The Cavalli-Kan Kumisa III Stereo Headphone Amplifier

Parts list for standard configuration

The table below illustrates a standard configuration CK²III amplifier. It includes parts for both stereo channels, the power supply and the enclosure. See the sections below for specific parts recommendations and options. Items shown in italic are available from the AMB audio shop.

PartQuantityDescription
Circuit board
-1CK²III printed circuit board
Potentiometers
Volume1Alps RK27112A 50KΩ dual log taper, panel-mount
R19, R4323/8" multi-turn cermet trimpot 1KΩ
Resistors
R16, R2121/8W 1% metal film resistor 1MΩ
R1, R2521/8W 1% metal film resistor 475Ω
R7, R10, R31, R3441/8W 1% metal film resistor 11KΩ
R8, R9, R32, R33, R20, R22, R44, R4681/8W 1% metal film resistor 3.32KΩ
R12, R13, R17, R36, R37, R4161/8W 1% metal film resistor 1.82KΩ
R2, R3-R5, R6, R26, R27-R29, R30101/8W 1% metal film resistor 825Ω
R18, R4221/8W 1% metal film resistor 2.37KΩ
R11, R14, R35, R3841/8W 1% metal film resistor 182Ω
R40, R49, R5131/8W 1% metal film resistor 10KΩ
R15, R3921/8W 1% metal film resistor 301KΩ
R23, R24, R47, R4841W 5% metal oxide resistor 0.47Ω
Capacitors
C33-C364aluminum electrolytic capacitor 2200µF 35V
C3, C4, C12, C134aluminum electrolytic capacitor 1000µF 16V
C37, C382aluminum electrolytic capacitor 220µF 50V
C19, C22, C23, C244bipolar aluminum electrolytic capacitor 10µF 50V
C39, C402metallized polyester capacitor 2.2µF 63V
C7, C162metallized polyester capacitor 0.47µF 63V
C20, C212metallized polyester capacitor 0.1µF 63V
C1, C2, C10, C114metallized polypropylene capacitor 0.047µF 100V
C5, C6, C14, C154multilayer ceramic capacitor 10pF 100V NP0/C0G
C8, C9, C17, C184multilayer ceramic capacitor 220pF 100V NP0/C0G
C25-C328multilayer ceramic capacitor 0.1µF 100V X7R
Integrated Circuits
U11TI/Burr-Brown OPA2134PA dual operational amplifier
VR11Positive voltage regulator 7815
VR21Negative voltage regulator 7915
Transistors
Q2, Q152N-channel low noise JFET 2SK170BL
Q3, Q162P-channel low noise JFET 2SJ74BL
Q4, Q5, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q17, Q18, Q21, Q22, Q2310NPN low noise BJT BC550C
Q1, Q6, Q7, Q11, Q14, Q19, Q20, Q248PNP low noise BJT BC560C
Q13, Q262NPN medium power BJT BD139-16 or MJE243
Q12, Q252PNP medium power BJT BD140-16 or MJE253
Diodes
D1-D881A rectifier 1N4004
LED1Your choice
Power transformer
-1Amveco TE62033 15V+15V toroidal with wire leads
Miscellaneous
-2TO-220 PCB-mount heatsink Aavid-Thermalloy 592502B03400G
-4TO-220 heatsink (your choice, see notes below)
-2TO-220 heatsink mounting kit (if required, see notes below)
-1heatsink thermal compound (if required, see notes below)
-1DIP-8 socket
-2RCA phono jack, panel mount
-11/4" stereo headphone jack, panel mount, isolated
-40.100" 2-circuit pin header, plug and crimp terminals (for audio inputs and transformer secondary connection)
-1IEC power entry module with fuse drawer
-15x20mm 250mA slow blow fuse
-1SPST power switch (optional)
-1knob for Volume
--hookup wire
--heat-shrink tubing
-1Hammond 1455Q220x or 1455Q160x (see below)
--imperial #4-40 or metric M3 machine screws, hex nuts
--other hardware as needed

Parts recommendations & options

To obtain the blank CK²III circuit board and some related parts, visit the AMB audio shop. You can get almost everything else from the vendors listed on the AMB Audio DIY Page. The favorite vendors are Mouser and Digi-Key.

