LAST UPDATED: 10/19/07I was thinking it might be a good idea to have a post describing all of the current DIY amp alternatives out there. Maybe there is one, but I haven't seen it. To that end, I have gone through the posts on this forum and listed the amps mentioned, and where possible, the parts cost of the amp. What I was hoping for was that someone more smarter (sic) than me could fill in the remaining part costs. Also, for those that have some sort of comparison, rate them A+ to F-. I thought it just might be a good way to summarize the information in one place.
Note: I've since learned that this topic is also on Head-Fi. His list is a lot prettier with different info. In any case, I shamelessly filled in some of my blanks with his. 
Amp Cost Grade General Comments
M3 $200 A Solid state amp
Millet Hybrid $150 Tube hybrid. PCB's no longer available.
Millet Hybrid Max ~$165 New version of the Millet Hybrid
Morgan Jones $200
Dynalo $200
Dynahi $450
SOHA $50 Tube hybrid, supposed to be better than a MJ/CJ, better than YAHA
YAHA $30
Cavalli Jones $180
CL MkII $280 Supposed to be better than a SOHA
BCJ MkI $400 Supposed to be better than a CL MKII
BCJ MKII Supposed to be better than a BCJ MKI
Futternman $280
LISA-III
MHHA from sijosae ~$45 Cost includes enclosure and PSU
Akido $150-$500 PCB Board available
QRV01 amp Class A headphone amp
QRV02 amp Multiple feedback headphone amp
QRV03 amp Current feedback headphone amp
QRV04 amp Surface mounted Class A biased headphone amp
QRV05 amp Surface mounted Diamond Buffer
QRV06 amp Surface mounted current feedback headphone amp
QRV07 amp Surface mounted current feedback headphone amp
QRV08 amp Surface mounted current feedback headphone amp w/super regularors and transformers
Cavalli Kumisa III ~$100 PCB board available at AMB's website
β22 ~$300+ PCB board available at AMB's website
Direct Coupled Amp
Szekeres Amps $15-30 No PCB board available. Low price uses very inexpensive parts
Cmoy "Classic" ~$35? Very small portable amp. Beginners should start here
PPA $150 A Solid state amp -- can be portable.
Pimetas $75-$100 Slightly bigger than the CMOY portable amp.
A47 ~$35
ATAT's PPA
inside a tin $50-$150 Group Buy over
Mini3 v2 $75 PCB board available at AMB's website
Mini3 development stalled
Pint pulled
Mint discontinued
Cetoole's SMD MINT no boards manufactured
Cetoole's MINT
with Diamond
Buff... Unsure of status
POWER SUPPLIES
TREAD $17 ($10+ for transformer)
STEPS $50
Dynalo PSU $130
Dynahi PSU $160
σ22 ~$120 Companion for the β22, but can be used for Dynahi, Dynalo and others
requiring split supply
σ11 ~$70 Single Rail version of the σ22
QSXPS Rev.1
DACs
Alien $31 PCB's available at Glassjaraudio.com
d3
1545 DAC Kit - "Monica 2" PCB's available
Shunt Regulator
Super Shunt Regulator $12 Isolates power supply/load AC current loops well
Some additional links to other headphone projects:
Raymond's Audiopages
Elliot Sound Products
I would assume that all of the amps in the first section would benefit greatly from one of the power supplies, so these should be included in your build cost. Obviously, there are some power supplies for specific amps. I'm assuming the other amps do not have a specific power supply unit needed.
One final note: The prices are in USD and are just guidelines. I'm sure any one of these amps can be built for less or (a lot) more depending on the parts one buys.
JCD
[Edited by jcd on 10-19-2007 at 07:40 PM.]
posted 05-22-2006 05:10 PM CST (US) 
