Headphone Amp Tweaking idea,s Pleas

[colin.hepburn]

Headphone Amp Tweaking Idea’s Pleas

I have just finished my Choke scratch Built PSU Built up from solen polypropylene Caps and mills resistors and Am now looking to improve the Amp I have updated most parts in the Amp this Project is of a learning exesize so cost should be kept low
Parts Upgraded
To
Alps Volume Pot
R2a/R2b PRP
C2a/C2b Os-com
R4a/R4b Mills
C3a/C3b Black Gate
Thinking of the Shunt Pot Volume Control
The Amp Sounding good But More ideas would be welcome


http://www.world-designs.co.uk/forum...1&d=1156875293

[Primalsea]

You could have a look at the Headwize website. IMHO I think that crossbleed between channels is excellent. There is detailed info on the site.

For a more conventional tweak a switched attenuator would probably be a good choice.

You could also go for channel matching controls. A balance pot is one option, the other is a multi turn pot on each channel prceeding the volume pot. These can be adjusted to correct the imbalance of teh current volume pot.

[colin.hepburn]

Hi Primalsea
Thanks for you reply
yep switched attenuator or the shunt pot on here would be good not sure about crossfeed tho thinking more of battery bios if i can do it with this amp

[colin.hepburn]

Hi All
I have not been all that happy with the sound of my Headphone amp I found it to be tiring to listen to so over the three days of tweaking it added three more electrolytic caps to the PSU which is made up of choke solen polypropylene this made improvements giving more depth
But still keeping the speed but still sounded shut in and masked the detail
I then removed the 2uf polycarbonate cap that I had in to bypass the 33uf black gate
I now had the depth speed clean clear detail back but now I can here the sonic signage of the black gate ok so replacing the bypass Cap this time with a 2.2uf soniqs sax from WD
The effect of this was jaw dropping lifting the amp to new heights
After 24hours running in the soniqs caps I felt the detail was little bit lacking so I replaced the 2.2uf with 0.1 soniqs this has worked a treat I then changed the resistors in the Shunt Pot Volume Controlto 82k A.N tantalum giving much better control range This Amp now just seems to grab the music and hold on delight to listen to







Ok at this point some would consider the amp finished well yes it is but as this amp is a good learning curve for me I still want to try and take it up to another level.
I have though about Dual mono PSUs and better output transformers than the Hammond 119DA http://www.hammondmfg.com/collins.htm I have also considered the Sowter Type 8665 http://www.sowter.co.uk/ can the sowters transformers be dropped start in I would welcome you help on this and other improvements I can do to this Amp
Thanks
Colin

[BOONDI]

Originally Posted by colin.hepburn

I now had the depth speed clean clear detail back but now I can here the sonic signage of the black gate ok so replacing the bypass Cap this time with a 2.2uf soniqs sax from WD
The effect of this was jaw dropping lifting the amp to new heights
After 24hours running in the soniqs caps I felt the detail was little bit lacking so I replaced the 2.2uf with 0.1 soniqs this has worked a treat I then changed the resistors in the Shunt Pot Volume Controlto 82k A.N tantalum giving much better control range This Amp now just seems to grab the music and hold on delight to listen to

Colin

Hi Colin, all.....

Colin, if you can hear the BG sound then surely they are degrading the signal?
Is the effect something you like hearing?

The reason I ask is because I am in the middle of trying a few of the cheaper "Audiophool" brands of capacitor in my phono, and do not want to use anything that is blatantly coloured......

Comments please......

[colin.hepburn]

Originally Posted by BOONDI

Hi Colin, all.....

Colin, if you can hear the BG sound then surely they are degrading the signal?
Is the effect something you like hearing?

The reason I ask is because I am in the middle of trying a few of the cheaper "Audiophool" brands of capacitor in my phono, and do not want to use anything that is blatantly coloured......

Comments please......

Hi Boondi
The sound I’m hearing is good from the BGs it’s just that you can tell that you are listing to an electrolytic cap, but bypassing it sweetens it up

[David Mccallum]

Originally Posted by Primalsea

You could have a look at the Headwize website. IMHO I think that crossbleed between channels is excellent.

I have to agree with this statement, the difference when using crossfeed is stunning, a much more realistic sound stage IMO.

When listening to stereo speakers you hear a bit of the left channel in your right ear and vice versa, this helps with soundstaging.

I and more than a few others find long term listening without crossfeed can cause a sore head, the huge and unnatural separation of channels makes the brain work harder to make sense of the sound (or so im told)

Someone else will see things differently of course

[colin.hepburn]

Hi Davy
Yes I will be experimenting with a cross feed the one I have in mind is designed to work with the front end of this amp so may well be interesting not a lot of parts required 1 pot 4 resistors

[David Mccallum]

Hi Colin.
I think you will like cross-feed, i certainly find it a more relaxing and natural listen. The simpler the circuit, the better IMO.

It may be well worth having a switchable setup, my h/amp lets me choose between off, low and high levels of cross-feed and while it's useful, i mostly leave it set at low, i find that best on my setup.

Good luck