Soldering Your Own Headphone Amp
Monday, December 8th, 2008 running time 27:30
Learn to solder by building yourself the most excellent Chu Moy headphone amp. It sounds great but cheap enough to give away as holiday stocking stuffers.
Headphone amplifiers might seem superfluous but when you step to some serious headphones you need more amps than most portable audio players can muster. If you consider yourself an audiophile and you're pretty handy with a soldering iron this is one project you need to do. Of course you'll need the schematics for one the best headphone amp designs out there the Chu Moy headphone amp.
Thankfully Tangentsoft.net has some incredibly detailed instructions for building the Chu Moy amp.
Now one thing you'll need to be aware of are the OPA2134 OpAmps. There great but if want them you'll need to order them online at DigiKey and Mouser. For resistors, LEDs, and headphone jacks you can pick those up at Radio Shack.
Happy soldering!!!
Highlights
New York City
(
14:24, 14:24
)
Dennis Quaid
(
14:23, 14:23
)
jumper Cables
(
16:10, 16:10
)
United states
(
0:09, 24:28, 0:09, 24:28
)
New York City
(
14:24, 14:24
)
Dennis Quaid
(
14:23, 14:23
)
jumper Cables
(
16:10, 16:10
)
United states
(
0:09, 24:28, 0:09, 24:28
)
Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )
" This episode of system has brought here by Netflix. GoDaddy got job and the United states air force. What do make your headphones -- we want to have a great holiday gift you can build for a friend. -- tried building headphone -- sure you can buy some really cool headroom maps we love I have a couple of other great thing about -- For twenty or fifty bucks we can help -- output and into accounts the ending headphone amp on this episode of system."
" Welcome today's episode system I'm Dave Hawkins and Patrick is tired of listening to him so. -- Too bad if you hit you by. -- these talk -- and implement other great. Quick losing big -- actually. Actually the works but the advocate or even -- but yet they tend to want to be proven harder. Right they want or -- more camps more voltage more power Scotty. -- and the probably iPhone or iPod words in various devices he's at the time Easter is -- to amplifiers that are like the size. So it just you know -- Before actually no reason not to accept that can be a little pricey and we are not going to build one of those on the show. So actually we had tears in India actually there's elements -- to pre built."
" You can build something like this equality that you want amplifier and the idea is that you know. Much like one of these had room amplifiers you're going to use. In the -- Burr brown op amp. And the -- exile in the stereo op amp to amplify the signal coming out of you or portable audio device before it goes into your. Headphones or you're high and your buds. It's pretty easy some people who -- and -- 2530 bucks for a fifty dollars and parks is is more typical if you. Go first super cooled that part we'll talk about that a little later on what you could jury duty audio -- pre sisters -- you can get it up to a hundred bucks. But this is a really -- price is appropriate holiday project you want to build for somebody as it kept the good."
" Talking to -- and you can certainly personalize them public the shop form where you can you painter of it in your payment in. Particularly. Mean and make that. So what's your favorite part about what anytime you build the new project is he getting the parts or mapping -- circuit. It's the smell of the sauter as the -- my bloodstream. That would explain a lot can -- the and what's we should point out though is you're not going to find most of the part -- actually saw a bunch of parts that you can't buy you check your local RadioShack. I prefer to use -- or monster on line. -- he -- like him to educate. All three of these companies that are excellent companies. They all are interesting in that if you're looking for a whole bunch of parts. Between the three education could -- you'll find it. Not one of them is the chief but it Turkey will be cheaper one of the residual sugar the other -- and so --"
" So the court this is an op -- Brown's original design for these this is there OP 2130 Q and these are little anti static packaging on these. And it's a pretty cool pretty simple -- and I see that -- actually pretty phenomenal and cost like four box which is a great start to the project. Andy original one directly built some. With a single channel one they now have it paid double channel part which is that when I'm 32. PA. And that means you can actually do stereo off of the single chip and means you have to be somewhat smaller board again which is gonna look like."
" That if those are curious Jim Laurie is just a guy that guy who it's -- DIY guru. The nice thing about this project is not only is it cheap but it's very simple. Yeah I'm like 123. Who 678910111213. Components on the board. And 141516. If you counts. The attacks in the switch. Election trying time how long it takes to make Israeli -- Insert your dad into -- agents -- uttered again and not be numb that you don't mean to. -- of an electrical engineering degrees it's pretty -- or. One of those things about how popular this particular project has been. Is the gentleman behind -- is off dot net has done is extraordinary tutorial and this is something that's incredibly invaluable because. Instead of having to puzzle out how to leave this thing out yourself -- usual part number for RadioShack -- The ever popular Greek style PC board. Which looks like of that and tell you heavily this out which I can actually say is pretty awesome because having had to figure had attorneys schematic. Into an actual physical product eye socket that I usually end up putting an out of Bosnia proto border at a price of Mercury is also if you are doing a project I have. Many hundreds of these of studies all the and we'll talk about that a little bit more in the lab."
" So should we head into the lab and start putting things together let's get our -- Yes it is just take over the bank one of the sponsors today's episode system godaddy.com. You want to make an impact on line -- dot com has what you mean starting at less than five dollars a month web -- to godaddy.com includes 99 point 9% up time. 247 support. And free access to the GoDaddy hosting connection that is being placed it quickly install over 53 applications like word press you would Drupal OS commerce and quite a few more and don't miss the go to the dot com holiday shopping -- between now December 15 every purchase of fifty dollars or more automatically qualifies you. -- that -- 1000 dollar cash prize. Now -- consistency that was a hookup right. Current code 66 that that's what aspect to check out you're going to school an additional 1% off -- club before my post you plan. The restriction do apply please see the site for details and get your piece of the Internet. And GoDaddy -- top support us by supporting godaddy.com. Seats."
