Anyone built a HiFi tube headphone amp?

[juansolo]

I was at a HiFi show at the weekend and it got me thinking... I have a really nice pair of Grado headphones kicking about and nothing to plug them into. They had little valve headphone amps there and I thought, that would DIY no probs. I know it's not really guitar related, but I wonder if anyone has built a headphone amp for a stereo? Or has any recommended places to look, schematics, etc.

[pickdropper]

I've built a handful of solid state ones.  Tangentsoft.net is usually a good place to start.

There are certainly plenty of tubed based options out there.  I may want to go down this path as well.  If you feel like it, shoot me a PM and we can start planning it out.

[juansolo]

I'll have a read up first, but yeah. I can see this being a fun project to do

[madbean]

I'd love to build a tube headphone amp. If you guys find a good all in one kit, we could make it a group build project together. That would be fun!

[miter53]

Bottlehead! Great people to work with, great products. I haven't built a headphone amp, but the preamp I built and then upgraded is fantastic. Excellent documentation and support.
http://bottlehead.com/headphone-amplifier-kits/
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113883.0
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/marvelously-addictive-bottlehead-crack

[pickdropper]

I'd love to build a tube headphone amp. If you guys find a good all in one kit, we could make it a group build project together. That would be fun!

Sounds great!

I'll design the headphones .  ;-)

[davent]

In the meantime...To get those nice Grado headphones back into service STAT build yourself a lowly Cmoy, quick, easy chip amp that sounds terrific, can use a NE5532 if you have one on hand or the more exotic ie., expensive chips usually listed. A step up would be something like Erix 47 which really packs a wallop and can be deafening loud to really drowned out the voices. Headphone amps and Grados were my gateway drugs to amps and pedals.

http://www.head-fi.org/f/6/diy-do-it-yourself-discussions

An interesting hybrid.
http://www.pmillett.com/hybrid_head.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/319231/millett-starving-student-hybrid-amp

dave

[pickdropper]

Actually, I'd spend a touch more and build a Pimeta.  It sounds better than the CMOY and you can order a PCB for under $10.

[juansolo]

All good stuff.

Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....

Do love those 'phones!

[pickdropper]

All good stuff.

Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....

Do love those 'phones!

Yeah, I have a pair of Grados that need new pads.  I've got a set of Sennheisers and a set of AKGs (that I've had forever).  And, of course, I've got about a billion IEMs.

[selfdestroyer]

I know you said HiFi but this might be a fun project to play with.
http://stompboxed.blogspot.com/2012/07/12ax7-tube-headphone-amp.html

and just found this one also.
http://kk4eqm.com/?p=176

[Leevibe]

In the meantime...To get those nice Grado headphones back into service STAT build yourself a lowly Cmoy, quick, easy chip amp that sounds terrific, can use a NE5532 if you have one on hand or the more exotic ie., expensive chips usually listed. A step up would be something like Erix 47 which really packs a wallop and can be deafening loud to really drowned out the voices. Headphone amps and Grados were my gateway drugs to amps and pedals.

http://www.head-fi.org/f/6/diy-do-it-yourself-discussions

An interesting hybrid.
http://www.pmillett.com/hybrid_head.htm
http://www.head-fi.org/t/319231/millett-starving-student-hybrid-amp

dave

Yes, I built a CMOY headphone amp with my son and he listens to his Grados through it all the time. It sounds great.

If there is a tube head amp project I want in!

[lincolnic]

All good stuff.

Indeed I've just re-discovered the Grados (they must be 20+ years old) as I grabbed some new pads for them at the HiFi show. The originals were going a bit green....

Do love those 'phones!

Yeah, I have a pair of Grados that need new pads.  I've got a set of Sennheisers and a set of AKGs (that I've had forever).  And, of course, I've got about a billion IEMs.

You can get replacement pads for your Grados from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Grado-L-Cush-Large-Replacement-Cushions/dp/B0006GCCO0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393307157&sr=8-2&keywords=grado+labs+pads

[juansolo]

More interesting reading

http://www.platenspeler.com/hifi/headphones/uk_littledot_1.php

[muddyfox]

It's not tube but I've been wanting to build this one...

http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html