Polaris Project User Manual Download Page 1

USER MANUAL 

– 

May 10

th

 2021

WWW.GARAGE1217.COM

(R1.2 PCB ONLY)

WARNING:

Although Project Polaris runs at a generally safe 48VDC, Injury from improper assembly is quite possible. The main danger 
comes from installing the polarized capacitors backwards as they can only be installed in one direction much like a battery 
(more detail on capacitor installation comes later in this manual) If a capacitor is installed backwards, it may burst resulti ng 
in burns or eye injury.

 If you are not experienced in electronics or electronic kit assembly, it would be wise to have an 

experienced electronics person review your work before powering the unit on. 

Upon first power up, wear eye 

protection and be wary of any burning smells or electrical noises such as loud pops or buzzes

If using low impedance headphones with power ratings of 300mW or lower, there is a chance you could blow out the drivers 
if left playing at high levels 

– unattended. At high power levels an SPL of over 120dB may be reached in efficient 

headphones which is harmful to your hearing. Project Polaris is a very high powered headphone amplifier 

– use caution and 

common sense. High output headphone amplifiers like Polaris are designed to power very demanding headphones or 
provide all the headroom you could want with more efficient designs, not to see if you can get your jawbone to rattle. 

GARAGE1217.COM  IS NOT RESPONSIBLE  OR LIABLE FOR INJURY,  PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAG E AS THE  RESULT OF ASSEMBLY OR USE OF THIS 

“DO IT YOURSELF” KIT. POLARIS  IS 

CONSIDERED  A  HO BBY  LEVEL  PRODUCT.  IT CONTAI NS NO ELECTRICAL CERTIFICATIONS AND IS NOT ADVERTISED  AS SUCH. USE AT  YOUR OWN RIS K.  

Project

Polaris

Summary of Contents for Project

Page 1: ...lectrical noises such as loud pops or buzzes If using low impedance headphones with power ratings of 300mW or lower there is a chance you could blow out the drivers if left playing at high levels unattended At high power levels an SPL of over 120dB may be reached in efficient headphones which is harmful to your hearing Project Polaris is a very high powered headphone amplifier use caution and comm...

Page 2: ...hen the protection circuit activates and de activates a slight click may occur If load testing Project Polaris it is not recommended to attach a dummy load with a value below 15Ω when testing at full output power for a long periods Heatsinks and the output devices at the bottom will become quite hot during testing The amplifier will go into thermal protection when chip temperatures of 150oC are re...

Page 3: ...lts and maximum conductivity of any component Wipe each wire lead down using Scotch Bright Only one or two passes are required making sure all of the surface has been cleaned This removes oxidation or any other build up on the metal that has accumulated over time Once cleaned it is a good idea the further clean the wire leads with 90 isopropyl alcohol Make sure all alcohol has evaporated prior to ...

Page 4: ... STANDOFFS ONTO THE THREADS THAT ARE NOW PROTRUDING THROUGH THE PCB SECURING THE PCB TO THE GRAY ACRYLIC CHASSIS BOTTOM PROCEED TO POWER ON THE UNIT AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 2 WEARING EYE PROTECTION AND AT A SAFE DISTANCE IN CASE OF A MISTAKE IN ASSEMBLY ONCE THE AMPLIFIERS FUNCTIONALITY HAS BEEN TESTED AND THE UNIT HAS HAD A CHANCE TO FULLY WARM UP FOR 30 MINUTES SET THE BIAS AS DESCRIBED LATER IN TH...

Page 5: ...LED FOR EASY COLOR CHANGE LED BRIGHTNESS TRIMMER PROTECTION CIRCUIT LED WHEN THE AMPLIFIER IS TURNED ON THIS LED WILL LIGHT FOR APPROXIMATLEY 15 SECONDS INDICATING THE PROTECTION CIRCUIT IS ACTIVE VOLUME POTENTIOMETER POWER SWITCH RCA LINE OUT POWER JACK 6 3MM HEADPHONEJACK RCA LINE IN Project Polaris BANDWIDTH ADJUSTMENT 1 2 ...