" All right so we're back and workshop amber to -- are ministry amplifier together so a lot of people have had a lot of questions about how to such -- a really good time prosecuted dishonor. So if you're gonna search soldering. The first thing you want to do is getting good sauter and you know those -- little RadioShack. Black plastic sorry here's the crap don't -- us what you would usually good dweller Brandon sorry here exporters. You can get -- to plug it directly to the wall or you can get little soldering stations like this actual temperature controls. Thumb either way whether it's plug into the wall or -- or temperature controlled soldering station. They're both very good to come and lots of different wattage is generally get 35 what plug into the wall -- be okay for most of your sorry purposes. What you've got a good soldering iron. Then it's a good thing to practice soccer in this particular project is really good for that so you can buy -- of practice for called -- such as this one. And you'll notice of these sort of type it bores you have copper on one side and did nothing on the other side. That's basically so the components actually go in of the nothing side and then the wires come out of the copper site and that's actually where you saw her which is what we're beginning today. So when a soldering what you wanted you to take all your components anyone -- from the most shallow component the deepest component. So for today's little experiment will be doing is will be taking these jumper pins -- actually part of the the project and really sorry -- jumper -- Since they are so shallow it's really easy for -- fall outs if you put into a larger. Objects here that would have put in the the jumpers it would just fall out so what do we do is. I've pre drawn all the places permanently jumpers on this board so there I don't have to look back at the that paper I can just push it in through my little black Sharkey points. You know -- flap. On the table. Because it's still a shallow object is not going to fall through its going to be almost flush with the board. Winds honoring this is really important -- have four points of contact. Point number one is the board -- what it's a PCB board or whether it's protecting corporate number two. Is your actual object to component that's coming through that's the wire. Number three major soldering iron we put your soldering iron you want it -- kit right after joint right without wires coming up through the whole. -- here hold it there for about three seconds. And it point number four is the solder was -- to bring in from the you from the opposite you're just gonna barely touch it. He just get a little bit of solder on there. You know -- good -- solder point is what I like refer to as were called volcano is because it actually looks like there's a volcano coming up from the board okay. A bad solder joint looks like the deaths are because you haven't hit the boards -- basically then what you have is he big blob of sauter that's just. Stuck to the wire but it's not actually. BT connection for the board. So this is really that it opportunity for you practice your sorry this sport and just go through with Korean. All of your jumpers and so. So sometimes when you do this -- using lots of kids by trying to put this over to lose a lot of the worry about it just pick it back up we do it but. Yes he lost three of their. Always remember when soldering that too little sauter is much better than two bucks -- if you use too little you can always at a little bit if used too much -- it's really hard to get the actress daughter office of the products allow you to do that. Security inexperienced -- this person. He'll take you awhile to figure out how to use those products we can work. So now I've got arming jumpers are iron on you'll see that there's lots of little wires sticking up. So the -- there really bad in the sense that they're going to poke you in the fingers -- to make it difficult work with when your -- other things. So let me use what's called a diagonal cutters. Which is a wire cutters but it comes in it will. The diagonal. And you want to go in and you want to cut off all those guns and watch out your eyes -- me want to use them. Protective I would do it this. When sorry microchips you never actually sauter. A microchip the heat or cynical electricity is very easy to destroy any property -- microchip. So what she used to use what's called socket. And basically what that is is it something that will hold the microchip in place but it. This is what -- sauter on you actually destroy the microchip. And then once this disorder gone and you slide in the microchip into what's called socket or you can also call it -- They also have. Little clarity on this so if you look on this particular one we shall see is is on one side. There's little hole the little notch and that's -- which way is up for. Microchip that's very important pay attention to the microchip is because they're even on the left and the right -- they have the same number of of -- coming up. But there is a topic there is -- bottom so they're not. Polarity Independent which you can just turn around and over just finds it being very careful knowing which way -- goes him. Sometimes those are you find your soldering iron it's -- and has access sauter on it that's left over. It can you really paying knees -- and what that's basically most soldering stations come with sponges. If yours didn't it was fun discovery to respond to make sure you're not touching the tip of the soldering and and actually if you just wipe across a very wet sponge looks that access one has come off then it'll eat up and cute little so repulsed. On this funds which -- there should be all of them. It -- make a solder bridge which is basically. She goes a -- end up getting too close together and actually join. Of them then actually oddly enough a simple reasonably that we usually kind of open. And you mostly music continuity tester after you're done to make sure that they are still not touching. This is what's called a multi meter and if you happen to have one of this big you can get smaller ones generally a good one just measures. That DC voltage AC voltage. Resistance and continuity which is basically is something touching the better ones actually have a little speaker so any attachments together. You can -- Church. The scenario that cut away my solder -- it was an attack. Tested to make sure does not actually. And it's not. So none -- Soldering gun both claim jumpers as well as mind -- socket so the next step is to suffer under resisters. Always pay attention to. The worksheet when you're making a kid who were following directions like this so that you know exactly which -- sorry. And things like that it is. Is very easy to confuse them they all look very similar. There are two ways. Put resisters imports such as this you can place them vertically or horizontally for this. And it's going to be a little bit easier to -- the resisters vertically. But that means is the resisters action cook up a little bit off of the board."
" It's just. It's time now for a Netflix sponsored movie pick of the week this week is frequency. Dennis Quaid stars of the New York City firefighter who dances to music shortwave radios to communicate thirty years in the future with his side. They've seen by that that you can't change history without unforeseen consequences providing plenty of thrills and surprises. It's unique -- on the familiar altering the past premise and definitely belongs in your deeply Netflix here. Don't forget to check out the other 90000 titles Netflix has to offer including an amazing collection of Blu-ray discs. -- battered by anything you look at four plus with forty shipping centers almost all of -- happen in a single business -- and shipping both ways. For three. Now if your Xbox live gold member you can receive Netflix on the -- viewing on your Xbox 360 that's right no this -- mailbox no waiting. Your movies instantly streamed over your broadband connection straight to your TV through your Xbox 360. Plans start at four dollars and 99 cents but we got hooked up Furyk -- your system Bjork. Sign up today at www. Netflix dot com slash system and get your very own free trial. Please support system by supporting our sponsors."
