CMoy

Common CMoy in Altoids tin
CMoy in parts

A CMoy is a pocket headphone amplifier originally designed by Pow Chu Moy.[1][2]

The headphone amplifier is designed around single or dual-channel operational amplifiers (op-amps) such as Burr-Brown's OPA2134 or OPA2132PA, however, a wide variety of op-amps have been successfully implemented. As the op-amp directly drives headphones, some care should be given when choosing an op-amp. Some op-amps are not suitable for such low impedance loads and will result in poor performance.[3][4][5] (See Op-amp swapping.)

The amplifier's design is quite simple. It consists of only a few components, can be assembled on a small section of protoboard, has a lower parts cost than other headphone amplifiers, and can run for many hours on a single 9 volt battery.[6]

  1. ^ Hertsens, Tyll (March 15, 2016), A Memorial to the Grandfather of Headphone Enthusiasm, archived from the original on March 5, 2018, retrieved March 5, 2018
  2. ^ Moy, Chu. "A Pocket Headphone Amplifier". headwize.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-15.
  3. ^ Northwest Audio & Video Guy (August 10, 2011), Op Amps: Myths & Facts
  4. ^ Großklaß, Stephan (2014-07-15), A Classic Hi-Fi Misconception
  5. ^ Young, Warren (October 31, 2016), "Notes on Audio Op-Amps", Audiologica
  6. ^ Rutter, Daniel (20 March 2004). "Review: Chu Moy headphone amplifier". Dans Data. Retrieved 2009-06-03.