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the final layout
She’s big and bulky, but you can’t ask for too much when you’re dealing with pre-printed PC boards. The 22k resistor in the gain path makes for extremely high output (in terms of headphones). The 100k stereo potentiometer on the output side should make the noise floor a lot lower unless the knob is cranked.…
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the first of four…
This was my first attempt at building the circuit on the PC board. Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to get a different board since this one isn’t quite big enough with two opamps. Soldering it is also a bitch considering it’s tiny and my iron tip isn’t as small as it should be.…
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two ears. two channels.
Double the circuit for stereo. This is a breadboard representation of a single “channel.” Each channel will have its separate PCB with controls. This one lacks a volume pot, but the output was more than enough. 750mW after hooking up the gain path resulted in ripping the ear buds out of my ears in order…
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exploring the LM386…
In my attempts to recently mod a Peavey Classic 30, I’ve been researching audio amplification like a demented mad scientist scheming to destroy the world. I’ve understood the conceptual model of amplification for a while, but I’ve never actually plunged into the crafting part of it before now. After changing out some tone caps, I…
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it’s bigger than you think
Eventually, I was indeed able to stumble my way in the dark to Hotel Venecia without having to sleep outside. The next day I decided to attempt to make my way to Volcán Maderas, the smaller of the two volcanoes. I set out from Charco Verde on foot assuming that eventually a bus would swing…
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an introduction to Ometepe
I arrived via the ferry that runs from San Jorge to Moyogalpa, the principal port town on the larger of the two islands. As I was heading over on the boat, I was looking at the map of the island trying to figure out where I would stay the night. The trip from Granada had…
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touchdown
Having landed at Managua’s International Airport, I’ve been fortunate enough to make my way to Masaya. My anxiety levels dropped about ten fold after a short walk around downtown even at night. Managua is bustling with rampant commercialism that’s next to impossible to escape… especially for someone completely out of place. I’ll throw up some…
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you dug your own grave
Indeed, I have.