably my phone (when in the car).
Is it possible to get one for around 20-30$? I can order from Elfa, i think they're located here in sweden.
//Niklas
Depending on the headphones, an NE5532 opamp alone might drive them OK. For a little extra current you could use an arrangement similar to this:
Rail voltages of 15V are shown but it would also work with 2x9V PP3 batteries. In this case you could probably use some smaller transistors, such as MPSA06/56.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Rail voltages of 15V are shown but it would also work with 2x9V PP3 batteries. In this case you could probably use some smaller transistors, such as MPSA06/56.
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Oh, i forgot to mention that my knowledge about this is 0. I haven't done anything at all with amplifiers. The closest i've been is assembling some computers and soldering some speaker cables 😀
Edit: If we find something interesting it would be nice with a list of what is needed 😀
Edit 2: Would be nice if it's easy to build. I could possibly get somebody who can do it for me but i'd prefer doing it on my own 😀
And i don't understand how that thing smaller than 1x1cm should be able to power my headphones only. How do i connect it?
Edit: If we find something interesting it would be nice with a list of what is needed 😀
Edit 2: Would be nice if it's easy to build. I could possibly get somebody who can do it for me but i'd prefer doing it on my own 😀
And i don't understand how that thing smaller than 1x1cm should be able to power my headphones only. How do i connect it?
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Hi Rullknufs.
If it is a first amp build why not try a cmoy? How to Build the CMoy Pocket Amplifier
No mains wiring, good tutorials and a well tried and tested design so debugging is easier.
John
If it is a first amp build why not try a cmoy? How to Build the CMoy Pocket Amplifier
No mains wiring, good tutorials and a well tried and tested design so debugging is easier.
John
Thanks a lot John Blackburn. Hopefully i will have internet (mobile interner though :S) so i can read that while traveling south 😀
ok ... lets take one step at a time .... your pc has some type of cpu that includes a dac inside or your sound card has a dac ...that takes digital signals and convert them to audio ...then your sound card has some IC probably smd 4560-4580 or 5532 that is configured as amplifier ...and then you like to use another amplifier like the one shown above that is actually the exact same thing = a 5532 as a voltage stage and external tranistors as a current stage ...
as i see it its way too many things in the signal path .... especially what causes the real trouble is the ic that is installed as an audio amplifier in your sound card ...reason = is that any op amp that is used as a headphone amplifier aims to power and stabilty and not quality
solution :
facing the exact same problem i canibalized my sound card to remove the headphone stage ( 5532) and used actually the output from the dac for a line out ...a real line out ... gain is kinda low but that is not importand since al modern mixers have gain controls or the amplifier shown by jaycee has enough gain to drive anything ...
you will be amazed by the results ...chanel seperation and stereo image is amazing and frequency responce is by far better than used to be before ..
regards sakis
as i see it its way too many things in the signal path .... especially what causes the real trouble is the ic that is installed as an audio amplifier in your sound card ...reason = is that any op amp that is used as a headphone amplifier aims to power and stabilty and not quality
solution :
facing the exact same problem i canibalized my sound card to remove the headphone stage ( 5532) and used actually the output from the dac for a line out ...a real line out ... gain is kinda low but that is not importand since al modern mixers have gain controls or the amplifier shown by jaycee has enough gain to drive anything ...
you will be amazed by the results ...chanel seperation and stereo image is amazing and frequency responce is by far better than used to be before ..
regards sakis
Good advice Sakis, but with his level of skills this is not really possible for him.
If it's onboard sound, then the amp is usually poor as it is driven from 5v (really!) and capacitively coupled. Yech.
A good start would be to use an NE5532 opamp as a buffer. Even powered from 2x9V batteries, this should improve things a lot. It's also a good safe starter project you can make on stripboard.
If it's onboard sound, then the amp is usually poor as it is driven from 5v (really!) and capacitively coupled. Yech.
A good start would be to use an NE5532 opamp as a buffer. Even powered from 2x9V batteries, this should improve things a lot. It's also a good safe starter project you can make on stripboard.
I have been thinking a little. What if i make it non-portable? Would that be better? If i power it via 12v or something? Or the usual 230v or whatever it is?
A Szekeres class A single MOSFET (IRF513) follower might be right up your street. I've just finished modifying mine (to enable it to be fitted into the passive attenuator that I use for my gainclone) which I've been using for over a year. It is truly a wonderful design, and very easy to put together on stripboard. It does need a regulated power supply though, and I use a 13.8v/20W supply. I used a LM317 voltage regulator as a constant current source, which is in the data for the project (HeadWize - Project: A Class A MOSFET Headphone Driver by Greg J. Szekeres).
It sounds very clean, with bags of detail. A very neutral sounding amp. It doesn't cost too much for all the bits, but to buy this kind of sound quality, you would have to spend an awful lot of money.
Regards,
Chris.
It sounds very clean, with bags of detail. A very neutral sounding amp. It doesn't cost too much for all the bits, but to buy this kind of sound quality, you would have to spend an awful lot of money.
Regards,
Chris.
I like the 12V idea. At home you can power it from the computer's 12V supply and in the car you can power it with 12V from the cigarette lighter.
