Thursday, June 28, 2012

Update on the O2+ODAC combo

I just got a reply from NwAvGuy on his blog that in order to allow the O2+ODAC combo to be used in ODAC only mode, the only additional modification is the soldering of a 3.5mm jack on the ODAC. Now to wait for a reply from JDS if they will be able to offer on a regular basis a O2 backplate with the additional hole for the 3.5mm jack.

EDIT: Just got a reply from JDS that the backplate with the extra 3.5mm hole will soon be a regular item. Hooray!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Quick Update

I'll just like to add a short update since the MO for the O2 amp was just closed:

There are 3 O2 amps still available, and these will be in default configuration, available in black, green, blue and red enclosures, with 2 9V Tenergy 250mAh batteries and a PSU. All gain resistors will be provided and the cost is S$185. If you're interested, you can email me at twistedmetal16@gmail.com and reserve one, but you will not be required to pay any deposit. I just ordered most of the parts and the amps should be ready in approximately 2 weeks' time.

Also, I made a special request to JDS Labs to see if it's possible for them to provide the O2+ODAC backplate with an additional hole for the 3.5mm jack located on the ODAC. I want to see if it's possible to solder the ODAC onto the O2 in such a way that it will be possible to use them in both O2-only mode and ODAC-only mode too. Once I get everything sorted out, I'll start offering the ODAC and retrofitting services too.

Also, as most of you will have noticed, this blog is still very much a work in progress. I have a few short reviews and first impressions that I will like to put up but before I do, I just thought I should have a post highlighting my stand on objective and subjective reviews. The only problem is, the more I write, the more stuff that I have to add in, resulting in the post being longer and longer. Hopefully, I'll have that post up within the week.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

NwAvGuy's Objective2 Amp and ODAC

I will now be offering both NwAvGuy's O2 amp and ODAC. For those who are unfamiliar with them, please click the following link and find out more: http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html. This amp is available ready-made only from 2 places and they are both overseas. I will be offering them to you at a lower cost, and with more customization options. For those interested in purchasing the ODAC, please look at point 6. I am not doing customization right now but I do have a few ready made O2 amps with limited customization options. Check here or email me for more info. 

Terms and Conditions
1) Payment - Payment will be done in 2 stages. The first will be a deposit done using POSB fund transfer and the 2nd will be done when collecting the amp. The deposit has to be paid within a week from the payment request, and the collection+ 2nd payment has to be done within a month from payment request. Once the deposit has been paid, it will be forfeited if the buyer is not able to make the 2nd payment for any reason. Should a problem arises from the seller's side and that I am unable to provide the amp for you, the deposit will be fully refunded. If you're interested in buying the amp after I've collected the deposits, you will not be required to make a deposit and can wait till collection time to make the full payment. However, you will only be entitled to the basic build with rechargeable batteries, and with a wall transformer.

2) The warranty is 1 week only and it only applies to the PCB and all parts on it. If you dropped the amp, causing it to malfunction, that will not be covered under warranty. The amp will also be operated overnight prior to collection to ensure that it's working. The buyer will be requested to test the amp to ensure that it's working during collection.

3) All orders for parts will be placed once all deposits have been received. The amps will be ready for collection approximately 3 days after all parts have arrived. You will be periodically updated on the amps' status.

4) I will be making a minimum of 5 amps at a time, and there will be a blog post stating that for 1 week, anyone interested in getting an O2 amp from me will be able to customize their amp according to point 5. If there are more than 5 requests, I will make more sets. After the 1 week period, you can still reserve any available amps but they will only be available in the basic build with rechargeable batteries and wall transformer.

5) All parts used in the amp will be those found in NwAvGuy's BOM. The basic build will be for $145, and it includes the amp with an enclosure, with acrylic face plate, without rechargeable batteries, without a wall transformer/power supply and with all gain resistors (interchangeable gains). More customized options and it's additional costs are as followed

- 2 9V 250mAh Tenergy batteries ($15)

-Wall transformer ($21)

-Enclosure, choose from black, silver, blue, green and red while stock lasts (no additional cost)

-Volume knob, black body with colored strip, choose from green, yellow, white, red, (no additional cost) or a metal knob from JDS Lab ($8)

-Changing opamps to low power variations for better batteries life, but with slightly more noise and distortion ($10)

-Changing 3.5mm phone jack's color, choose from light blue (default), black and green (one is for input, one is for headphone out, so please specify the color for each) (no additional cost)

-Push button for power switch and gain switch, choose from black (default), gray, red (no additional cost)

-LED light, red (default) or yellow

-JDS metal face plate in silver or black ($10)

Any additional cost due to customization will be added to the deposit.

6) Please carry on reading below for the additional costs and configurations I can do if you're interesting in purchasing a O2+ODAC combo:


a) The first is using the combo solely as a DAC+AMP; The only input is the USB in, and the only output is the AMP out. This means that you can't use your combo as a ODAC only (no analog out) or as a O2 only (no AMP in).

b) The second is using the combo as a DAC+AMP, or as a AMP only. You can choose to use your combo as an amp, but not as a DAC solely.

c) This is the option that I did yesterday: Using the combo as a DAC+AMP, or as a AMP only, or as a DAC only. This way, I get the choice to use the ODAC solely, or the O2 solely, or both.

The following are the lists of additional parts and labor costs that you need (some are optional) to pay if you want to get the ODAC+O2 from me, or want me to fix the ODAC to an O2 for you:


  • Labor (if you provide the O2 amp and/or the ODAC amp): $30
  • Labor (if I provide the O2 amp): FREE
  • Pure copper wire for wiring: FREE
  • Silverplated copper wire for wiring: $10
  • ODAC: US$99
  •  Nylon screw kit: US$1.25
  • 3.5mm ODAC jack (for configuration 3 only): 
  • Backplate in BLACK with USB and 3.5mm: US$8
  • Backplate in SILVER with USB only: US$12
  • International Shipping (From JDS Labs to Singapore): Several options, and depend if you want to share shipping.
Note: The backplates in Black with USB only, and in Silver with USB and 3.5mm should be available upon request from JDS Labs. They are pretty flexible even with small orders. Also, all USD prices will be converted to SGD upon purchase with currency conversion rate to be taken from Paypal.

7) Some people have asked about the ODA desktop amp. According to NwAvGuy, the PCB will probably only be available for purchase in end Nov. I will likely be building that too. Since the ODA will have the same sound quality as the O2 amp with more input/output options, I say get the O2 amp now if you need a desktop or portable amp, rather than wait half a year more for the ODA.

If you're interested, or have any questions, email me at twistedmetal16@gmail.com.