Comments on: tube headphone amp

By: s0crates82

s0crates82 — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:38:14 +0000

Forgive my ignorance, but why use a headphone amp at all?

What’s wrong with the signal source?

By: GSD

GSD — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:32:33 +0000

Does anyone know if this unit could double as a phono pre-amp, like the one produced by bellari for $225. IF so this would be an amazing and more economically viable alternative.

By: Citizen Insane

Citizen Insane — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:29:45 +0000

I highly recomend building a headphone amp. My first was a CMoy which I still use as a portable amp. My newest is the SOHA that blip posted and I highly recomend it. Combined with my Sennheiser HD555’s, its probably the best sound I’ve ever heard (granted there are MUCH better and MUCH more expensive setups out there, I just don’t have access to them yet).

By: steve

steve — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:13:01 +0000

realy good idea never seen this before think i trie my hand at this one . nice work hackaday

By: David

David — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:03:51 +0000

HAHA, I get steves post, because the internet is a series of tubes, but really, nice work on the amp, good to see simple tube amps for diy work.

By: pocketbrain

pocketbrain — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 19:38:36 +0000

Nothing like the warm sound of a tube amp. Solid state’s all fraught with odd-order harmonics.

By: steve

steve — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:41:16 +0000

Tube? TUBE??!! That amp thing has no internet connection at all!

By: giveaphuk

giveaphuk — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:32:14 +0000

oh please, take it one step further & make a tube based ipod dock! what is there is already great!

but i once put my ipod thru my friends old tube stereo system & was amazed @ the warmth of sound!

By: blip

blip — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 08:06:43 +0000

The MJ clone isn't a bad headphone amp... but pretty far behind the state of the art in DIY work. Since then a whole raft of other tube headamps have been developed... some with superior performance and many that are much easier to build.

I think the only that has received a full write-up is the SOHA (http://headwize.com/projects/cavalli2_prj.php) which is a low-voltage hybrid design that IIRC is not as well thought of as the MJ. But there are several other new designs out there.... dig around headwize forums if you want more info.

Also here is the original cmoy headamp link: http://headwize.com/projects/showfile.php?file=cmoy2_prj.htm . Not a bad amp for how simple/cheap it is but mine doesn't get much use since I built a PIMETA a few years back.

By: matt

matt — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 06:17:18 +0000

First link not working.

Ya, thats a nice little tube amp. I think the SOHA (also on that site) sounds better though. Easier to build too.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 06:05:35 +0000

thats really cool, and good write up. btw the first link does not work.