FAQ Summary:
1. What are the dimensions of the Mini³?
2. Can I leave the Mini³ wall-wart/charger plugged in all the time?
3. What's the Mini³ battery life?
4. What are the duty cycle and capacity of the Mini³ battery?
5. How come my brand new Mini³ battery doesn't last as long as expected?
6. How long does it take to charge my Mini³ battery?
7. Can the Mini³ drive my headphones with 600 Ohm impedance and 88dB/mW sensitivity?
8. Which gain setting is good for my Mini³ setup?
9. How do I find out the output level of my source componet?
10. Which edition of Mini³ sounds better?
11. Do you offer custom work?
12. Which opamp is the best?
13. Which power supply comes with the M³?
14. Which configuration of β22 ("beta 22") do you offer?
15. Do your amplifiers offer tone control?
16. How will my amplifer look like?
17. Where can I get the charger locally for the Mini³?
18. Do you offer partial build?
19. Do you offer kits?
20. Can your repair my non-functional build?
21. Can I purchase the Mini³ without the battery?

1. What are the dimensions of the Mini³?

The dimensions are 2.126 x 0.905 x 3.150"/54 x 23 x 80mm (W x H x D), excluding knob and rubber feet -- it's just like a bunch of credit cards stacked to 0.905" (23mm) high. The knob adds approximately 0.625" (15.88mm) to the depth.

2. Can I leave the Mini³ wall-wart/charger plugged in all the time?

When the wallwart/charger is plugged in, the amp will basically run off wallwart power, but it will also be charging the battery which isn't good for the long term if it's already fully charged. Never remove the battery while plugged in.

3. What's the Mini³ battery life?

The high-performance edition lasts about 12-15 hours while the extended runtime edition lasts about 22-25 hours. Other factors such as the source output level, the amp output level (how loud you play), efficiency of your headphones, program material, battery capacity, your playing habit, etc. all have impact on the actual running time.

4. What are the duty cycle and capacity of the Mini³ battery?

We use ultra high capacity 9V NiMH rechargeable battery which can be recharged up to 500-1000 times.

5. How come my brand new Mini³ battery doesn't last as long as expected?

A brand new battery may require several full charge/discharge cycles to reach its optimum capacity.

6. How long does it take to charge my Mini³ battery?

It takes approximately 16 hours.

7. Can the Mini³ drive my headphones with 600 Ohm impedance and 88dB/mW sensitivity?

Given the fact that the Mini³ runs off a 9V battery, it will probably drive it satisfactorily to moderate listening levels, but don't expect ear-splitting levels of 100dB+. A desktop amp such as the β22 could really drive such high impedance phones with headroom to spare.

8. Which gain setting is good for my Mini³ setup?

It depends on the efficiency of your headphones, the output level of your source component (see next question ), and your listening habit (do you like it REALLY loud?). Normally, a gain of 5 is a good all-round number and will work comfortably with headphone impedance ranging from 32 to 300 Ohm. If your headphones are efficient (32-120 Ohm) and sensitive (98dB/mW+), a gain of 2 would work as well. Please specify your desired gain setting when placing your order.

9. How do I find out the output level of my source component?

The specs sheet should tell you. But typically, a full-sized CD player outputs 2V+ rms, while iPod outputs <1V rms into 1KHz.

10. Which edition of Mini³ sounds better?

It's a matter of personal preference. The high-performance edition is a bit more snappy and dynamic, while the extended runtime edition is a little mellower. The difference is very subtle, though. Low impedance headphones will be able to take advantage of the high-performance edition's higher output current capability.

11. Do you offer custom work?

Yes, but to keep the costs reasonable, certain limits apply:

12. Which Opamp is the best?

This is a tough question: it really depends on its application and your preference. For more informed answers, please check out head-fi.org, headwize.com, and Tangent's Notes on Audio Op-Amps.

13. Which power supply comes with the M³?

We standardize on the high-performance σ11 ("sigma 11"), utilizing oversized toroidal transformer. However, for those on a tight budget, a wall-wart can be utilized.

14. Which configuration of β22 ("beta 22") do you offer?

YBM Audio currently offers the cost-effective 3-channel "active ground" version as well as the high-performance 4-channel balanced version.

15. Do your amplifiers offer tone control?

Sorry, with the possible exception of the M³ (bass boost) , none of our products offer tone control.

16. How will my amplifier look like?

The actual appearance of your amplifier depends on your desired configuration and selection of parts (including the chassis, of course). Pictures shown on the Gallery section are some of our previous works and may or may not necessary reflect your actual amp.

17. Where can I get the charger locally for the Mini³?

Farnell 1217090 (for 230VAC 50Hz Euro), or Farnell 1217086 (for 230VAC 50Hz UK).

18. Do you offer partial build?

Sorry, we don't.

19. Do you offer kits?

We don't offer kits. Only completely finished products.

20. Can your repair my non-functional build?

Sorry, we don't offer such service.

21. Can I purchase the Mini³ without the battery?

Only if you don't plan to use the battery ever. Not all 9V batteries are made equal, there are slight variations in actual dimensions thus the battery clips must be customized to fit certain brands/models of batteries to accommodate the compact enclosure.