Easy Headphone Amplifier or other Audio Project for my Son

[HionHiFi]

I’m looking for a simple and easy DIY Audio project for my son. He’s 13 and is interested in electronics engineering. He says he’d like to try building something like a headphone amplifier, Raspberry Pi Music player, amplifier, or speaker that he could use on his desk. He’s never soldered but he wants to learn.

Can anyone make a recommendation? I would want something that was STEM-based so as to give him a good foundation and sufficiently detailed instructions to follow.

For background, he is more hands on building focused as opposed to programming focused. A lot of projects these days are programming intensive. That’s not his main interest.

 

[digitalfrost]

I would suggest a fullrange speaker. The usually come with a locking circuit that is pretty easy to solder and you can get somewhat good speakers for 100$/pair.

Tang Band is a brand that I would recommend for cheap but good speaker chassis. http://www.tb-speaker.com/products/list/38

Fostex also has a ton of fullrange speakers with suggested enclosures https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/FESeries.shtml

Also checkout partsexpress https://www.parts-express.com/cat/speaker-subwoofer-kits/286

A very popular kit for first timers are the Overnight Sensations, however they are a 2way.

https://www.parts-express.com/overnight-sensations-mt-speaker-kit-pair--300-706

You can find tons of inspiration and build logs if you google them.

 

[sergeauckland]

I recommend Velleman kits. They have a whole range of audio and HiFi kits. Well specified and complete, and at very sensible prices. Also, easy to modify as knowledge grows.

S

 

[threni]

I’m looking for a simple and easy DIY Audio project for my son. He’s 13 and is interested in electronics engineering. He says he’d like to try building something like a headphone amplifier, Raspberry Pi Music player, amplifier, or speaker that he could use on his desk. He’s never soldered but he wants to learn.

Can anyone make a recommendation? I would want something that was STEM-based so as to give him a good foundation and sufficiently detailed instructions to follow.

For background, he is more hands on building focused as opposed to programming focused. A lot of projects these days are programming intensive. That’s not his main interest.

Building a raspberry pi based music player is going to be mostly software; I've made a few using a pi 3/zero, the Apple USB -> 3.5mm adaptor and some Lego, controlled from an Android app. Sort of fun but not sure how much he'd learn. Sounds good though.

Back in the day I assembled a headphone amplifier - a CMoy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMoy

I have very little electronics background, had to borrow a drill etc but if you fancy a little drilling and soldering, the parts can be bought for peanuts and it's a great little amp if you have a phone or iPod or whatever with a quiet maximum output. If I could find the one I made I'd consider sending it to Amir to see how it measures! This might be less useful these days but it would be more hands-on than the lego pi and might inspire him to attempt something more ambitious or learn the electronics behind it.

 

[JeffS7444]

O2 is a good one:
https://jdslabs.com/product/objective2-diy-kit/

 

[JeffS7444]

And while I wouldn't expect measured performance to knock anyone's socks off, Elekit is a throwback to an era when kits included everything you needed save for tools, step-by-step instructions are top notch, and in general, these things are loads of fun to build:
https://www.vkmusic.ca/TU-8100.htm

 

[amirm]

The CMOY headphone amp is the de-factor learning project. Just google for it and there will be ton of information. Here is the first link: https://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy/

 

[HionHiFi]

Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it. I’ll take a look at these ideas with my Son to see which of them perks his interest.

I’ve seen the CMOY headphone amps over the years and they certainly seem doable. Same for the Elekit kits.

 

[HionHiFi]

I would suggest a fullrange speaker. The usually come with a locking circuit that is pretty easy to solder and you can get somewhat good speakers for 100$/pair.

Tang Band is a brand that I would recommend for cheap but good speaker chassis. http://www.tb-speaker.com/products/list/38

Fostex also has a ton of fullrange speakers with suggested enclosures https://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/speaker_components/FESeries.shtml

Also checkout partsexpress https://www.parts-express.com/cat/speaker-subwoofer-kits/286

A very popular kit for first timers are the Overnight Sensations, however they are a 2way.

https://www.parts-express.com/overnight-sensations-mt-speaker-kit-pair--300-706

You can find tons of inspiration and build logs if you google them.

I like this option myself. I build several pairs of TQWT single driver speakers back in the day using the Radio Shack 40-1354, 5-1/4” that was popular in the early 2000’s. It was a satisfying and pretty simple project though I had to make the boxes myself. Your recommendation from Parts Express makes that part a non-issue since I can also order a box. Thanks for that recommendation.

 

[HionHiFi]

Soldering begs the question: What soldering iron setup to buy? Along with supporting accessories like the flux, cleaner, etc.

 

[Doodski]

There are digital and analogue multimeter kits available. They req basic soldering and organizational skills. A great first project that can be used for later projects.

https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=digital+multimeter+kit+diy
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...5.m570.l1313&_nkw=multimeter+diy+kit&_sacat=0
https://www.electronickits.com/digital-multimeter-kit-training-course/

 

[Doodski]

Soldering begs the question: What soldering iron setup to buy? Along with supporting accessories like the flux, cleaner, etc.