" It's important to remember. When you're making a -- amplifier if you're looking at this exact instruction guide that while it looks Muir left to right it's an -- actually neared. It's very important to follow the -- extremely closely for instance in the second resisters. This year it's on the first row of the up him. Where as obvious flip side it's on the second -- so it looks kind of like their -- but they're not to pay close attention to make sure. They should not actually was sorry resisters under the wrong -- If you -- on making a lot of projects such as this one of the things you want to invest enormous invest this is like a ten dollar investment is set of jumper. Cables and all these jumpers are. Come in different links in the color coded based on the size and things like this if -- people who doesn't follow directions and read the whole thing. And one of the things that the that the mini -- project to him is is that. What resistor five is actually used so shown in the illustration but resistor five is actually one of those things that. If you're having problems with the -- you can put what's called it pulled down resistor in -- positions but -- nationalist what resistor I was supposed to be so you might just. -- Italy filling it with another thing but in fact the directions say is that you're supposed to use a jumper and now since this is so long you wouldn't want to use a short jumper pins and usually these jumper pins for where it says her -- five. Now fanatic problems if there's lot of static and things like that replaces him with -- We're talking about capacitor is for projects like this you have two kinds of capacity have polarized and non polarized. Much like electrical plug your batteries you don't have a positive and to -- have a negative and two batters look passengers. Which are -- sort of kind of not really like batteries. But only in the history energy have some of them have a negative and positive leads some of them do not so some of them are called polarized. And some of them are called non polarized the com and lots of different looks and designs and things like that's. So in the case of this one it is polarizing you can tell that two different ways. First of all. The negative side is usually colored differently sizzle striped on the negative side there's actual negative mark on there. The second way to tell. Is if you actually look at the metallic leaves one of them is shorter. Then the other and so the shorter run which has been cut off is the minus side and the longer run it is the plus side. In the case of the other passengers who were using. This one is considered a non porous -- so polarized -- distinctly matters which we put it in the board. The non polarized pastor can go in another way. It should be noted that the -- it -- or seek to on the right side. Is jumping across -- three holes rather than to licking his lips and his very heart defendant so if if you're just following the visual sides. I'm on the -- Your pencils nearly impossible to do see me -- move it over one and then just wrapped a wire around solution making contact. The last components you're gonna soldering sauter on is the capacity -- C one for both. Be very careful because it's very hard to understand if you just glancing -- because again these look. Non polarized like for the monitor away. And the right one and the left one or inverted in how you put it on the board so if you're just gonna duplicate if you put the left -- done the same with -- for the right woman. Careful players not for the -- to be very careful to make sure you know which side is negative and which is positive. Okay in making mine mini amplifier I'm gonna go a little bit off the charts here. Two of the big differences here is a -- that you can have a potentiometer on. Your amplifier which basically means it's a second volume control. When basically -- you have a volume control on your iPhone or whatever else is using trip -- secondly. You have an Independent vote female plugs for your mini -- so basically. One would be fun to your iPhone and then the other one would be to your headphones. Well this can be confusing as far as which goes to which there and it also means if you have to have a second plug. Always coming in and so when I want to do is on mine I'm actually going to run and may all mini plug out so that the plug is always there to put directly into. The iPhone or whatever. And that way it's obvious which via headphones always goes into them also not going to use a potentiometer I was gonna use the volume control on my iPhone. So you do all of this basically if you happen to have a dead set of headphones the best way to do this is to use. A dead headphone Jack and just cut off had -- aspect of it. The only headphones like finder and here -- Patrick and he would live music is so I'm actually going to use. Rodgers instead. I'm actually going to use. They little mini headphone Jack plug that you can -- an -- run the wires to it but nonetheless we'll still end up having. An actual. Male plug coming out of it was always obvious. Which -- as much. So there are real few holes on internal towards -- So that we can put our component we're basically -- should consult on. Solder it together and knowing sentiment in there. It was treaty we're gonna test and see who works and -- this -- your first electronic predator -- you're gonna notice years you might not notice is that if you just put your board and like this. You might have noticed that now. All of the components on the other side. Are touching each other because this is a metal object so we want to insulate. The -- can. Instances dirt -- project cookies -- things like -- standoffs. -- posters of -- can use regular old -- electrical tape. And -- at the inside of this twice for the electrical tape and that will basically insulated so that we put auto components and they're not shorting each other out."
" So for those of you who have never inserted a microchip into each hip socket before you're gonna notice that the little pins. Are too wide to fit in the socket so what I can do is I attended just. Take it and squeeze just a little to begin the too little is better than too much easier to squeeze enough to go as we do it but it's hard to then back. And it always check the polarity that little did it on one -- and make sure that that did it matches up with the David in the socket. Okay what you got everything -- together and placed in your box it should look something like this you can see the electrical tape in the background to insulate everything. I got my little Italy do you race here to find out if that's on or off but on off switch. My headphone Jack and like I said before I prefer to use a male plug it so that I can plug this right into my iPhone or whatever it is -- and amplifying rather than using two female plugs and so this is one of those things we can do lots of different designs for instance. You have to have the only -- On this or you can put the only deal the front of other different things are lots of different ways of doing -- Also be careful when you're putting together. You -- mindful battery adapters and make sure you have enough lead. So that you're two adapters can fit both batteries in but not so much as you got wires everywhere because you get too much -- unit it's actually going to be hard to close. So now. This is going to be our task we haven't actually done this before so I have no idea if this you working on the department batteries him. Closing up. -- male -- he does go on so we know that there's something coming out there. And the ability to plug this into the headphone Jack my iPhone. -- Poignantly airboats and see what we get. This sounds a lot better then the amplifier in my iPhone. Just my regular old pods and -- use every single day. Probably get through this and it sounds a lot better it's a lot louder it's a lot cleaner unity on that and it. I really don't think that this is more than about 2030 dollars to parts. At the most com. It takes a little bit longer than if she thought it was going to take and mostly at that is because these -- very tiny. Little compartment so if you're building a big old robot you know lots of room to work with it goes faster because there's more -- room. We're as because of the size the more the worry community. This did not go nearly as fast as -- dissipated there is of course would fringe benefit to making an all points ten bucks. -- for months."
