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
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
Customer Reviews
Muy fácil de armar, funciona con una gama muy amplia de Fuentes de alimentación, y buena calidad de sonido.
Muy recomendable. Los pasos para armar son muy claros y exactos.
I used the card edge PCB from the 500EXT kit and wired is up according to the diagram. You have to remove R1 & R2. This set up allows you to bypass virtual ground and utilize both power rails of a 500 rack. This improves noise performance a bit compared to my previous wall wort powered builds.
Very straight forward to assemble / solder.
Excellent support provided in case of any clarification/ questions.
Premium components. Inexpensive kit. Stellar sound for the price.
Thank you DIYRE.
I’ve built 2 of these (I ordered the partial kit) and not only do they sound great, they were really fun and easy to put together. Sonically the HC-1 is dead clean (to my ears anyway), can’t tell the difference between it and my audio interface, which is great.
The quality of components provided in the partial kit was excellent. I ended up modding mine for more gain as per described in the HC-1 support/mods doc which can be found by searching the DIYRE support page.
Also customer service was excellent, Peterson was quick to answer all of the annoying beginner level questions I had; super grateful for that.
Great kit, great company! Nothing more satisfying than putting things together yourself, these people make it possible.
I hoped for a sonic improvement from the (terrible) HP4 that I was using to record others in my home studio. What I got was an improvement from the(IMO very good) stock amp in my interface (iD22)...didn’t see that coming...couldn’t be happier! I built a 2 banger into an ammo box. Really fun and easy project! Check out my YT video.
