Home Amps The Best DIY Headphone Amplifiers

The Best DIY Headphone Amplifiers

by Stuart Charles Black
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Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!

Stuart Charles here, Home Studio Basics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…

When it comes to DIY Headphone Amplifier kits, there are a couple of fantastic options you should know about. 

Let’s discuss them.

#2

The Bottlehead Crack

Price: Check Bottlehead! | Official Review: Here!

The Best Headphone Amps & DACS

Design: HomeStudioBasics

Everyone I’ve talked to over the years, and everything I’ve read about this little buddy suggests it’s super easy to assemble; even if you’re a first-timer. 

And, I got a chance to listen to it at my friend Luke’s house. For the most part, I like it a lot!

Do keep in mind the Crack requires a soldering iron (I like this one or this one), and, because it’s an amplifier only, it also needs a separate DAC to function.

From Bottlehead:

This is what we call a Skill Level 1 kit, perfect for first time builders. The circuit is so simple you can build it in an evening or two. A simple circuit also means a low parts count, which keeps the price low, too. Crack is an output transformerless amp designed specifically for running higher impedance (200 ohms or higher) headphones like the many Sennheiser, AKG and Beyer designs.-Bottlehead

What you can expect

Somewhat warmer sound than a traditional solid-state amplifier.

Again, please read this write-up for my general thoughts and opinions on tube amps.

The Speedball

For an extra fee, you can add the speedball kit which is a bit trickier but still not all that difficult.

From Bottlehead:

We consider this a skill level 2 kit, meaning that it is intended for someone who has construction of a kit under their belt (like the basic Crack kit). The new skills you might acquire will be those of stuffing and soldering a PC board, and removing a few components to allow installation of the upgrade. Assembly and installation is an easy one evening session, requiring only the removal of four resistors from the previously assembled Crack kit.Bottlehead

Effect on Sound

Bottlehead claims you’ll achieve a better sense of clarity, in addition to a tighter sound and faster transient response. The bass and mid-range sound cleaner and more dynamic, and the background is quieter.

I can’t comment on these claims as I cannot remember if my friend’s Crack kit contained a speedball upgrade, so take the above assertion with a grain of salt.


#1

JDS Labs’ cMoy

Official Review: Here!

Minty.

I put this bad boy first because, well, I believe solid-state amplifiers are better for most people given their neutrality and honesty in portraying the source file.

Please keep in mind that your mileage/opinion may vary on this.

That said, the cMoy is arguably even easier to assemble than a Crack, and it’s also a lot cheaper. So if you’re looking to get your feet wet in DIY, I’d probably recommend this one first.

I got a chance to try it out many years ago, and it was a fantastic product.

That said, it’s since been discontinued but don’t fret.

You can still buy kits from JDS Labs here.

When I asked John Seaber why it’s no longer available for purchase as an already completed kit, here’s what he told me:

Hey Stu, cMoyBB was retired because I was the only person in the facility with the muscle memory to reliably punch Altoids tins, and more importantly, the cMoyBB circuit was no longer competitive at 1VRMS output. It was difficult for new customers to comprehend how the 2018 Atom Amp could be 100x stronger at only 1.3x the price bump. We still keep cMoyBB DIY kits around for hobbyists. The bass boost switch is still fun, and the kit is occasionally used as a learning tool in classrooms. Best regards,John Seaber

Another look.

Like the Bottlehead Crack, the cMoy BB is just a headphone amplifier and needs a separate DAC in addition to a soldering iron, volume potentiometer, and battery.

After digging around their website for a bit, I think this one is compatible/the same one, but don’t quote me on it. I’m going to reach out to John and ask him. I will update this article once I get an answer.

In any event, if your phone has a 3.5mm line output, you can use it with the cMoy.

What you can expect

Neutral, clean sound for your headphones.

Closing Thoughts

Volume Knob, Line Out Jack and 3.5mm Headphone Jack.

These 2 kits are the best when just starting out and should last you a lifetime given proper care.

I’d recommend the cMoy first as it’s fairly cheap and if you buy from JDS, you’re buying from an excellent company with a sense of integrity and transparency.

In addition to that, it makes a great piece of kit and pairs well with all headphones.

Just don’t forget the Altoids can!!

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Best DIY Headphone Amplifiers and came away with some valuable insight.

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Which of these are you likely to purchase? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

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