" We Mexican moment now for short message from the United states air force."
" O'Donnell Wagner notices air force come via the commander reported plus of course one of you know about one of the part of space program and the Air Force's. Exciting place you just -- we'll -- don't realize -- air force base program is equivalent to massive size scope and most cases mark. The shuttle launches about once a month. And I've got real losses here the next thirty days so you want to be in the -- quarterly reports released this."
" Mr. Hurley didn't back off a I don't think it's gotten so I'm pretty -- it's pretty cheap dirt cheap. Easy to resemble painfully simple yet it came first avenue and if you do not really get it soldering if something outsider ready people had a component. You can spend eight hours on this if you spread it out over few nights but basically if you pay attention instructions. Four hours 93. If you're like super robot simpler cool guy I didn't mean to zero to me like -- 102000. And -- if you leave the room for our half time. Mr. Perot reality they've evidently had not heard anybody without his attention span I really think could honestly do is two dollars. Eighty people had just told me I have attention issues that area again. If you have any ideas comments or suggestions please email -- system and revision three dot com we can get several good ideas from your emails and read them. And don't forget to visit the forms -- three dot com slash farm and you can visit older episodes full of cool projects ever risen three dot com slash system. That's it for this week I'm Patrick Norton and I and it -- and we'll see -- next week don't I did one last thing."
" Never go back to your day. -- never go to. It's -- it's news --"
" He's the party of one people. Yeah we've put the words in the teleprompter --"
" So direction and make some test -- the nice thing about this particular pocket amplify this. Have lots of Patrick's in the studio and have to fan Patrick. Will destroy any pocket if a -- it's. Surrender when user you're soldering gun and always be very very careful and always gravity from the nice -- never forget. Because if you're slow and careless you rate would. Put a good second do you burn right into your -- and I am white I can't -- but that's all right. I got no class and got no style but I can now -- view my country well. He's he's he's he."
" This episode of system has brought here by Netflix. GoDaddy got job and the United states air force. What do make your headphones -- we want to have a great holiday gift you can build for a friend. -- tried building headphone -- sure you can buy some really cool headroom maps we love I have a couple of other great thing about -- For twenty or fifty bucks we can help -- output and into accounts the ending headphone amp on this episode of system."
" Welcome today's episode system I'm Dave Hawkins and Patrick is tired of listening to him so. -- Too bad if you hit you by. -- these talk -- and implement other great. Quick losing big -- actually. Actually the works but the advocate or even -- but yet they tend to want to be proven harder. Right they want or -- more camps more voltage more power Scotty. -- and the probably iPhone or iPod words in various devices he's at the time Easter is -- to amplifiers that are like the size. So it just you know -- Before actually no reason not to accept that can be a little pricey and we are not going to build one of those on the show. So actually we had tears in India actually there's elements -- to pre built."
" You can build something like this equality that you want amplifier and the idea is that you know. Much like one of these had room amplifiers you're going to use. In the -- Burr brown op amp. And the -- exile in the stereo op amp to amplify the signal coming out of you or portable audio device before it goes into your. Headphones or you're high and your buds. It's pretty easy some people who -- and -- 2530 bucks for a fifty dollars and parks is is more typical if you. Go first super cooled that part we'll talk about that a little later on what you could jury duty audio -- pre sisters -- you can get it up to a hundred bucks. But this is a really -- price is appropriate holiday project you want to build for somebody as it kept the good."
" Talking to -- and you can certainly personalize them public the shop form where you can you painter of it in your payment in. Particularly. Mean and make that. So what's your favorite part about what anytime you build the new project is he getting the parts or mapping -- circuit. It's the smell of the sauter as the -- my bloodstream. That would explain a lot can -- the and what's we should point out though is you're not going to find most of the part -- actually saw a bunch of parts that you can't buy you check your local RadioShack. I prefer to use -- or monster on line. -- he -- like him to educate. All three of these companies that are excellent companies. They all are interesting in that if you're looking for a whole bunch of parts. Between the three education could -- you'll find it. Not one of them is the chief but it Turkey will be cheaper one of the residual sugar the other -- and so --"
" So the court this is an op -- Brown's original design for these this is there OP 2130 Q and these are little anti static packaging on these. And it's a pretty cool pretty simple -- and I see that -- actually pretty phenomenal and cost like four box which is a great start to the project. Andy original one directly built some. With a single channel one they now have it paid double channel part which is that when I'm 32. PA. And that means you can actually do stereo off of the single chip and means you have to be somewhat smaller board again which is gonna look like."
" That if those are curious Jim Laurie is just a guy that guy who it's -- DIY guru. The nice thing about this project is not only is it cheap but it's very simple. Yeah I'm like 123. Who 678910111213. Components on the board. And 141516. If you counts. The attacks in the switch. Election trying time how long it takes to make Israeli -- Insert your dad into -- agents -- uttered again and not be numb that you don't mean to. -- of an electrical engineering degrees it's pretty -- or. One of those things about how popular this particular project has been. Is the gentleman behind -- is off dot net has done is extraordinary tutorial and this is something that's incredibly invaluable because. Instead of having to puzzle out how to leave this thing out yourself -- usual part number for RadioShack -- The ever popular Greek style PC board. Which looks like of that and tell you heavily this out which I can actually say is pretty awesome because having had to figure had attorneys schematic. Into an actual physical product eye socket that I usually end up putting an out of Bosnia proto border at a price of Mercury is also if you are doing a project I have. Many hundreds of these of studies all the and we'll talk about that a little bit more in the lab."
