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OverviewMini³ ("Mini cubed") is a high-quality DIY portable stereo amplifier for dynamic headphones. Designed to be a small battery-powered unit with built-in charging circuit, Mini³ provides high performance and excellent sound that belies its size and cost. Its footprint is almost exactly the size of a credit card, and it's about 0.9" (23mm) thick.A perfect companion with portable media players such as the Apple® iPod®, Mini³ offers dramatically improved sound when driven from the player's line output, and used with high quality headphones. The performance of Mini³ is so good, it could also serve as a headphone amplifier with dedicated home CD players and other sources without taking up much desk or shelf space. In conjunction with an off-the-shelf enclosure solution and wire-free board mounting of all components, Mini³ is easy and inexpensive to build. The only surface-mount parts are the two opamps, all other parts are through-hole. See the Tech highlights section for details. Mini³ version 1 was never released. Version 2 is the current offering, featuring a smaller, sturdier and more attractive aluminum case. The technical difficulties with version 1 were solved in version 2, and the battery run-time has been greatly increased. See the History section for details. Unless otherwise noted, all information in these pages pertain to Mini³ version 2. There are two variants of Mini³, the "high performance" and the "extended runtime" editions. The high performance edition has higher output current capability and offers superior measured benchmarks especially with low impedance headphones. The extended runtime edition provides decent output current capability while giving much longer run-times between battery charges. Both editions offer excellent sound. The only parts difference between the two editions is the choice of opamps. See the Parts list section for details. To obtain the blank printed circuit board and some related parts, visit the AMB audio shop. Other parts are available from online vendors. See the Parts list section. Please be sure to read every section of this site carefully before attempting to build the Mini³ amplifier. If you don't thoroughly understand everything, please consider having someone more experienced to build the amplifier for you. The scope of the Mini³ projectThe Mini³ project is primarily centered around the main headphone amplifier board, which incorporates a battery-charging circuit. To make a working amplifier, you will also need a 9V NiMH rechargeable battery, an AC-to-DC adapter "wallwart" (for battery charging), and a Hammond 1455C801 or 1455C802 enclosure. The Mini³ circuit board was designed to slide into these cases without additional mounting hardware.Some photos of the Mini³ (click to enlarge)
What skills and tools are neededYou should know how to read a schematic diagram and correlate it to the circuit board layout, identify electronic parts and their pin-outs, have decent soldering skill, and be proficient with a multimeter. You need at least a basic set of tools for electronics work, such as a good soldering iron (with a fine tip) and accessories, screw drivers, needle nose plier, diagonal cutter, a sharp tweezer (for positioning the SOIC-8 opamps), etc. For the front and rear panels, you will also need to be able to accurately drill the holes needed for the input, output and DC power jacks, volume control, and indicator LEDs (unless you opted for the pre-drilled and engraved panel set).Why not offer a full kitAMB is not prepared to stock all the needed parts and offer them as a full kit. This amplifier is AMB's contribution to the DIY community rather than a for-profit product, AMB cannot assume the commercial support role that might be implicit with a full kit. However, to make sourcing parts easier, AMB includes the PCB-mount battery contacts and the ferrite beads with each board. The opamps, 3.5mm stereo mini jacks, DC power jack, the volume control potentiometer with integral power switch, and other parts are also available from AMB.Why not offer completed amplifiersThis is intended to be a project for DIYers, and AMB is not set up to manufacture completed amplifiers.Professional buildersInquire with the following list of professional builders if they would build you a completed Mini³ amplifier, in case you cannot build one yourself. If you would like to become a professional builder of the Mini³ amplifier, please contact AMB.Where to get helpBe sure you read all the information at this site. If you cannot find an answer to a question, or encounter a problem you cannot solve, the best place to get support is on the DIY forum at headwize.com. Search the forum for an answer before asking a question. Your question may have already been asked and answered. Tangent's articles are also excellent sources of information.Main: Mini³ Main | Next: Tech Highlights |
