Objective 2 Amp help !

[killerpayne]

I just did my first solder ever and it was a disaster lol.Now the tip is completely black.I am now going to clean it with soaked sponge.Anyway what happened was the solder didn't get hot enough so I couldn't get proper joints.All joints were cold.I got a good one but overall it was a disaster.Its so fun though.I gonna get this right by tonight.Later folks.

 

[novice-akki]

^^Tin the iron tip before it gets too hot.
Also, before you solder parts it'll be good if you can use a fine grit paper and scrub the PCB/parts gently till you can see shiny metal.
Initially you may find using external flux very helpful [clear liquid type]
Time your solder joints, ideally it should be ~ 5 secs

Practice and you will get there, all the best !

 

[killerpayne]

Dude I think I messed up pretty bad.My tip is full black and its not getting cleaned.Also the iron is not hot enough to melt the solder.Maybe the solder is cheap quality crap.I have to hold the iron for atleast 20 secs until the solder melts.Now I cant even get it to melt.This is tougher than I thought.Any tips ?I cant even tin the iron now.

 

[novice-akki]

That's alright nothing new, dip the iron in flux paste/liquid and tin immateriality after.
If this doesn't work then sanding the tip, dip in flux - tin quickly is the only option [sanding the tip is NOT the best thing to do esp. if you use good quality iron]
This way you may destroy the tip but you'll get the hang of it - then buy a replacement tip.


Once you feel confident about your soldering skill invest in a good quality iron something like a Goot with fine tip another very useful tool to have in your kit is a good pointed tweezer and get a decent DMM something like Mastech.

 

[killerpayne]

Here's my first attempt.
The iron wasn't hot enough and I started to solder.Very impatient of me.
I have to get the flux paste/liquid.

Terrible first attempt.I will try again tomorrow.

 

[killerpayne]

Hey My solder was bad quality.I got new solder and build my first DIY kit - happy bday tune.Thanks.

I also made an audio extension but the cable quality was very poor.Can anyone suggest where I can get audiophile good quality cable ?

 

[Audiodoc]

Use lots of liquid flux, this is essential for beautiful joints. Wash later with isopropyl alcohol. You can use a transformer to alter temperature of the soldering iron. Use 50 50 lead tin solder to begin with which is easy to work with as opposed to lead free ones. The blackened solder tip is ok just clean with the sponge.

Check my and FM omishras threads for tips.

 

[jls001]

Dude I think I messed up pretty bad.My tip is full black and its not getting cleaned.Also the iron is not hot enough to melt the solder.Maybe the solder is cheap quality crap.I have to hold the iron for atleast 20 secs until the solder melts.Now I cant even get it to melt.This is tougher than I thought.Any tips ?I cant even tin the iron now.

I think there is something wrong with your soldering iron. All it takes to melt the solder is a couple of seconds. Which make/model of iron did you buy?

 

[jls001]

No need to wait for/buy the opa2132pa.you can use the 4556opamp that comes with the O2 amp in the cmoy.only-dont solder it directly.use a socket.and mind the voltage supplies too.
or else,since you are doing a basic cmoy only,get a ne5532 or tl072 locally.for a basic setup-you wont notice the difference at all.

I have bought OPA2134 (some Rs 200 odd, IIRC), TL072 (10 rupees apiece, or was it five?) and NE5532 (I think Rs 20/piece) from Lamington Road but never searched for OPA2132 as I never needed it, but I am guessing it will be available.

 

[suraj]

I have bought OPA2134 (some Rs 200 odd, IIRC), TL072 (10 rupees apiece, or was it five?) and NE5532 (I think Rs 20/piece) from Lamington Road but never searched for OPA2132 as I never needed it, but I am guessing it will be available.

Doesnt matter!I only suggest that,to be honest-because Tangent says so.that its more stable and forgiving than the 2134.ive never managed to get one to oscillate.But,he may be right since what i did not do does not mean some one else cannot.I got lambasted on Head-Fi and almost banned for challenging them in the great opamp thread.
Be sure of where you buy though-too many fakes around.mostly rebranded 5532s.So they still sound decent while you pay more for them.