" So should we head into the lab and start putting things together let's get our -- Yes it is just take over the bank one of the sponsors today's episode system godaddy.com. You want to make an impact on line -- dot com has what you mean starting at less than five dollars a month web -- to godaddy.com includes 99 point 9% up time. 247 support. And free access to the GoDaddy hosting connection that is being placed it quickly install over 53 applications like word press you would Drupal OS commerce and quite a few more and don't miss the go to the dot com holiday shopping -- between now December 15 every purchase of fifty dollars or more automatically qualifies you. -- that -- 1000 dollar cash prize. Now -- consistency that was a hookup right. Current code 66 that that's what aspect to check out you're going to school an additional 1% off -- club before my post you plan. The restriction do apply please see the site for details and get your piece of the Internet. And GoDaddy -- top support us by supporting godaddy.com. Seats."
" All right so we're back and workshop amber to -- are ministry amplifier together so a lot of people have had a lot of questions about how to such -- a really good time prosecuted dishonor. So if you're gonna search soldering. The first thing you want to do is getting good sauter and you know those -- little RadioShack. Black plastic sorry here's the crap don't -- us what you would usually good dweller Brandon sorry here exporters. You can get -- to plug it directly to the wall or you can get little soldering stations like this actual temperature controls. Thumb either way whether it's plug into the wall or -- or temperature controlled soldering station. They're both very good to come and lots of different wattage is generally get 35 what plug into the wall -- be okay for most of your sorry purposes. What you've got a good soldering iron. Then it's a good thing to practice soccer in this particular project is really good for that so you can buy -- of practice for called -- such as this one. And you'll notice of these sort of type it bores you have copper on one side and did nothing on the other side. That's basically so the components actually go in of the nothing side and then the wires come out of the copper site and that's actually where you saw her which is what we're beginning today. So when a soldering what you wanted you to take all your components anyone -- from the most shallow component the deepest component. So for today's little experiment will be doing is will be taking these jumper pins -- actually part of the the project and really sorry -- jumper -- Since they are so shallow it's really easy for -- fall outs if you put into a larger. Objects here that would have put in the the jumpers it would just fall out so what do we do is. I've pre drawn all the places permanently jumpers on this board so there I don't have to look back at the that paper I can just push it in through my little black Sharkey points. You know -- flap. On the table. Because it's still a shallow object is not going to fall through its going to be almost flush with the board. Winds honoring this is really important -- have four points of contact. Point number one is the board -- what it's a PCB board or whether it's protecting corporate number two. Is your actual object to component that's coming through that's the wire. Number three major soldering iron we put your soldering iron you want it -- kit right after joint right without wires coming up through the whole. -- here hold it there for about three seconds. And it point number four is the solder was -- to bring in from the you from the opposite you're just gonna barely touch it. He just get a little bit of solder on there. You know -- good -- solder point is what I like refer to as were called volcano is because it actually looks like there's a volcano coming up from the board okay. A bad solder joint looks like the deaths are because you haven't hit the boards -- basically then what you have is he big blob of sauter that's just. Stuck to the wire but it's not actually. BT connection for the board. So this is really that it opportunity for you practice your sorry this sport and just go through with Korean. All of your jumpers and so. So sometimes when you do this -- using lots of kids by trying to put this over to lose a lot of the worry about it just pick it back up we do it but. Yes he lost three of their. Always remember when soldering that too little sauter is much better than two bucks -- if you use too little you can always at a little bit if used too much -- it's really hard to get the actress daughter office of the products allow you to do that. Security inexperienced -- this person. He'll take you awhile to figure out how to use those products we can work. So now I've got arming jumpers are iron on you'll see that there's lots of little wires sticking up. So the -- there really bad in the sense that they're going to poke you in the fingers -- to make it difficult work with when your -- other things. So let me use what's called a diagonal cutters. Which is a wire cutters but it comes in it will. The diagonal. And you want to go in and you want to cut off all those guns and watch out your eyes -- me want to use them. Protective I would do it this. When sorry microchips you never actually sauter. A microchip the heat or cynical electricity is very easy to destroy any property -- microchip. So what she used to use what's called socket. And basically what that is is it something that will hold the microchip in place but it. This is what -- sauter on you actually destroy the microchip. And then once this disorder gone and you slide in the microchip into what's called socket or you can also call it -- They also have. Little clarity on this so if you look on this particular one we shall see is is on one side. There's little hole the little notch and that's -- which way is up for. Microchip that's very important pay attention to the microchip is because they're even on the left and the right -- they have the same number of of -- coming up. But there is a topic there is -- bottom so they're not. Polarity Independent which you can just turn around and over just finds it being very careful knowing which way -- goes him. Sometimes those are you find your soldering iron it's -- and has access sauter on it that's left over. It can you really paying knees -- and what that's basically most soldering stations come with sponges. If yours didn't it was fun discovery to respond to make sure you're not touching the tip of the soldering and and actually if you just wipe across a very wet sponge looks that access one has come off then it'll eat up and cute little so repulsed. On this funds which -- there should be all of them. It -- make a solder bridge which is basically. She goes a -- end up getting too close together and actually join. Of them then actually oddly enough a simple reasonably that we usually kind of open. And you mostly music continuity tester after you're done to make sure that they are still not touching. This is what's called a multi meter and if you happen to have one of this big you can get smaller ones generally a good one just measures. That DC voltage AC voltage. Resistance and continuity which is basically is something touching the better ones actually have a little speaker so any attachments together. You can -- Church. The scenario that cut away my solder -- it was an attack. Tested to make sure does not actually. And it's not. So none -- Soldering gun both claim jumpers as well as mind -- socket so the next step is to suffer under resisters. Always pay attention to. The worksheet when you're making a kid who were following directions like this so that you know exactly which -- sorry. And things like that it is. Is very easy to confuse them they all look very similar. There are two ways. Put resisters imports such as this you can place them vertically or horizontally for this. And it's going to be a little bit easier to -- the resisters vertically. But that means is the resisters action cook up a little bit off of the board."
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" It's important to remember. When you're making a -- amplifier if you're looking at this exact instruction guide that while it looks Muir left to right it's an -- actually neared. It's very important to follow the -- extremely closely for instance in the second resisters. This year it's on the first row of the up him. Where as obvious flip side it's on the second -- so it looks kind of like their -- but they're not to pay close attention to make sure. They should not actually was sorry resisters under the wrong -- If you -- on making a lot of projects such as this one of the things you want to invest enormous invest this is like a ten dollar investment is set of jumper. Cables and all these jumpers are. Come in different links in the color coded based on the size and things like this if -- people who doesn't follow directions and read the whole thing. And one of the things that the that the mini -- project to him is is that. What resistor five is actually used so shown in the illustration but resistor five is actually one of those things that. If you're having problems with the -- you can put what's called it pulled down resistor in -- positions but -- nationalist what resistor I was supposed to be so you might just. -- Italy filling it with another thing but in fact the directions say is that you're supposed to use a jumper and now since this is so long you wouldn't want to use a short jumper pins and usually these jumper pins for where it says her -- five. Now fanatic problems if there's lot of static and things like that replaces him with -- We're talking about capacitor is for projects like this you have two kinds of capacity have polarized and non polarized. Much like electrical plug your batteries you don't have a positive and to -- have a negative and two batters look passengers. Which are -- sort of kind of not really like batteries. But only in the history energy have some of them have a negative and positive leads some of them do not so some of them are called polarized. And some of them are called non polarized the com and lots of different looks and designs and things like that's. So in the case of this one it is polarizing you can tell that two different ways. First of all. The negative side is usually colored differently sizzle striped on the negative side there's actual negative mark on there. The second way to tell. Is if you actually look at the metallic leaves one of them is shorter. Then the other and so the shorter run which has been cut off is the minus side and the longer run it is the plus side. In the case of the other passengers who were using. This one is considered a non porous -- so polarized -- distinctly matters which we put it in the board. The non polarized pastor can go in another way. It should be noted that the -- it -- or seek to on the right side. Is jumping across -- three holes rather than to licking his lips and his very heart defendant so if if you're just following the visual sides. I'm on the -- Your pencils nearly impossible to do see me -- move it over one and then just wrapped a wire around solution making contact. The last components you're gonna soldering sauter on is the capacity -- C one for both. Be very careful because it's very hard to understand if you just glancing -- because again these look. Non polarized like for the monitor away. And the right one and the left one or inverted in how you put it on the board so if you're just gonna duplicate if you put the left -- done the same with -- for the right woman. Careful players not for the -- to be very careful to make sure you know which side is negative and which is positive. Okay in making mine mini amplifier I'm gonna go a little bit off the charts here. Two of the big differences here is a -- that you can have a potentiometer on. Your amplifier which basically means it's a second volume control. When basically -- you have a volume control on your iPhone or whatever else is using trip -- secondly. You have an Independent vote female plugs for your mini -- so basically. One would be fun to your iPhone and then the other one would be to your headphones. Well this can be confusing as far as which goes to which there and it also means if you have to have a second plug. Always coming in and so when I want to do is on mine I'm actually going to run and may all mini plug out so that the plug is always there to put directly into. The iPhone or whatever. And that way it's obvious which via headphones always goes into them also not going to use a potentiometer I was gonna use the volume control on my iPhone. So you do all of this basically if you happen to have a dead set of headphones the best way to do this is to use. A dead headphone Jack and just cut off had -- aspect of it. The only headphones like finder and here -- Patrick and he would live music is so I'm actually going to use. Rodgers instead. I'm actually going to use. They little mini headphone Jack plug that you can -- an -- run the wires to it but nonetheless we'll still end up having. An actual. Male plug coming out of it was always obvious. Which -- as much. So there are real few holes on internal towards -- So that we can put our component we're basically -- should consult on. Solder it together and knowing sentiment in there. It was treaty we're gonna test and see who works and -- this -- your first electronic predator -- you're gonna notice years you might not notice is that if you just put your board and like this. You might have noticed that now. All of the components on the other side. Are touching each other because this is a metal object so we want to insulate. The -- can. Instances dirt -- project cookies -- things like -- standoffs. -- posters of -- can use regular old -- electrical tape. And -- at the inside of this twice for the electrical tape and that will basically insulated so that we put auto components and they're not shorting each other out."
" So for those of you who have never inserted a microchip into each hip socket before you're gonna notice that the little pins. Are too wide to fit in the socket so what I can do is I attended just. Take it and squeeze just a little to begin the too little is better than too much easier to squeeze enough to go as we do it but it's hard to then back. And it always check the polarity that little did it on one -- and make sure that that did it matches up with the David in the socket. Okay what you got everything -- together and placed in your box it should look something like this you can see the electrical tape in the background to insulate everything. I got my little Italy do you race here to find out if that's on or off but on off switch. My headphone Jack and like I said before I prefer to use a male plug it so that I can plug this right into my iPhone or whatever it is -- and amplifying rather than using two female plugs and so this is one of those things we can do lots of different designs for instance. You have to have the only -- On this or you can put the only deal the front of other different things are lots of different ways of doing -- Also be careful when you're putting together. You -- mindful battery adapters and make sure you have enough lead. So that you're two adapters can fit both batteries in but not so much as you got wires everywhere because you get too much -- unit it's actually going to be hard to close. So now. This is going to be our task we haven't actually done this before so I have no idea if this you working on the department batteries him. Closing up. -- male -- he does go on so we know that there's something coming out there. And the ability to plug this into the headphone Jack my iPhone. -- Poignantly airboats and see what we get. This sounds a lot better then the amplifier in my iPhone. Just my regular old pods and -- use every single day. Probably get through this and it sounds a lot better it's a lot louder it's a lot cleaner unity on that and it. I really don't think that this is more than about 2030 dollars to parts. At the most com. It takes a little bit longer than if she thought it was going to take and mostly at that is because these -- very tiny. Little compartment so if you're building a big old robot you know lots of room to work with it goes faster because there's more -- room. We're as because of the size the more the worry community. This did not go nearly as fast as -- dissipated there is of course would fringe benefit to making an all points ten bucks. -- for months."
