Looking for a new build, something higher-end and SS... started my journey with a iMod mini, CMOY, SSMH, Gainclone, Mini3, Gamma1 and a SOHAII.
At the time I was using HD580s, which have since been sold and will be replaced with HD600/HD650/HD6xx one of them. I'm also interested in planars, maybe the Sundara.
So I haven't built an OTL or higher-end SS headphone amp. Considering building the latter and I wanted some ideas on what I should pursue, given what I've built and hence something "technically" better.
So thinking of builds based on some perusing:
I'd like to keep the cost sub $500, though I'd have some room for something exceptional. Please, open to suggestions.
On a tangent, I hear Bottlehead Crack or SEX mentioned a lot for OTL... thoughts?
At the time I was using HD580s, which have since been sold and will be replaced with HD600/HD650/HD6xx one of them. I'm also interested in planars, maybe the Sundara.
So I haven't built an OTL or higher-end SS headphone amp. Considering building the latter and I wanted some ideas on what I should pursue, given what I've built and hence something "technically" better.
So thinking of builds based on some perusing:
- O2
- MilletMax
- Whammy
- M3
- Beta22 (2-channel)
I'd like to keep the cost sub $500, though I'd have some room for something exceptional. Please, open to suggestions.
On a tangent, I hear Bottlehead Crack or SEX mentioned a lot for OTL... thoughts?
Have you had a look at the RJM Audio Sapphire? You can buy the boards or a full kit, or even get your own boards fabricated.
The design manual is excellent, allowing for personalisation. The designer, Richard, is very helpful and has an active thread here, documenting the evolution of the solid state version.
I built one and use it with my HD600 and HD650 and it's excellent.
The design manual is excellent, allowing for personalisation. The designer, Richard, is very helpful and has an active thread here, documenting the evolution of the solid state version.
I built one and use it with my HD600 and HD650 and it's excellent.
The Bottlehead crack or a clone of it adds some charm to the hd6**. A fair bit of it comes from its highish output impedance. You can get some idea about it by adding a 120r resistor in line with the output of one your current amps.
These days, I would consider these, as very competent designs at a very sweet price spot :
Low cost, high performance headphone amp using OPA1656 and LMH6321
HP-22 – Neurochrome
These days, I would consider these, as very competent designs at a very sweet price spot :
Low cost, high performance headphone amp using OPA1656 and LMH6321
HP-22 – Neurochrome
I built the AMB Labs M3 or called M cubed headphone amp. Easy build and very clean sound. I have AKG K 702's and work great with them. I also have built O2 and Milletmax which are very good. I also got a Headphone amp QRV-01 from Sjostrom Audio which has very good specs that I have not built yet. He has a phono preamp QSX Mark II that i bought that has a crazy amount of transistors that i will build soon.