A basic soldering iron will be good enough for a beginner. A better iron does work better but for basic soldering a basic entry level unit will be good enough to get going for the first while.
For cleaner use 70% isopropyl alcohol from the grocer/pharmacy. I say 70% because the 94% and 100% purity are flammable with a clear nearly invisible flame and are dangerous that way.
For solder 63/37 is good for beginners and make sure it has a rosin core.
Add on a used toothbrush for scrubbing the PCB after and maybe some Q tips for fine cleaning and that's about all that's required.

 

[JeffS7444]

Something like a Hakko FX888 ought to be a great all-round hobbyist's soldering iron.

Although treated as practically a sin in some quarters, I use lead-free / ROHS solder by Sparkfun for new parts and projects which are generally ROHS-compliant to begin with:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10243
It uses a water-wash flux which I scrub away using an old toothbrush and moist sponge, and the results look spotless. Though I wouldn't particularly recommend inhaling the fumes, the smoke it generates smells a bit like burnt sugar to me.

I generally reserve more traditional leaded solders for working with vintage electronics.

 

[amirm]

Soldering begs the question: What soldering iron setup to buy? Along with supporting accessories like the flux, cleaner, etc.

I would get a good soldering iron as nothing is more frustrating than one that doesn't work well. It may turn them off from doing this kind of thing forever! The standard in hobby is the Hakko 888d: https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B00ANZRT4M

Not much money and works great. The only down side is that it doesn't shut off automatically so better remember to do that.

 

[HionHiFi]

A basic soldering iron will be good enough for a beginner. A better iron does work better but for basic soldering a basic entry level unit will be good enough to get going for the first while.
For cleaner use 70% isopropyl alcohol from the grocer/pharmacy. I say 70% because the 94% and 100% purity are flammable with a clear nearly invisible flame and are dangerous that way.
For solder 63/37 is good for beginners and make sure it has a rosin core.
Add on a used toothbrush for scrubbing the PCB after and maybe some Q tips for fine cleaning and that's about all that's required.

Thank you Doodski. I’m adding your recommendations to my shopping list.

 

[HionHiFi]

Something like a Hakko FX888 ought to be a great all-round hobbyist's soldering iron.

Although treated as practically a sin in some quarters, I use lead-free / ROHS solder by Sparkfun for new parts and projects which are generally ROHS-compliant to begin with:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10243
It uses a water-wash flux which I scrub away using an old toothbrush and moist sponge, and the results look spotless. Though I wouldn't particularly recommend inhaling the fumes, the smoke it generates smells a bit like burnt sugar to me.

I generally reserve more traditional leaded solders for working with vintage electronics.

Why would one go the ROHS route over leaded solder? I’ve seen ROHS certification...is that the standard that they’d likely be teaching in at middle school?

 

[HionHiFi]

I would get a good soldering iron as nothing is more frustrating than one that doesn't work well. It may turn them off from doing this kind of thing forever! The standard in hobby is the Hakko 888d: https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B00ANZRT4M

Not much money and works great. The only down side is that it doesn't shut off automatically so better remember to do that.

Added it to my cart. Thanks Amir.

 

[HionHiFi]

O2 is a good one:
https://jdslabs.com/product/objective2-diy-kit/

Thanks, it looks like a good technical build. I’ll float it to my Son.

 

[Bob-23]

I’m looking for a simple and easy DIY Audio project for my son. He’s 13 and is interested in electronics engineering. He says he’d like to try building something like a headphone amplifier, Raspberry Pi Music player, amplifier, or speaker that he could use on his desk. He’s never soldered but he wants to learn.

Can anyone make a recommendation? I would want something that was STEM-based so as to give him a good foundation and sufficiently detailed instructions to follow.

For background, he is more hands on building focused as opposed to programming focused. A lot of projects these days are programming intensive. That’s not his main interest.

As a beginner's project I'd also recommend either the Cmoy (more basic, might be more appropriate for an absolute beginner, because of that), or the 02 - both of them are well documented. NwAvGuy very explicitly describes the whole process of the development of the O2, its functioning and how to build. http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-design-process.html

If you use leaded solder, instruct your son carefully how to deal with it - he is young, and your body accumulates lead over the years: he should not incorporate it, wash your hands before eating something - I wear cheap one-way gloves from the drugstore for soldering with lead (you also avoid touching pcbs by that).

I'd also install a fume extractor: not because of the lead, but mainly because of the - so beautifully smelling - flux fumes: being inhaled it may cause asthma (or worse). Efffective fume extractors are very expensive, but as a first project you might build one yourself with your son. You might try it with bath fan and a flex tube going out of the window, e.g.

If you don't have a DMM: there's a cheap - but very capable one: the Aneng 8008. Dave Jones tested (and largely) admired it it on his EEV Blog. But I woudn't use it for mains voltages.

If you decide for lead-free solder, get at least, an 80W soldering station.

 

[JohnYang1997]

I would suggest o2 kit.
Get a KSGER T12 soldering station.
A multimeter.
Some good 0.6mm kester sac305 lead free solder.
Perhaps a Hantek oscilloscope if you want.