" We Mexican moment now for short message from the United states air force."
" O'Donnell Wagner notices air force come via the commander reported plus of course one of you know about one of the part of space program and the Air Force's. Exciting place you just -- we'll -- don't realize -- air force base program is equivalent to massive size scope and most cases mark. The shuttle launches about once a month. And I've got real losses here the next thirty days so you want to be in the -- quarterly reports released this."
" Mr. Hurley didn't back off a I don't think it's gotten so I'm pretty -- it's pretty cheap dirt cheap. Easy to resemble painfully simple yet it came first avenue and if you do not really get it soldering if something outsider ready people had a component. You can spend eight hours on this if you spread it out over few nights but basically if you pay attention instructions. Four hours 93. If you're like super robot simpler cool guy I didn't mean to zero to me like -- 102000. And -- if you leave the room for our half time. Mr. Perot reality they've evidently had not heard anybody without his attention span I really think could honestly do is two dollars. Eighty people had just told me I have attention issues that area again. If you have any ideas comments or suggestions please email -- system and revision three dot com we can get several good ideas from your emails and read them. And don't forget to visit the forms -- three dot com slash farm and you can visit older episodes full of cool projects ever risen three dot com slash system. That's it for this week I'm Patrick Norton and I and it -- and we'll see -- next week don't I did one last thing."
" Never go back to your day. -- never go to. It's -- it's news --"
" He's the party of one people. Yeah we've put the words in the teleprompter --"
" So direction and make some test -- the nice thing about this particular pocket amplify this. Have lots of Patrick's in the studio and have to fan Patrick. Will destroy any pocket if a -- it's. Surrender when user you're soldering gun and always be very very careful and always gravity from the nice -- never forget. Because if you're slow and careless you rate would. Put a good second do you burn right into your -- and I am white I can't -- but that's all right. I got no class and got no style but I can now -- view my country well. He's he's he's he."
mari1ee
Started discussion: December 8, 2008 @ 3:31pm GMT
Episode 81 - Soldering Your Own Headphone Amp [Discussion]
Learn to solder by building yourself the most excellent Chu Moy headphone amp. It sounds great but cheap enough to give away as holiday stocking stuffers.
Watch or download now!
w0z
12 months ago
Really liked this episode and been wondering about this for a while. Thanks a lot guys.
fishtoprecords
12 months ago
So where was the discussion of Vishay capacitors and gold banded resistors and how they improve sound quality?
Where is the comparison to a tube headphone amp?
What slackers.
BTW, Dave, good to see you kept Patrick out of the room, he bring bad mojo to circuit boards.
Where is the comparison to a tube headphone amp?
What slackers.
BTW, Dave, good to see you kept Patrick out of the room, he bring bad mojo to circuit boards.
haku
12 months ago
Enjoyable to watch even though I do that kind of soldering almost on a daily basis, but unfortunately no use to me. I use cheap (but sound extremely good) Philips buds with my iRiver H140, the player vol goes to 40 but I rarely go above 16 with the Philips buds.
Not if you use over 2 meters of the stuff in one short sitting! I had to solder both ends of 50 AAA batteries today, sure glad I had an extractor fan with carbon filter.
Generally though I kinda like the slight waft of solder fumes in the air, the 'tink tink tink' sound of the metal of the soldering iron expandind/contracting and the 'clunk' of putting the iron back in it's holder - it's the unmistakable smell & sound of electronic creation :D
I always found the wet sponge method of cleaning the tip to be a PITA, makes a nice 'tschhhh' sound but it also makes the tip cool down for a few moments and getting the excess solder off can sometimes be really awkward as you press the iron down against the sponge whilst trying to spin+drag it at the same time. I only use the brass wool cleaner now: stab + twist = cleaned.
BTW, diagonal cutters? oh, side cutters! :)
P.S. adding outtakes to the ends of the shows = excellent decision
Not if you use over 2 meters of the stuff in one short sitting! I had to solder both ends of 50 AAA batteries today, sure glad I had an extractor fan with carbon filter.
Generally though I kinda like the slight waft of solder fumes in the air, the 'tink tink tink' sound of the metal of the soldering iron expandind/contracting and the 'clunk' of putting the iron back in it's holder - it's the unmistakable smell & sound of electronic creation :D
I always found the wet sponge method of cleaning the tip to be a PITA, makes a nice 'tschhhh' sound but it also makes the tip cool down for a few moments and getting the excess solder off can sometimes be really awkward as you press the iron down against the sponge whilst trying to spin+drag it at the same time. I only use the brass wool cleaner now: stab + twist = cleaned.
BTW, diagonal cutters? oh, side cutters! :)
P.S. adding outtakes to the ends of the shows = excellent decision
Dosbomber
12 months ago
Just a few comments:
Nice introduction to the very basics of electronic components.
Orange Weller? My WP25 is blue-ish. I have 3 of them, and I swear by them. (Well, very rarely swear AT them, which means about the same thing) :)
I gave up on the wet sponge thing 18 years ago. Brass shavings pad (wool?) F-T-W. You can find a brass wool pad at any thrift store for about a buck. Make sure you get the ones without any soap in them.
When assembling a project, it's usually best to start with the components which stick up from the PCB the least (jumpers, flat resistors), and end with the taller components (voltage regulators, relays). This way you can lay the PCB on a table and the new component is usually making contact with the table surface. This isn't a big thing, but it helps keep the new parts flat against the PCB as you're assembling, which can be a headache if you're doing it backwards.
