DIY CHIP AND GAINCLONE PROJECTS
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A collection of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Audio Projects that use single semiconductor chips or operational amplifiers. The majority of the projects are gainclones (chipamps) using the popular LM3875 and LM3886 chips from National Semiconductor. The latest projects include a simple phono preamplifier kit and headphone amplifier using op-amps and a Class-T Amplifier (T-Amp). If you have a DIY Audio Project that you would like to share on this site, please contact me.
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DIY Phono Preamplifier Kit (moving magnet) - 1 December 2008  NEW!
Mark has put together a phono preamplifier for moving magnet cartridges from an electronics kit. The kit comes complete with everything you need except for an enclosure and a power supply (AC walwart). The design uses LM833 opamps and the power supply section is regulated. The design supports multiple compensations, including RIAA and DECCA. Mark reports that the kit is dead quiet, performs well and holds it's own against a popular commercial phono preamp. |
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AMP6: DIY Class-T Amplifier Kit - 3 December 2007 
This is my first Class-T amplifier, an AMP6 kit from 41hz.com. It is a simple, compact and inexpensive kit that provides great performance. It uses the Tripath TA2020 chip and includes an onboard regulated power supply. |
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CMoy / Grado RA1 Headphone Amplifier - 28 November 2007
Mark's latest project is a simple battery powered headphone amplifier. His DIY headphone amplifier project follows the idea of the popular CMoy headphone amplifier. Power is supplied from two 9-volt batteries. The idea to house the Headphone Amplifier in a wooden enclosure comes from the Grado RA1 headphone amplifier. |
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Synergy LM3875 Gainclone Chip Amplifier - 5 October 2007
Mark has been cooking and put together another Gainclone amplifier. This chip amplifier uses the LM3875 chip and point-to-point wiring. This amplifier follows the idea of the 47 Laboratory Gaincard amplifier, "rigid and compact". The amplifier is housed in an enclosure constructed from an aluminum cooking pan and wooden cutting board. |
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The "Beast" - LM3875 Chip Amplifier - 25 April 2007 
Bruce has completed a LM3875 Non-Inverting Chip Amplifier using a LM3875 kit from audiosector.com. He has affectionately named his gainclone project the "Beast". For the enclosure, Bruce used plastic and aluminum project boxes from Radio Shack. Consistent with what most other chip amp builders are finding out, these gainclone kits result in a great sounding Hi-Fi amplifier at a very modest price. |
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Nanoo LM3875 Gainclone Chip Amplifier - 18 December 2006
Another Gainclone! This is Mark's tiny Nanoo Amplifier. The enclosure is an aluminum box that measures only 119 X 94 X 34 mm. The amplifier uses the popular LM3875 chip with point-to-point wiring. Power to the amplifier is provided via an external power supply. |
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Point to Point LM3875 Gainclone Chipamp - 16 December 2006
These are Mark's basic point to point (p2p) wiring guidelines and techniques for constructing a simple Non-Inverting LM3875 Chipamp (gainclone) on a protoboard. |
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LM3886 Chip Amplifier (Gainclone) - 9 May 2006
Having completed a couple of tube amps, curiosity got the better of me and it came time to hear for myself what all the Chipamp (gainclone) rave is about. Using PCBs from Chipamp.com, some passive parts and a Hammond Chassis, I put together a Chip Amp around the LM3886 chip. The results were very surprising as this amplifier sounds far better than it should considering the simplicity and low build cost. There is plenty of available power and the amp is suitable for a wide variety of speaker loads. |