That looks like a nice amp. Are there any performance specs like minimum headphone impedance, gain, bias current, output impedance, THD, SNR, etc?
I also have a hybrid tube headphone amp, but made by Massdrop in collaboration with Alex Cavalli - the Cavalii Tube Hybrid (CTH). I like it very much and it is quite clean sounding and very powerful. About the same price but you don’t get satisfaction of making it yourself. This kit is well priced given all the parts and case already all collected for the user to assemble. Nice job.
I also have a hybrid tube headphone amp, but made by Massdrop in collaboration with Alex Cavalli - the Cavalii Tube Hybrid (CTH). I like it very much and it is quite clean sounding and very powerful. About the same price but you don’t get satisfaction of making it yourself. This kit is well priced given all the parts and case already all collected for the user to assemble. Nice job.
Does anyone know if the blue leds are a “do not substitute” item? I checked the BOM and documentation of the original Starving Student amp but they are not part of the version 1 design.
The LEDs bias both the current source plate loads and also the cathodes,
so I would not substitute them.
Nice and should be an easy build for a beginner.
The name doesn't quite fit anymore though (the original's budget was under 40$, intended to be built p2p in a recycled case). And I wonder about the use of the 18FX6. Adapting it to the very common/easily sourced 12AU7 would have been a good idea.
The name doesn't quite fit anymore though (the original's budget was under 40$, intended to be built p2p in a recycled case). And I wonder about the use of the 18FX6. Adapting it to the very common/easily sourced 12AU7 would have been a good idea.
Yes, there is a summary in the sales page, and there are a number of graphs that will be added to the build guide in the near future.
18FX6 -- nice beefy tube, 2,2W dissipation if plate and screen are connected? mu looks like 6DJ8 ~36
I see that the kit has sold out very quickly. If anyone can give some impressions of the ease of build, thoughts in general about the sound quality, and if they’ve tried it out as a headphone amp or linestage that would be great!
Ease of build is very good - All the components, jacks, plugs, etc... connect to the PCB, there's no wires.
Generally I think the sound quality is fantastic! I've tried it with a few different headphones as well using it as a preamp, it sounds wonderful. Enough gain and drive for even hard-to-drive cans, and as a preamp the circuit is impressive, I personally am very impressed. A member was at my house a few weeks ago and had a chance to listen to the one in the photos of the guide, he was so taken with the sound he ordered one immediately upon release to the store.
Generally I think the sound quality is fantastic! I've tried it with a few different headphones as well using it as a preamp, it sounds wonderful. Enough gain and drive for even hard-to-drive cans, and as a preamp the circuit is impressive, I personally am very impressed. A member was at my house a few weeks ago and had a chance to listen to the one in the photos of the guide, he was so taken with the sound he ordered one immediately upon release to the store.
It works wonderfully with the M2x, that’s the amp I used it with the most! 
Seriously, you’ll love the combo.
Seriously, you’ll love the combo.
I took a look at the schematic for this and it is really interesting. I like the heater load on the MOSFET outputs.
Thanks again Jim for the quick reply and info. Could you also give the approximate height of the unit with the tubes installed? I haven’t seen any dimensions listed. Also, which chassis does the unit use? It looks like one from the Galaxy line in the DiyStore.
Thanks!
Thanks!
It works wonderfully with the M2x, that’s the amp I used it with the most!
Seriously, you’ll love the combo.
If you are on the fence about pulling the trigger, just do it. This is great little kit and sounds fantastic. The versatility of the build is amazing. Sounds amazing with an ACA, and I bet it would bring new life to many other amps out there.
This is my third DiyAudio build, and it was a great experience. I did the stuffing of the PCP over two shorter sessions over days, then final assembly during a third build session. No issues at all with kit and build. Teamed with the ACA I built last summer it is the best sounding desktop/computer system I have ever heard.
Kudos to 6L6 for his advice and guidance. Thanks to Pete Millett for the design and for sharing.
This is my third DiyAudio build, and it was a great experience. I did the stuffing of the PCP over two shorter sessions over days, then final assembly during a third build session. No issues at all with kit and build. Teamed with the ACA I built last summer it is the best sounding desktop/computer system I have ever heard.
Kudos to 6L6 for his advice and guidance. Thanks to Pete Millett for the design and for sharing.
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