Following the completion of the PeeCeeBee power amplifier, I wanted to build a pre-amplifier to go with it. At present I’m using a Schiit Modi 2 & Magni 3 combo for DAC and preamp duties, and whilst these are perfectly adequate, I wanted a preamp to match the style of the PeeCeeBee. In contrast with…
Do digital players have their own sound? An internet blind test
Following a poll on the Steve Hoffman hardware forum which concluded that CD players have their own signature, Archimago, a respected audio blogger, has developed a blind test to see whether listeners can hear a difference between different types of digital players. The original poll asked for subjective opinions, with the majority (>89%) of respondents…
PeeCeeBee V4 Class AB amplifier
This latest build is the PeeCeeBee, a discrete Class AB amplifier, now in its fourth iteration. It was designed and made available by Shaan through a group buy over at DIYAudio. He has recently designed a very nice PSU as well and so I ordered a couple, one of which powers this amp. Although Shaan…
Workspace listening setup
For this short post I thought I’d just show the setup I’m using for the spare bedroom now that both Idiot Children have left home. The room still has a bed but I’ve managed to have a desk for my electronics.
CMoy Mark IV – preamplifier
Whilst many modern sources provide enough voltage to feed a reasonable signal to amplifiers, some, such as the Pass ACA, may benefit from a boost in gain, particularly if paired with inefficient speakers. As I had most of the parts, I thought I would try a variation of the CMoy headphone amplifier as a preamplifier…
Quick speaker build project
I’ve been thinking of building some speakers for a while now, and with the imminent departure of Idiot Child No.2 to university, an excuse has arisen – that being a simple audio set-up for her room. The project had to be relatively cheap as I don’t have much spare cash for the next few months….
Attack of the Clones
What does a $3300 amplifier sound like? I suppose I’ll find out soon when I finish building a Gainclone amplifier. A Gainclone, as its name suggests, is a clone of an amplifier which first appeared in 1999, the Gaincard built by 47Labs. Heralded for its sound by Stereophile magazine, people were nonetheless surprised to discover…
A comprehensive introduction to computer based audio
Computer-based audio can be overwhelming when going beyond a simple pair of desktop speakers plugged into the output of the computer. The Well-Tempered Computer offers the best introduction I’ve come across. For measured, thoughtful thinking of topics relating to computer based audio (including measurements), have a read of Archimago’s Musings. For questions, discussion and often…
CMoy headphone amplifier version 3
After building my Mark II CMoy headphone amplifier I decided to make a version which resembled more of a desktop model.
Nelson Pass ACA v1.5 DIY build
When I first started searching online for information about DIY audio, I came across the DIYAudio forum, as I expect most people do. Feeling bewildered, I clicked through to the store and saw what seemed to be the answer to my problems, the Amp Camp Amplifier, designed by Nelson Pass. This is a complete kit…