Hey Everyone,
Welcome to the second drop for the Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amplifier! First off, big round of internet applause for participants of the first drop. This product exists because of their patience and support. To kick things off, here’s a Q&A taking the most asked questions from the previous drop and adding what we expect you’ll ask first.
Q: Is this the original O2 with all NwAvGuy’s approved parts?
A: Yep! All parts used in the production of this O2 are from NwAvGuy’s original BOM (other than the metal case, and metal volume knob, those are both custom parts we had manufactured)
Q: For the desktop version (RCA Input, 1/4” output, rear power) how did you add those options without altering the PCB?
A: Where most manufacturers use jumper wires (little wires that run from the output PCB pads to the rear RCA jacks as an example), we created daughter PCBs that connect inside the case. While this solution is more expensive, there’s no danger of jumper wires being dislodged during transit.
Q: Looking at the discussion, I see the last drop was delivered much later than originally anticipated. What’s being done to ensure an on-time arrival for the drop this time around?
A: Most of the delays we faced in the first drop were caused by unexpected part shortages. We had to source several parts in the united states, ship them to our manufacturing partner, and deal with meaningful delays when foreign customs decided to hold those parts for nearly 10 days. This time, all the parts are already sourced and on their way to our manufacturing partner, no customs shenanigans expected this time. Glad to provide more examples, but suffice to say, we’ve learned from our experiences in the first drop and won’t repeat the same mistakes.
We’re excited to have the O2 (plus new desktop edition) back on Massdrop. I’ll be around all day to answer questions so hit reply, write your post, and I’ll be notified.
Thanks for your interest and support!
dJeyLI think you need to check your source device output type, It's digital or analog output. O2 is full analog stereo headphone amplifier. If your source onky one RCA output plug, it maybe a digital output usually.
BobbyDAh, forgive me for being ignorant related to input, that is what you called it, "RCA."
Thank you, once I get this O2, I will get adapter cable for it.
WillWill there be a upgrade kit for the people who joined the first one or conversion kit when the oDAC comes out? I will like to know before this drop end since I joined the first one. Also I notice the battery connector is slightly high on mine and causes the battery to hit the top and I had to force it in slightly. Just makes me worried to have the battery at a sight angle. Other than that the amp works great. I'm in for the desktop version unless there a conversion kit coming for us early adopter. Thank you
WillWould you be able to show a picture of how the daughterboard fits into the case? I'm thinking of buying a ODAC Board separately to upgrade this. Will I be able to put the board in its usual spot (where the batteries are supposed to be)?
Thanks!
WillLet previous O2 drop users send theirs in to get changed into the desktop if they wish since so many people wanted that in the first one but wasn't done and like other people have said you just ruined a lot of peoples days.
I mean of course since it cost more charge the extra whatever but still people who wanted rear power, 1/4in, RCA etc... were not able to get that from the first run and around a couple of weeks POOF what users requested shows up!
BUT WAIT they already bought it previously... hmmm doesn't make sense and whoever made that move/decision should be disappointed in themselves because THIS was NOT a good business decision hurting customers isn't the way to go so the only come back would allow people who previously bought it that wanted those additions to be able to get them at the extra cost.
And will the ODAC be better than the DACport Slim?;
I was in the first DACport Slim drop and love it but I like the stacked look of this kit.
stinkyTheDonutYeah but I'm not tooo big on DIY anymore especially when it comes to soldering I use to dabble in it way back in the day on the original Xbox with mod chip installs but lately I haven't messed with anything.
So then I'd have to purchase a soldering iron then have the risk of potentially ruining the O2 AMP and then I'll have a $70 brick, which is why I thought MD should allow some send in/trade in option and have the users pay an additional X amount for the upgrade because they have to manufacture these anyway before sending out so what's wrong with getting yours to them before the drop ends and then boom easy peasy...
I would understand if MD had these in stock and wouldn't want a whole bunch more coming back so then they are overloaded with potentially unwanted units but if they send them back to manufacturing they could just do the upgrades, as i'm sure EVERYONE wouldn't want to upgrade some people might like the original portability of the unit.
Options are always nice; but as of yet we don't have any other than just buying a whole other $95 dollar unit.
m4rkbr0wnIt is rewarding doing the DIY thing, especially if you can get away without doing surface mount stuff. I built a SSMH tube amp in the winter last year, and what a great experience. You need basic soldering skills to build one of those, and the result is outstanding. Check out the JDS Labs soldering guide for their DIY O2 amp:
http://www.jdslabs.com/pdf/Custom%20O2%20-%20Soldering%20Guide.pdf
Keep in mind, the reference design requirements on the PCB, and that guide is very relevant, and looks like it would be very easy to move the power and RCA inputs to the back.
You can even get machined front and rear plates from JDS for pretty cheap.
Welcome to the second drop for the Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amplifier! First off, big round of internet applause for participants of the first drop. This product exists because of their patience and support. To kick things off, here’s a Q&A taking the most asked questions from the previous drop and adding what we expect you’ll ask first.
Q: Is this the original O2 with all NwAvGuy’s approved parts? A: Yep! All parts used in the production of this O2 are from NwAvGuy’s original BOM (other than the metal case, and metal volume knob, those are both custom parts we had manufactured)
Q: For the desktop version (RCA Input, 1/4” output, rear power) how did you add those options without altering the PCB? A: Where most manufacturers use jumper wires (little wires that run from the output PCB pads to the rear RCA jacks as an example), we created daughter PCBs that connect inside the case. While this solution is more expensive, there’s no danger of jumper wires being dislodged during transit.
Q: Looking at the discussion, I see the last drop was delivered much later than originally anticipated. What’s being done to ensure an on-time arrival for the drop this time around? A: Most of the delays we faced in the first drop were caused by unexpected part shortages. We had to source several parts in the united states, ship them to our manufacturing partner, and deal with meaningful delays when foreign customs decided to hold those parts for nearly 10 days. This time, all the parts are already sourced and on their way to our manufacturing partner, no customs shenanigans expected this time. Glad to provide more examples, but suffice to say, we’ve learned from our experiences in the first drop and won’t repeat the same mistakes.
We’re excited to have the O2 (plus new desktop edition) back on Massdrop. I’ll be around all day to answer questions so hit reply, write your post, and I’ll be notified.
Thanks for your interest and support!