Page 6: ...CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEBLACK BAND ON ALL DIODES OR ZENERS AS THEY ARE DIRECTIONAL RESISTORS ARE NONPOLAR AND CAN BE FITTED IN EITHER DIRECTION WHEN INSTALLING COMPONENTS MAKE SURE THE COMPONENT VALUES ALWAYS FACE UP SO THEY ARE VISIBLE CAN AID IN TROUBLESHOOTING IF A COMPONENT IS PLACED IMPROPERLY DIODES TRANSISTORS IC S AND ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS ARE POLAR AND PROPER ORIENTATION IS REQUIRED Proje...

Page 7: ...T IS POSITIVE 48VDC INPUT CAPACITORS ARE NONPOLAR MEANING THEY HAVENO STRIPE AND CAN BE INSTALLED IN EITHER DIRECTION PEEL OFF THE PROTECTIVE ADHESIVE LAYER ON THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE HEATSINK S PLACETHE HEATSINKS DIRECTLY OVER THETHERMALPADS ON THE PCB ONCEINSTALLED USE A HAIR DRYER OR HEATGUN TO BREIFLYHEAT UP EACH HEATSINK WHICH WILL ACTIVATE THEADHESIVE CAUTION IF USING A HEATGUN ONLY APPLY HEA...

Page 8: ...E PREVIOUS GENERATION SUNRISE HOWEVER THEGROUNDING PRINCIPAL IS EXACTLY THE SAME FIRST INSERT AWIRE LEAD INTO THERIGHT SIDE VIA NEXTTO THE VOLPOT AND SOLDER IN PLACE WRAP THE WIRE LEAD AROUND THETHREADED PORTION OF THE VOLPOT AS SHOWN PUT ON WASHER AND NUTINCLUDED IN THE KIT ONCE TIGHT THE VOLUMEKNOB MAY BEINSTALLED Project Polaris Project Polaris ...

Page 9: ...STEP 3 POPULATE ALL LARGE SIZE COMPONENTS SUCH AS LARGE CAPACITORS TO263 DIODE AND HEADPHONE JACK POSITION THE TO263 DIODE EXACTLY AS SHOWN Project Polaris Project Polaris ...

Page 10: ...COMPLETED POLARIS LAYOUT AND PHOTO Project Polaris Project Polaris ...

Page 11: ...E HEADPHONE IMPEDANCE EXAMPLE OF 35Ω SETTING IN RED EXPERIMENT BY CHANGING THE SETTINGS TO FIND WHAT YOUR PREFERENCE IS INPUT ATTENUATION CAN BE CHANGED VIA THE JUMPER TABS AT THE BACK RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE AMPLIFIER DEFAULT SETTING IS WITH ATTENUATION MODULE CUSTOM ATTENUATION MODULES CAN BE EASILY CREATED LOWER LEVELS OVERALL THIS CAN BE VERY USEFUL FOR SUPER SENSITIVE HEADPHONES SUCH AS IEM ...

Page 12: ...ulators IC IC1 OPA551 X 2 bottom Jacks J1 HEADPHONE JACK X 1 J2 BLACK RCA JACK X 2 J3 RED RCA JACK X 2 J4 POWER INPUT JACK X 1 Capacitors C1 100nF 100V X 1 C2 22uF 63V X 1 C3 2200uF 50V X 2 C4 1uF X 2 C5 220uF 35V X 2 C6 10nF X 2 C7 10uF 50V X 2 C8 10uF 50V X 2 C9 10pF X 2 C10 470pF or 820pF X 2 C11 270pF or 390pF X 2 C12 100pF X 2 C13 100nF X 2 C14 10uF 63V X 2 C15 100uF 50V X 2 C16 33uF 100V X 4...

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