The following is a list of recommendations and options. Please read through this carefully before you order any parts.

Resistors


Notes about R12, R13, R36, R37:

At the default value of 1.82KΩ, the voltage gain of this amplifier is 9x (19dB). If these resistors are changed to 825Ω the gain will drop to 4.1x (12.3dB). If you choose to use 825Ω resistors, the value of C5, C6, C14 and C15 should be increased to 22pF to ensure stability.

Notes about R40:

R40 is the current limit resistor for the LED. The optimum value of this resistors depends on your choice of LED. Use this online LED resistor value calculator to determine what value your R40 should be. Since the LED circuit is across the rails, the supply voltage used for this calculator should be 30V. Depending on the value of the resistor and the voltage drop across it, you should be mindful to use a resistor rated at high enough power. The actual power dissipation is computed by:

Watts = V2 / R
where V is the voltage dropped and R is the value of R40. For example, if you use a 10KΩ resistor and the voltage dropped is 28V, then the power dissipation will be about 0.08W. In this case a 1/8W or 1/4W resistor will work fine.

The type of resistor is not critical as long as it fits well.

Trimpots

R19, R43, 3/8" multi-turn cermet
1KΩ
Lead spacing 0.100" inline
  • Vishay-Sfernice T93YA (Mouser 72-T93YA-1K)
  • Vishay-Spectrol 64W (Mouser 594-64W102)
  • Vishay-BC CT94W (Digi-key CT94EW102-ND)
  • Bourns 3296W (Mouser 652-3296W-1-102, Digi-Key 3296W-102LF-ND)

Panel-mount potentiometers

Volume: 50KΩ or 10KΩ dual log taper
  • Alps RK27112A (AMB audio shop)
  • Noble AP25 (Michael Percy Audio)
  • TKD 2P2511

Capacitors

  • C5, C6, C14, C15: multilayer ceramic capacitor (NP0 or C0G)
    10pF
    Lead spacing 0.100" or 0.200"
  • C8, C9, C17, C18: multilayer ceramic capacitor (NP0 or C0G)
    220pF
    Lead spacing 0.100" or 0.200"
  • C25-C32: multilayer ceramic capacitor (X7R)
    0.1µF 100V
    Lead spacing 0.200"
    • Kemet C322 (Mouser 80-C322C104K1R, Digi-key 399-4328-ND)

  • C39, C40: metallized polyester capacitor
    2.2µF 63V
    Lead spacing 0.200"
  • C7, C16: metallized polyester capacitor
    0.47µF 63V
    Lead spacing 0.200", 0.300" 0.400"
    • Vishay-Roederstein MKT1817 (Mouser 75-MKT1817447064)
    • Vishay-Roederstein MKT1818 (Mouser 75-MKT1818447064)

  • C20, C21: metallized polyester or multilayer ceramic capacitor
    0.1µF 63V
    Lead spacing 0.100", 0.200"
    • AVX BF/BQ (Mouser 581-BQ014D0104J, Digi-Key 478-3368-ND)
    • Wima MKS2 (Mouser 505-MKS2-.1/63/5)
    • Kemet C320 (Mouser 80-C320C104K5R, Digi-key 399-4264-ND)

  • C1, C2, C10, C11: metallized polypropylene capacitor
    0.047µF 63V
    Lead spacing 0.200"
    • Wima MKP2 (Mouser 505-MKP20.047/100/5)
    • Vishay-BC MKP416 (Digi-Key BC2068-ND)

  • C33-C36: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 35V low-ESR high-reliability
    2200µF
    Lead spacing: 0.300", diameter: 16mm or 18mm
    • Nichicon HE (Mouser 647-UHE1V222MHD)
    • Nichicon PW (Mouser 647-UPW1V222MHD6)
    • Panasonic FC (Digi-Key P10335-ND)