Rather than spending money on a box of jumpers, buy some 22 AWG solid core wire and a wire stripper and make your own. It's an essential skill that you'll need eventually, so why not make your own? The solid core is great for protoboarding/whiteboarding, and can be used for jumpers on finished PCBs as well. Building your own will also help you get a feel for how to make your wires fit nicely into incremental lengths of 0.100", which will look nicer on predrilled proto-PCBs and protoboards than wires bending everywhere because they're too long. For wires with one end going away from your PCB (connecting to a case-mounted audio jack, for example) use stranded core wire for better durability.
That guy has possibly the best instruction manual I've ever seen.
Sometimes you can get a DMM (digital multimeter) for no cost. Jameco and All Electronics have both given them away with larger orders. They're not fabulous models, but they do everything you'd need for simple projects, and lots more.
Double sided foam tape makes a great insulated standoff for mounting things. :)
Definitely keep up the outtakes. :D
Trivia: In Japan, PCBs are called PWBs, or Printed Wiring Boards. Why? Some years ago, a pesticide with the acronym PCB was used in Japan, which resulted in quite a few deaths (think DDT in America). Thus, "PCB" gained a bad connotation, thus the use of PWB instead.
PS: Dave sounded kind of stuffed up. I have a suspicion there's a nasty cold bug jumping around at the Rev3 offices.
Nice introduction to the very basics of electronic components.
Orange Weller? My WP25 is blue-ish. I have 3 of them, and I swear by them. (Well, very rarely swear AT them, which means about the same thing) :)
I gave up on the wet sponge thing 18 years ago. Brass shavings pad (wool?) F-T-W. You can find a brass wool pad at any thrift store for about a buck. Make sure you get the ones without any soap in them.
When assembling a project, it's usually best to start with the components which stick up from the PCB the least (jumpers, flat resistors), and end with the taller components (voltage regulators, relays). This way you can lay the PCB on a table and the new component is usually making contact with the table surface. This isn't a big thing, but it helps keep the new parts flat against the PCB as you're assembling, which can be a headache if you're doing it backwards.
Rather than spending money on a box of jumpers, buy some 22 AWG solid core wire and a wire stripper and make your own. It's an essential skill that you'll need eventually, so why not make your own? The solid core is great for protoboarding/whiteboarding, and can be used for jumpers on finished PCBs as well. Building your own will also help you get a feel for how to make your wires fit nicely into incremental lengths of 0.100", which will look nicer on predrilled proto-PCBs and protoboards than wires bending everywhere because they're too long. For wires with one end going away from your PCB (connecting to a case-mounted audio jack, for example) use stranded core wire for better durability.
That guy has possibly the best instruction manual I've ever seen.
Sometimes you can get a DMM (digital multimeter) for no cost. Jameco and All Electronics have both given them away with larger orders. They're not fabulous models, but they do everything you'd need for simple projects, and lots more.
Double sided foam tape makes a great insulated standoff for mounting things. :)
Definitely keep up the outtakes. :D
Trivia: In Japan, PCBs are called PWBs, or Printed Wiring Boards. Why? Some years ago, a pesticide with the acronym PCB was used in Japan, which resulted in quite a few deaths (think DDT in America). Thus, "PCB" gained a bad connotation, thus the use of PWB instead.
PS: Dave sounded kind of stuffed up. I have a suspicion there's a nasty cold bug jumping around at the Rev3 offices.
kiwifrog
12 months ago
This was a really good episode,
"Hakko" is my Soldering iron brand of choice, We have 3 running 8 hours a day, every day, they have never failed(except when I dropped a large TV on it's handle, in its holder, but glue fixed it). "Sponge cleaning" is my tip cleaning method of choice, my boss uses the copper braid from around a microwave magnetron as his cleaning method.
When it comes to removing unwanted solder(soder to you guys), I find the best thing is dry-wick, also called soderwick, desolder wick or desoldering braid. The best brand we've found is Soder-wick from chemtronics. Best to buy it around 2mm wide. It'll remove all the solder from a joint as small as a leg of a smd transistor, to as big as a lug on a lopt.
Another quick way to remove a solder bridge between pin's, Just flux the joint and reheat, the solder will quickly flow away to the closest pad, this even works on tiny smd ic's.
Great work guys.
Mike.
"Hakko" is my Soldering iron brand of choice, We have 3 running 8 hours a day, every day, they have never failed(except when I dropped a large TV on it's handle, in its holder, but glue fixed it). "Sponge cleaning" is my tip cleaning method of choice, my boss uses the copper braid from around a microwave magnetron as his cleaning method.
When it comes to removing unwanted solder(soder to you guys), I find the best thing is dry-wick, also called soderwick, desolder wick or desoldering braid. The best brand we've found is Soder-wick from chemtronics. Best to buy it around 2mm wide. It'll remove all the solder from a joint as small as a leg of a smd transistor, to as big as a lug on a lopt.
Another quick way to remove a solder bridge between pin's, Just flux the joint and reheat, the solder will quickly flow away to the closest pad, this even works on tiny smd ic's.
Great work guys.
Mike.
davmoo
12 months ago
This was a great episode. Not only do we see how to build a useful project, the soundtrack of David singing will take care of those annoying mice in my barn!
computoman
12 months ago
Even Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, and Luciano Pavarotti can get old after a while. I say that with the up most respect for all three of them.
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I hoard things, but can't solder a bead...
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I hoard things, but can't solder a bead...
Bani-Banan
12 months ago
So wait. I could just make an altoid amp for $30 and get great sound, instead of having to buy the $100 apple in-ear headphones? (I currently use Koss The spark - in-ear headphones)
Lovely episode. Good job! I think Systm has become watchable, again :)
Lovely episode. Good job! I think Systm has become watchable, again :)










