The reason I will using the home amplifier Tripath TA2024 in this balanced headphone amplifier is because the HD6xx headphone require big power to drive it well. The balanced amplifier as the internal design of this Tripath TA2024 will be a solution because theoretically the balanced amplifier are amplify each polarity from the speakers or to the headphone.
Reading from the Tripath TA2024 datasheet, because the nominal output only about 4 watt per channel in the lowest distortion, so when this amplifier is pair with the higher impedance like this Sennheiser HD6xx this would be also working well.
This Tripath TA2024 is the amplifier taken from the previous project. This amplifier is intended to use in car audio system, in the 12 volt power input. In this project, I just need to remove the power line filter circuit and replace it with a simple DC power input.
I will make several holes for accommodate the input output connectors, that is why the amplifier circuit board need to be removed first.
The result is not so tidy work for the hole-saw drill. I should grind the corner holes again to smoothing the edges.
This is the back panel ready with all the connectors required. They are RCA plugs for signal input, power switch and DC socket for power 12 volt input.
The OEM amplifier board of TA2024 doesn't have the DC output adjustment. This adjustment are required to make sure the DC offset are low enough so it wouldn't burn the headphone connected.
My previous project with this amplifier already put the additional DC offset adjustment. You can check it here The circuit is added based on the Tripath TA2024 database.
Now the board is install again to the case with all wiring ready to connect.
On the DC voltage input socket, I put additional 470 uF ripple smoothing capacitor after the switch. This value is very sufficient since the output for headphones will not greater than 1 watt at 300 ohm per channel.
It is almost finished. The last piece need to be install is the front panel.
In this project, I ordered the 4 pin female XLR. This will be put on the front of the amplifier casing for the headphone socket.
I make a 20 mm hole to fit this female XLR balanced socket.
The speaker out from the Tripath TA2024 amplifier board are connect directly to the XLR pin.
This balanced headphone amplifier is now ready!
In this test, this amplifier will be pairing with the Sennheiser HD6x headphone.
By looking this setup, this really like a commercial professional balanced headphones amplifier.
This balanced headphones amplifier work perfectly. When it is on idle, no noise is heard even without any input and with volume knob set to the max. I do testing this amplifier with my Chord Mojo DAC or using the iPod. The sound quality from this balanced headphones amplifier is really great. I love how the vocal sound deliver so smooth. The highs are presenting open and details. The bass attack and timing is really great with this amplifier.
I listen with this Tripath TA2024 balanced headphone amplifier for quite some time and I really like the sound. It is very engaging, have a good music timing, and no noise occurs at any volume level. But I not using this amplifier anymore. The direct connection from the amplifier output to the headphones sometimes makes me worried that it could burn my previous headphones.
Although it is not happen, yet, because I already using the additional DC offset circuit, so the output to the headphone theoretically will be safe, but I still worries. So think I will using the dedicated headphone amplifier instead.
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