No, that’s a dual gang Alps pot connected with Micromatch connectors and ribbon cable.
This Diamond Buffer headphone amp as a preamp sounds really amazing. I thought I was getting great sound having my SMSL SU-9N DAC drive my Warp-1 amp directly, but adding this in the chain produced an immediate and palpable difference. The dynamics, bass depth, stereo image and overall visceral feel just improved markedly. I really love this sound. Listening to vinyl from TT and LSA Phono-01 as source also had similar improvement.
Having this topology as the output buffer makes all the difference.
Having this topology as the output buffer makes all the difference.
X,
Are you using the Desktop Diamond Buffer, and that is the topology shown ?. Do you think Pocket Diamond Buffer would deliver similar results?. I just briefly glanced at the schematics between the two, so thought I would ask.
Are you using the Desktop Diamond Buffer, and that is the topology shown ?. Do you think Pocket Diamond Buffer would deliver similar results?. I just briefly glanced at the schematics between the two, so thought I would ask.
Pocket Diamond is the same topology. Just different output devices. Even the small postage stamp sized ones are same topology. Operating setpoints are different depending on if driving headphones (low impedance) vs line level (high impedance).
So if one had 2 boards, one could be a headamp and one could be a preamp 😉 . Best of both worlds
I put rca outputs in every headphone amp i built. You can be surprised how great ACP+ or Whammy can be as preamp.
The buffer can be used DC coupled on the output - it is low enough offset in the 1-2mV range. I don’t know enough about DAC I/V’s so can’t say one way or another - but imagine it should work. It can be used nested inside an opamp gain and feedback loop but it needs a ground connection. Perhaps you can ask in the DAC/Digital forum?
X,
Just throwing this out there. Any possibility of getting a version of JHofland’s new Diamond buffer board to be pin compatible with the M2X bolt format? It would of course require a board redesign, but given the SMD parts there should be plenty of space. There should be enough space to add ps filtering to drop the +/-24V to +/-15V for the board itself.
Best,
Anand.
Just throwing this out there. Any possibility of getting a version of JHofland’s new Diamond buffer board to be pin compatible with the M2X bolt format? It would of course require a board redesign, but given the SMD parts there should be plenty of space. There should be enough space to add ps filtering to drop the +/-24V to +/-15V for the board itself.
Best,
Anand.
My other Diamond Buffer HPA just got some RCA outputs installed for preamp duty.
Now I don’t need to use a 3.5mm TRS to RCA cable adapter anymore.
This one is based on the Pocket Diamond Buffer installed inside right behind the volume pot. In fact, that’s the only mechanical mounting is the pot threaded bushing. The rest is PSU and cables inside.
The sound is of course, excellent as a preamp.
Now I don’t need to use a 3.5mm TRS to RCA cable adapter anymore.
This one is based on the Pocket Diamond Buffer installed inside right behind the volume pot. In fact, that’s the only mechanical mounting is the pot threaded bushing. The rest is PSU and cables inside.
The sound is of course, excellent as a preamp.
Interesting question - I think that a PCB could be made but not sure I want to make a fully populated board. You know someone sent me a universal M2X breakout board once - something like that could definitely be used.
If it’s just the pcb itself, no problem, I’ll happily solder SMD and/or thruhole.
Best,
Anand.
Best,
Anand.
Nope, It's topology is two pairs of emitter followers so it will have a voltage gain modestly less than 1.
You can put it inside a composite amp loop with an opamp upstream to provide gain and do the NFB. This is the Diamond Headphone Amp topology.