DIYRE
HC1 High Current Headphone Amp
$10.00
- Partial Kit
- Documentation
- Intermediate
The HC1 is an expandable, high-powered headphone amp designed specifically for critical studio monitoring.
The HC1's circuit employs parallel amp stages for greater power and lower distortion. This parallel-opamp concept has been known in theory for decades and was put to practical use in Douglas Self's "5532 OpAmplifier" power amplifier. As a result, the HC1 sounds clean and clear even at high gain and when driving low-impedance headphones.
Because everyone's monitoring needs are different, the HC1 is designed to be customized. The power and audio input connectors are screw terminals, so you can attach whichever jacks you need without soldering. You can also daisy chain multiple HC1s to make a multi-channel headphone amp.
The HC1 is a great project for intermediate builders who enjoy the challenge of choosing their own chassis and inputs.
Features
- High-current, dual-amp design
- Screw terminals for power and audio input
- Stereo, unbalanced audio input
- Accepts 9v battery or DC wall-wart power input
- Mounting holes for case mounting
- Runs about 50 hours on a single 9V battery
- Does not include power or audio input jacks
Partial Kit Includes
- Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
- 2x NE5532 opamps
- All resistors and capacitors required
- TRS 1/4" headphone jack
- Volume potentiometer and knob
- Screw terminals for power and audio input
Source Your Own
- Power supply or batteries
- Chassis
- Input jacks
Specs
Mechanical
- Size: 2″ x 3.5″ (51 x 89mm)
- Mounting Holes: 4x #4 (Ø.125", 3.2mm)
- Full HC1 Mounting Dimensions (PDF)
Electrical:
- Input Impedance: 20kΩ
- Current Draw: 10-20mA
- Gain: 0-10dB (customizable)
- Power Supply: 9 to 44VDC
Resources
Customer Reviews
I integrated the HC1 into a Mackie Big Knob Passive as a compact monitor and routing utility.
The HC1 PCB fit inside the enclosure surprisingly well. I extended the potentiometer and LED for panel mounting, and added a toggle power switch and barrel connector to the back.
The HC1 receives audio directly from the Big Knob post input-selector, but pre volume knob and monitor controls, allowing the headphone path to remain fully independent from outputs A/B.
I originally built this for my home Dante setup, but I could also see myself using it for spatial performance and live routing applications.
The HC1 sounds amazing and the build was easy.
I recommend.
The build was straight forward. A couple of hours on the board and an hour more doing my custom box to house it. But the improvement to the sound in my phones was not just louder or cleaner. There are details coming through that just weren't there on my previous 4 output headphone amp. Really impressive.
Hi.
Good idea for a 500 series hp amp!
But... one input of the hp amp is wired to the 500 xlr output jack ???
Plus, the hp amp in are single ended, just connecting the + of an xlr jack is not the way to go. Some kind of diff circuit needed.
I hope that helps.
…and I hope the headphone audiophiles/enthusiasts & audio pros that use cans for audio work catch on. This amp is better/cleaner and more versatile than practically all of the headphone amps found in today’s “prosumer” audio interfaces. You need to step up to TOTL ADC/DAC land in order to get such a clean and powerful headphone section. As you probably already know from reading the description, this amp is based on Doug Self’s NE5532 amplifier design from around 2010 and it’s super cool that DIYRE is offering a “streamlined” dual opamp version (the original amp design uses 32 opamps!) I have built several CMoys, Objective 02s and IMO this amp blows them away!
HC1 High Current Headphone Amp
