I recently this project, it is a Headphone / Pre Amplifier using a design by Wayne Colburn's (Pass Labs), the DIYAudio thread is below.

www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/317803-whammy-pass-diy-headphone-amp-guide.html

My version features black walnut casework with matched grain around the edges, anodised aluminium top plate, knob and bezel.

It also has an integrated Khadas Toneboard DAC and switchable RCA inputs.

Currently it has a Burson V6 Classic opamp installed.

Some of you may remember I built (with some help) an OTL tube HPA last year. It just so happens that the week before Dad passed away he had spent the evenings listening and evaluating different tubes and output coupling caps in that amp. The day he passed away we had actually planned to meet and swap the tube amp with the WHAMMY so he could compare the two, we both thought it would be an interesting comparison as the WHAMMY circuit seems to be very well regarded. Unfortunately that never happened and he didn't get to hear it in it's finished form, only on the test bench in a prototype chassis with the standard RC4580 OPAMP.

At some point I will write a post on my website detail the complete build.

Have any of your guys built or heard one of these?

Plenty of pictures of the finished product below

www.jeremyyoungdesign.com

Lovely looking build.

Up to your usual standard.

What is the sound like? Does it compare favorably to OTL version?

I've been eyeing up the Whammy myself recently.

What a gorgeous (little?) box.

Is the hole on top of the volume knob the position marker ?

Need banana for scale

You have made a beautiful job of that Jeremy, looks absolutely gorgeous. And nice to see a component named after a B52's album !

Do you mind sharing what the USB cable you use is?
It appears to have a bracket at one end for fixing to a panel?

May 26, 2021 20:31:58 GMT 12 sadface said:

Do you mind sharing what the USB cable you use is?
It appears to have a bracket at one end for fixing to a panel?

Yeah, this was tricky to find, it is a panel-mount USB-C extension cable.

I searched high and low for a cheaper option but couuldn't find anything similar, even on Aliexpress.

www.sparkfun.com/products/15455

www.jeremyyoungdesign.com

May 26, 2021 14:50:57 GMT 12 michaelw said:

What a gorgeous (little?) box.

Is the hole on top of the volume knob the position marker ?

Need banana for scale

Yes, it's also the hole for the grub screw that retains the knob, I've found it works well as a position indicator.

Sorry I only had an orange.   It's 260x210x85 mm

www.jeremyyoungdesign.com

May 26, 2021 14:27:53 GMT 12 sadface said:

Lovely looking build.

Up to your usual standard.

What is the sound like? Does it compare favorably to OTL version?

I've been eyeing up the Whammy myself recently.

Thanks.

As far as sound I haven't listened to the OTL for quite a few weeks now as it was away with Dad so haven't directly compared them. From what I remember the OTL sounds a bit more laid back but very nice, smooth and a solid bottom end, I actually preferred it to the Whammy at first. It has also recently had upgraded output coupling caps fitted, Audyn Q4 PP film.

As I'm sure you've read the Whammy responds well to different Opamps and now that I have this V6 Classic installed I am really beginning to like it, I've heard good things about the OPA627 which I am keen to try but haven't quite committed to spending the money.

I need to get my OTL tube amp back to compare properly.

I prefer the Whammy to the JDS Labs 02/ODAC which I used previously, with the Whammy everything just seems to have a bit more presence, especially in the bottom end, better imaging etc.. 

All my listening has been on HD6XX btw.

Are you in Auckland? You're welcome to have a listen.

www.jeremyyoungdesign.com