Objective 2 DIY amp under $100

[ory_zm]

Well depends what you are after? The DAC by itself runs of USB as far as I can remember.
The O2 is no big deal, just get it from wherever and buy a suitable plug pack. Pretty simple IMO.

[Antihippy]

Which plug pack would it need? Do you mean this kind of plug pack?

http://www.tortech.com.au/category/plug-packs/

[dingostolemyipod]

Which plug pack would it need?

i use this one

http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=M9265A

[ory_zm]

If I remember correctly there are a few suggestions in this thread, the best one for you would be the one that is easiest to get. There are a few available that match the required specs from JayCar, Fishpond and Altronics.

[Manni]

I just had a go at the O2 and it's not a bad little amp. It certainly has a lot of power for a little unit. If you do try to attach something like the Audio Technicas to them, make sure you put the volume low otherwise you will blow your ears off.

[ory_zm]

I just had a go at the O2 and it's not a bad little amp. It certainly has a lot of power for a little unit. If you do try to attach something like the Audio Technicas to them, make sure you put the volume low otherwise you will blow your ears off.

Yep I use them on low gain all the time (but I don't have any crazy high impedance headphones.
You should always use on lowest gain, when you turn on make sure the volume knob is all the way down and slowly turn it up to listenable levels.

Interesting story:
When I use the amp with my work PC (onboard sound) it sounds better than straight from the case! Not sure if this is a case of extremely high output impedance being tamed down by the amp but I was surprised as I always assumed only a DAC would improve matters (that is why the ODAC is next on my shopping list).

[Mansunz]

Hi all, I have the o2 for over 2 myths now (DIY built) and added the odac to the same housing over a mth ago. I am using a beyerdynamic dt-990 600 ohm with it, no problem powering this beast. Just wandering if any had any experience with the o2 + hifiman he-500 combo?

[billbro]

Just picked up the O2 and ODAC myself... time to go to Jaycar to pick up an adapter though.

Gone nuts of late, picked up the Senn Momentums, HD 650 and AT 3000ANV in the course of a few weeks. Will probably pick up the AT ES11LTD from headphonic in the next few weeks depending on pricing as well... dododo

[ory_zm]

Geez that is a list of some pretty good headphones! won the lottery recently?

[billbro]

Geez that is a list of some pretty good headphones! won the lottery recently?

I wish, seeing as I had relatives visiting so I couldn't go on holidays... my funds kind of got redirected elsewhere.

Actually the intention started off as just picking up the Momentum to replace my ESW9, then I did more reading that led to the ES11LTD. However, seeing as we haven't started selling them in Aus and I was reading interesting tidbits about the 3000ANV, I looked for one of those and snagged it. Oh and the HD 650 I had considered in the past, but thought I wouldn't use full sized cans often, but I threw that out the window with the 3000s...

Yeah not much logic involved, though I snapped all of them up at pretty good prices - so erm... value for money?!

[ory_zm]

Ha ha yeah that's what I tell myself... (Beyer DT770 32ohm $230 FTW!!!)

[Manni]

Currently, testing the O2 with the HE500. It does sound rather clear and go loud but since I've never heard the HE500s before, I'm not sure what it's meant to sound like.

[Mansunz]

Currently, testing the O2 with the HE500. It does sound rather clear and go loud but since I've never heard the HE500s before, I'm not sure what it's meant to sound like.

saving up for the HE-500. anyone else can comments on the HE-500 + O2 + ODAC combo?

[dingostolemyipod]

saving up for the HE-500. anyone else can comments on the HE-500 + O2 + ODAC combo?

Haven't tried it, but it should be fine. Neutral sounding headphones, neutral sounding dac, neutral sounding amp.
Recently got the ODAC and its performance is very impressive.
The O2 has 160mA current output will give about 500mW into 38 ohms, so power demands won't be an issue, unless you want ear bleeding volume levels.

One thing though, the increased current demands of current hungry phones will cause more V-droop from your wallwart which might cause an issue if your using a 12V one, and listening at loud levels. I wouldn't be overly worried, but if you have issues you might need to upgrade the wall wart to a bigger one.

[Nosaj]

Just got my O2+DAC combo today. From my own limited perspective, it's better sounding than the iBasso D7, FWIW.

2000000000 hours burnin kgo. :P