getting rare.
Greg Timbers, was @JBL, for 43 years.
he would probably still be there,
except,
End of an Era. 43 years with JBL is Over
The production run samples of the HyperDrive-2 headphone amp (PCB assemblies and chassis) arrived for me to check final fit and operation. Looking good! The IDC cable assemblies came out perfect and give a clean and robust connection between the front panel and the main PCB.
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Short because of the latching mechanism? It’s only a physical lock to keep jack securely in. It’s friction so if you pull hard enough the plug comes out. I don’t think there is anything electrically different.
This amp has a SSR DC output protection as well as turn on delay and instant turn off mute to prevent any headphone thumping.
This amp has a SSR DC output protection as well as turn on delay and instant turn off mute to prevent any headphone thumping.
the latch catches and it creates a short to ground. The output protection will likely protect the circuitry but many an amp was suffered due to inexperienced users - high volume , attempts at rapid switching - completely a user fault but it only exists because of the latch. I have just been around the headphone world for a while and have seen most everything people can do to cripple an amp with a TRS jack 
that said, many commercial amps still use the jack.
that said, many commercial amps still use the jack.
It’s playing sweet music. Nice to have a preamp with multiple input selects so I can connect the phono without having to unplug and plug rca cables.
Listening to AC/DC’s Back in Black on vinyl, through prototype LSA Phono-01 preamp, HyperDrive-2 preamp, driving my TDA7293 Xmas amp, driving LSA Signature 80 speakers.
Also on the bench tonight, the new sample chassis for the Emerald Physics 600.SE2 amp just arrived. It’s gorgeous. Completely CNC’d from aluminum then covered in a exquisite luxurious bead blasted satin hard anodized finish. The panels are thick and the amp is huge. I really like how well it turned out.
Listening to AC/DC’s Back in Black on vinyl, through prototype LSA Phono-01 preamp, HyperDrive-2 preamp, driving my TDA7293 Xmas amp, driving LSA Signature 80 speakers.
Also on the bench tonight, the new sample chassis for the Emerald Physics 600.SE2 amp just arrived. It’s gorgeous. Completely CNC’d from aluminum then covered in a exquisite luxurious bead blasted satin hard anodized finish. The panels are thick and the amp is huge. I really like how well it turned out.
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To bad John Bau Spica speakers are extinct. What is he doing now? He sells used and refurbished test equipment. Spica was one of the most affordable and best bang for the buck speaker.
Precision Services – Used and Refurbished Electronic Test Equipment
Precision Services – Used and Refurbished Electronic Test Equipment
That is a nice clean looking chassis, I could see offering chassis for your projects a real bonus hint hint. I never had an issue with those headphone jacks, all jacks short that just makes it almost impossible to accidentally pull the jack. I alway turn my amps down or off before pulling jacks out.
Thanks WW, are you talking about the headphone chassis or the Emerald Physics power amp chassis? It’s starting to take shape. I am just checking fit of the main components. The final tube preamp is slightly different and no volume pot.
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Hi Anand,
Yes. IcePower 1200AS2 for 600wpc into 8ohms. We developed a custom tube buffer with balanced or SE input and balanced output to drive the 1200AS2. The tube buffer has a tube or SS switch to bypass the tube stage if desired. Tube stage is E88CC with 90v B+. All power is from custom DCDC converters. Built in logic for safely starting and stopping the 1200AS2 from pops and thumps.
The tube buffer has DIP switch selectable gains of 0/6/14/20dB. The amp had intrinsic 22dB gain so the 6dB setting gives 28dB overall, which is about perfect.
The amp is very quiet and the tube stage gives the amp a slight dominant second harmonic profile as it should from a SE Class A buffer, for a more natural sound, but still very low distortion.
I have tested it extensively as a plank amp and it works flawlessly. Never any danger of turn on or turn off pops or thumps (which is not so friendly to speakers when an amp is capable of nearly 200Vpp output).
Yes. IcePower 1200AS2 for 600wpc into 8ohms. We developed a custom tube buffer with balanced or SE input and balanced output to drive the 1200AS2. The tube buffer has a tube or SS switch to bypass the tube stage if desired. Tube stage is E88CC with 90v B+. All power is from custom DCDC converters. Built in logic for safely starting and stopping the 1200AS2 from pops and thumps.
The tube buffer has DIP switch selectable gains of 0/6/14/20dB. The amp had intrinsic 22dB gain so the 6dB setting gives 28dB overall, which is about perfect.
The amp is very quiet and the tube stage gives the amp a slight dominant second harmonic profile as it should from a SE Class A buffer, for a more natural sound, but still very low distortion.
I have tested it extensively as a plank amp and it works flawlessly. Never any danger of turn on or turn off pops or thumps (which is not so friendly to speakers when an amp is capable of nearly 200Vpp output).
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I’m just trying to figure out how to navigate this new forum layout. It has the same feel as the back end on Head-Fi. It’s annoying to have to scroll to the bottom in order to go to the last post. Has anyone figured out how to do that quickly?
ok, I figured it out. Click on the date from the thread index. That takes you to the last post.
ok, I figured it out. Click on the date from the thread index. That takes you to the last post.
Yes, but is modern always better? I still use a fully mechanical automatic wristwatch. I have not had to change a battery for it in 10 years and I can tell time at a glance graphically with hands on watch face vs digital numbers. I wish that the migration would have preserved the inline embedded images that were linked from previous DIYA posts. The new site does not have the same links so almost all references within DIYA are broken. That’s a shame.
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