As for blackened tips-I dip the tip in flux(local cheap paste) then try to put a bit of solder on it and then use the solder wick to clean it out.comes shining.I do that when i finish soldering too,to clean the tip.I make a loop of solder-wick using pliers and rub the tip on the loop.

I guess the main mistake was to not tin the bit tip before starting off,and the whole tip oxidized.

 

[killerpayne]

Exactly.I didnt tin the tip and also my solder wire was crap quality.I got new solder wire and assembled my first kit.I also made an female to male extension cable but the cable quality was very bad.I need suggestions on where to buy audiophile quality cable.I am on the right track in soldering as my first DIY worked pretty well Thanks to you folks.

 

[jls001]

What cable do you plan to make? The options for high quality audio cables is limited.

Belden microphone cables and balanced digital cables are quite good, but I don't know where one can buy retail lengths. Spectra-make cables from Connectronics in Lamington Road is one option but I will be the first to admit that it is rather mediocre in its sound. Spectra or Sun branded audio connectors are also available from the same shop.
Once again, I'm not impressed with them but mentioning them nevertheless since options are limited.

Another option for audio cables and connectors is from the MX show room at Laxmi Industrial estate in Andheri West. Another shop in the same locality is Promedia where you can get Draka cables (mediocre, if you ask me). They stock Neutrik and Amphenol connectors, though. Another outlet where you can get Neutrik is Kiran Sales in Lamington Road.

 

[killerpayne]

Thanks for the details.
I got MX connectors.
I plan to use my old earphone cable and checkout if the quality is on-par.
I want to make a female to male extension but with reverse l/r channel.

Basically I got vsonic vsd1 iems and they are supposed to have a straight down fit but I find over-the-ear more comfortable.But this way, the channels get reversed.So I want to use a small extension to reverse back the channels.

I will update soon.Thanks people

Also if anyone knows how to use a multimeter to check which is the left and right port on a female audio jack please let me know.I read that I am supposed to fit the soldered male jack in the female and use the multimeter but I cant get anything on multimeter to distinguish both channels.Let me know.

 

[killerpayne]

Hey guys just a final update :-
I did some small kits but due lack of basic knowledge of electrical circuits etc I was taking a lot of time in soldering basic stuff.I was frustrated and I thought I wouldn't be able to handle the soldering of O2 amp.
A few kind members offered to help me on the kit.I took the help of forum member "IndianEars" as he was kind enough to clear all my doubts and his office was in my locality.
I can't thank him enough.The o2 amp looked very difficult and complex for a entry level DIY'er like me but IndianEars helped me solder it and the whole job looked easy under his expert guidance.He also explained me some serious electronics terms and concepts which I never really paid attention to.
My entry into DIY world was just to build a decent amp on budget.Working with him I really started appreciating every single electronic element that I solder.Soldering became fun.I have taken a keen interest in DIY'in and plan to build all my future amps/dacs on my own.
Thanks a lot IndianEars for helping me out.

About the amp,it's working very well with my Grados sr80i.It was a terrific experience when I got to listen some kickass music through my own creation.

Thanks all !

Happy Listening \m/

 

[IndianEars]

Glad to have got you started in this excellent hobby

 

[killerpayne]

I forgot to attached a pic of the amp.
Here it is : -

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Great! Well done! (And to IndianEars for providing the help). Are you going to make a box for it?

 

[IndianEars]

killerpayne

Wanted to caution you ... Do NOT plug in the AC Charger unless the 2 Rechargable batteries are connected !

Without the batteries connected, the DC voltage could be very high .... potentially damaging some of the components.....

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

When single-boxed with the ODAC, the ODAC doesn't the ODAC fit in the battery space? Maybe there is a modification to the 02 power circuitry?

 

[killerpayne]

I am using plastic enclosure for time being as getting an aluminium enclosure + punching holes in the front panel was little costly/tedious and I am saving up to get some real hifi headphones.In the end it works and that's what matters.
I used a hot screw driver to punch holes in the plastic.Looks shabby I know hyeah: