I don't have any DIY skills, but have become a big fan of Tom's work after purchasing his TCA HPA-1 headphone amplifier. Plenty of info out there about how well Tom's designs measure, but what doesn't get said enough in my view is how good they sound. To my ears they're just true to the music - incredible, but unforced clarity and natural timbre. The purchase of the HPA-1 amp led me to having Tom build a Modulus-286 for me as well - it's in process right now. IMHO, you can't go wrong with Tom's designs.
I'm sold on the kit I just need to figure out where I can get help to build it.
I found an article by Tom comparing his unit to the Noir.
Review: diyAudio Store Noir / T2 Headphone Amp by Mark Johnson – Neurochrome
He is not kind to the Noir 😀
Tom sent a build guide for the modulus 286 kit so I wouldn't be surprised if something
similar is available for his HP2.
For simplicity I suggest you get the PCB with the SMD parts pre-soldered along with
the chassis. The rest shouldn't be hard to order and put together.
similar is available for his HP2.
For simplicity I suggest you get the PCB with the SMD parts pre-soldered along with
the chassis. The rest shouldn't be hard to order and put together.
Ive been browsing his site.
Im not clear on the power supply for the unit.
Do I need to get another kit for that?
Definitely will buy the solder PCB.
Also not sure if I can swap the headphone input from XLR to a normal 1.4" jack.
Yes just noticed I read external input not the headphone input.
I just placed the order with Tom.
I’m a bit late to the conversation here but as a newbie I just completed (well almost completed - still to go in an enclosure) Wayne’s BA2018 line stage after previously building a Whammy. I loved the Whammy but think that, for my taste at least, the BA2018 has the edge. I’m using Focal Elear and Elegia headphones with them.
I think I will try that one next.
I'm also wanting to try a valve/tube setup.
Never herd a valve/tube amp, are they worth the fuss?
The best I had was an AMP Camp amp. HD650 connected straight to the speaker binding posts. Exceptional.
If you'd like to give it a shot, there are a number of options that won't break the bank. Tube rolling and buying exotic NOS tubes is another story. That can dwindle a bank account quickly. 🙂
Either way, I think that the Bottlehead Crack is a wonderful introduction to tube HP amps, either with or without the Speedball. They do a sale a few times a year that reduces the price quite a bit. You can sign up for their newsletter or check the site regularly. It comes with everything (I mean everything) but tools, some glue, paint, and stain (if you desire). The build instructions are exceptional and include enough safety information, that if followed, can teach a lot and keep you safe. It's the only one I'm aware of that I would recommend to a true first-time noob. It was my first high (relatively speaking) voltage tube kit. The instructions and the build process helped me become a bit more confident. I still practice the safety procedures for all my builds. Almost everyone that's listened to it likes it.
Is it the end-all-be-all of tube amps? No. Is it a great HP amp for your Sennheisers? I think so. Does it have the general characteristic of "tubey goodness" where you could determine if you like that sound? I think so. Again, there are a TON of options, but I think the Crack is a great first-time tube HP amp, and it's a lot of fun to build.
Guys is there a newbster build thread for the Wayne's 2018 linestage?
I think that one might be too much for me.
I think that one might be too much for me.
If you read through this thread...
Wayne's BA 2018 linestage
.... and ask questions when something’s not clear to you, you’ll be fine.
That’s what I did and it worked out great, well apart from soldering two transistors in backwards... but that was down to my own stupidity.
It’s worth the effort, and very rewarding.
Wayne's BA 2018 linestage
.... and ask questions when something’s not clear to you, you’ll be fine.
That’s what I did and it worked out great, well apart from soldering two transistors in backwards... but that was down to my own stupidity.
It’s worth the effort, and very rewarding.
