DIY headphone amp (only for accomplished hardware guys)

Devin Coldewey

Devin Coldewey is a Seattle-based writer and photographer. He has written for the TechCrunch network since 2007. Some posts he’d like you to read: The Dangers of Externalizing Knowledge | Generation i | Surveillant Society | Choose Two | Frame Wars | The User’s Manifesto | Our Great Sin His personal website is coldewey.cc. → Learn More

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010


As soon as I have a work bench area, I’m going to start getting into this stuff. The idea of having a headphone amp that I put together all by myself is incredibly attractive to me for some reason. I’ve messed around with old analog audio gear a bit but I’ve never had the parts or expertise to do anything constructive… but you don’t have to be like me. Got the necessary tools and a love of audio? Check out this how-to.

If you’re paranoid about having an exposed vacuum tube, see what you can find out about hacking some of the newer digital amps out there — I hear some are quite good and you could certainly cut and paste a few pieces and make one more portable and appropriate for headphone use.

I mean, you could. I probably couldn’t.

[via Make]

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