It saves the hassle and expense of building a power supply - you'll just need a couple of adapters/connectors and a filter in the amp to get rid of noise on the +12V line.
Rechargeable batteries are good too - probably the best option for sound quality. The only downside is the cost of the batteries and charger.
Cheers - Godfrey
I'd like to stay away from batteries, to be honest.
And using the computer's 12v? You mean directly from the PSU? That sounds crazy and unconvenient. And yeah, i could use it in the car aswell. I didn't even think of that. So i think 12v is a good idea. It has to be able to be plugged into a computer and my phone via 3.5mm. Am i asking for too much? Size doesn't matter, as long as it's somewhat portable.
And using the computer's 12v? You mean directly from the PSU? That sounds crazy and unconvenient. And yeah, i could use it in the car aswell. I didn't even think of that. So i think 12v is a good idea. It has to be able to be plugged into a computer and my phone via 3.5mm. Am i asking for too much? Size doesn't matter, as long as it's somewhat portable.
If you put an external 12V power socket on your PC near the audio output, it'll be quite easy to use.
Or just get a cigarette lighter for your computer. That way you don't have to vandalize your PC or void it's warranty, and you can use the same power cord at home or in the car.
Googling "cigarette lighter drive bay" found these (and lots more):
Cigarette Lighter Panel w/Cup Holder for 5.25-Inch Drive Bay
PC 12V Cigarette Lighter Adapter Lian Li 5.25" Drive Bay - Silver - FrozenCPU.com
Cigarette Lighter / Beverage Holder Drive Bay - SlipperyBrick.com
See pics below for an idea of what's available. I like the ones with a drinks holder in the side.😀
Cheers - Godfrey
Attachments
Using 12V from a PC will lead to a headphone amp that sounds like sh*t. There is simply too much noise on the 12v line of a PC for any good sound quality without major filtering.
Further to this - the CMoy headphone amp was recommended, and I'd go with this. The parts list shows an OPA2132 opamp, which ELFA might not have, but an NE5532 will most likely work just as well.
The CMoy does look nice - and ideal for beginners.
I was looking for a way to avoid batteries but you're right about the noise.
I was looking for a way to avoid batteries but you're right about the noise.
For avoiding batteries, a wall wart type supply would work best. Ideally, get some 12V *AC* output one, and then with just two diodes and two capacitors, you could get a symmetric 12v supply. I'm not sure why, when the CMoy takes 2x9V batteries, they use a resistive "virtual ground" when the centre of the two batteries in series could be used instead!
The OPA2132 and OPA2134 are both available at ELFA. From what I understand, they are specced similarly, but the latter is produced at worse tolerances. I've used the 2134 without problem, though not in this configuration.
As an upgrade, the OPA2132 could (some say should) be followed by a buffer, BUF634 for example. I'd start without, though. Easier and I'd get a point of reference if I decided to add the buffer later.
I'm guessing this is because the two batteries may not drain completely equal, so the rails would no longer be symmetric. The resistors would keep it centered (within resistor tolerances), though there are probably problems with this design as well.
But, using a 12v eliminator(?) directly from a wall outlet then? Like to my laptop or something?
And btw, my knowledge about electrics isn't much really so please keep it simple ;D
And btw, my knowledge about electrics isn't much really so please keep it simple ;D
What about this?
DIY IRF610 MOSFET Class-A Headphone Amplifier Project
I also read in another thread here about recycling stuff from old CRT-monitors and other things. For an headphone amplifier is there anything i could possibly salvage and save som cash?
And i might be able to build this at school, or get a friend to do it (he will go electrics).
What do you think? I'm really starting to feel i want something else than the built-in soundcard amplifier. The latest weeks i've been using my headphones listening to music maybe 3-4 hours each day.
Edit: No mobility required. As long as it's not big enough to not fit on a rather big desktop it's fine for me. And preferably powered by a 12v ?eliminator?
This is what i mean: https://www.elfa.se/elfa3~se_en/elfa/init.do?shop=ELFA_SE-EN#toc=19681;item=69-688-21;
DIY IRF610 MOSFET Class-A Headphone Amplifier Project
I also read in another thread here about recycling stuff from old CRT-monitors and other things. For an headphone amplifier is there anything i could possibly salvage and save som cash?
And i might be able to build this at school, or get a friend to do it (he will go electrics).
What do you think? I'm really starting to feel i want something else than the built-in soundcard amplifier. The latest weeks i've been using my headphones listening to music maybe 3-4 hours each day.
Edit: No mobility required. As long as it's not big enough to not fit on a rather big desktop it's fine for me. And preferably powered by a 12v ?eliminator?
This is what i mean: https://www.elfa.se/elfa3~se_en/elfa/init.do?shop=ELFA_SE-EN#toc=19681;item=69-688-21;
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This statement, Is a little confusing.
I think it would be wise for him to assist you, You'll learn more that way.
The "Eliminator" is a wallwart
What kind of sound card do you have (built into the motherboard?)? It might be better to upgrade the soundcard before making or buying a headphone amp. Changing the sound card will be by far the biggest upgrade.
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