  • C3, C4, C12, C13: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 16V low-ESR high-reliability
    1000µF
    Lead spacing: 0.200", diameter: 10mm
    • Nichicon HE (Mouser 647-UHE1C102MPD)
    • Nichicon PW (Mouser 647-UPW1C102MPD)
    • Panasonic FC (Digi-Key P10253-ND)
    • Panasonic FM (Digi-Key P12366-ND)

  • C37, C38: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 50V low-ESR high-reliability
    220µF
    Lead spacing: 0.200", diameter: 10mm
    • Nichicon HE (Mouser 647-UHE1H221MPD)
    • Nichicon PW (Mouser 647-UPW1H221MPD)
    • Panasonic FC (Digi-Key P10325-ND)
    • Panasonic FM (Digi-Key P12397-ND)

  • C19, C22, C23, C24: aluminum bipolar electrolytic capacitor 50V capacitor
    10µF
    Lead spacing: 0.100", diameter: 7mm
    • Nichicon VP (Mouser 647-UVP1H100MED)
    • Panasonic SU (Digi-Key P1280-ND)


Notes about C8, C9, C17, C18:

These capacitors are for stabilizing the CFP output stage. While in many cases these capacitors may be omitted without ill effects (and would also speed up the amplifier's slew rate slightly), it is recommended that you install these to ensure stability, particularly if you do not have the necessary test equipment to observe the square wave behavior of the amplifier at RF high frequencies.

Notes about C19, C22, C23, C24:

Instead of the listed 10µF bipolar electrolytic capacitors, you may use 1µF 63V polyester film capacitors with 0.200" lead spacing instead. You will also have to increase R49, R51 to 100KΩ and R15, R39 to 3.01MΩ with this option.

Diodes

  • D1-D8: rectifier diode
    Lead spacing 0.200" or 0.300"
    • 1N4004 (DO-41) 1A rectifier diode (Mouser 821-1N4004, Digi-Key 1N4004-ND)
    • MUR820 (TO-220) 8A 200V ultrafast recovery rectifier (Mouser 863-MUR820G, Digi-Key MUR820GOS-ND)

  • LED:
    Lead spacing 0.100"
    Your choice of size and color (affects value of R40, see above).

Transistors

  • Q2, Q15: N-channel low-noise JFET 2SK170BL (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, B&D Enterprises, MCM Electronics)

  • Q3, Q16: P-channel low-noise JFET 2SJ74BL (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, B&D Enterprises, MCM Electronics)

  • Q4, Q5, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q17, Q18, Q21, Q22, Q23: NPN small signal BJT BC550C (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, Mouser)

  • Q1, Q6, Q7, Q11, Q14, Q19, Q20, Q24: PNP small signal BJT BC560C (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, Mouser)

  • Q13, Q26: NPN medium power transistor
    • BD139-16 (TO-126 or TO-225AA)
      (Mouser 512-BD13916STU, Digi-Key BD13916STU-ND)
    • MJE243 (TO-225AA)
      (Mouser 863-MJE243G, Digi-Key MJE243GOS-ND)

  • Q12, Q25: PNP medium power transistor
    • BD140-16 (TO-126 or TO-225AA)
      (Mouser 512-BD14016STU, Digi-Key BD14016STU-ND)
    • MJE253 (TO-225AA)
      (Mouser 863-MJE253G, Digi-Key MJE253GOS-ND)

Integrated circuits

  • U1: Dual low-noise precision opamp with JFET inputs (DIP-8)
    • TI/Burr-Brown OPA2134PA (Mouser 595-OPA2134PA, Digi-Key OPA2134PA-ND)
    • TI/Burr-Brown OPA2132PA (Mouser 595-OPA2132PA, Digi-Key OPA2132PA-ND)

  • VR1: 3-terminal +15V fixed voltage regulator (TO-220)
    • 7815 (Mouser 512-MC7815CT, Digi-Key MC7815ACTOS-ND)
    • LM340T-15 (Digi-Key LM340T-15-ND)

  • VR2: 3-terminal -15V fixed voltage regulator (TO-220)
    • 7915 (Mouser 512-MC7915CT, Digi-Key MC7915CTFS-ND)
    • LM320T-15 (Digi-Key LM320T-15-ND)

Heatsinks

The voltage regulators should be cooled with onboard heatsinks. The circuit board is designed to accept the following heatsinks:
The output transistors require no heatsinking if your enclosure is well ventilated and you set the quiescent current to 30mA as recommended (see the initial setup section for details). However, adding small heatsinks will make quiescent current adjustment easier. If you have poor case ventilation or want to increase the current above 30mA, then heatsinking is necessary. You should either add individual (per-device) heatsinks, or bolt them all onto a common heatsink or to an enclosure wall. This is enclosure-specific and you may choose any appropriate heatsink style, as long as the thermal resistance is sufficient and it fits without interference.

TO-220 heatsink mounting kit

If the tops of the voltage regulator heatsinks will be in close proximity to the top metal cover when the board is installed in your chassis case, then you should mount the regulators to the heatsinks using TO-220 mounting kits, which electrically isolate their mounting tabs from the heatsinks. Otherwise, you may mount them to the heatsinks directly.

Heatsink thermal compound

Not needed if using mounting kits with Thermalsil or Sil-Pad isolators.
  • Radio Shack 276-1372
  • Wakefield 120-SA (Mouser 567-120-SA; Digi-Key 345-1006-ND)
  • others

IC sockets for opamps

DIP-8 with gold contacts

Connectors

  • RCA phono input jacks, panel-mount: your choice
    • Switchcraft (various styles)
    • Vampire (various styles)
    • Cardas (various styles)
    • WBT (various styles)
    • others

  • 1/4" stereo headphone jack, panel-mount: your choice
    The headphone jack must be isolated from the chassis
    • Switchcraft N112B (Mouser 502-N112B; Digi-Key SC1123-ND)
    • Neutrik NJ3FP6C (Mouser 568-NJ3FP6C)
    • Neutrik NCJ6FI-S (Mouser 568-NCJ6FI-S)
    • Neutrik NMJ6HC-S (Mouser 550-NMJ6HCS)
    • Re'An NYS212 (Mouser 568-NYS212)
    • Pomona 6877 (Mouser 565-6877)
    • others

  • PCB audio input block, transformer secondary block: (optional, allows easy wiring connect/disconnect to PCB):
    • Molex KK 22-23-2021 0.100" header, 2-circuit (Mouser 538-22-23-2021; Digi-Key WM4200-ND)
      mating plug 22-01-3027 (Mouser 538-22-01-3027; Digi-Key WM2000-ND),
      crimp terminals 08-50-0114 (Mouser 538-08-50-0114; Digi-Key WM1114-ND)

  • IEC power entry module with fuse drawer (optionally with power switch)
    Your choice, make sure there is enough room in the case.
    • Corcom
    • Qualtek
    • Schurter
    • others

Power transformer

  • Amveco 15V+15V dual-secondary 7VA toroidal transformer TE62033
    (Digi-Key TE62033-ND)
  • other similar

Chassis / case

The circuit board is designed to slide into a Hammond 1455Q series compact extruded aluminum enclosure. The board can also be mounted using standoffs into other suitable enclosures.
  • Hammond 1455Q2201 (metal end panels) or 1455Q2202 (plastic end panels)
    Use this if the power transformer is to be mounted in the same enclosure as the CK²III board.
    (Mouser 546-1455Q2201, 546-1455Q2201-BK, 546-1455Q2202 or 546-1455Q2202BK)
  • Hammond 1455Q1601 (metal end panels) or 1455Q1602 (plastic end panels)
    Use this if the power transformer is to be located in a separate box.
    (Mouser 546-1455Q1601, 546-1455Q1601BK, 546-1455Q1602 or 546-1455Q1602BK)
  • others

Miscellaneous

  • Knob for volume control (must fit the potentiometer shaft diameter and style, your choice)
  • SPST toggle or rotary switch for power on/off (optional, if IEC power entry module does not have one built-in).


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