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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
03-28-2008, 01:38 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by supertrichi
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Most have found that either one (optical or coaxial) works great with the Zero. No differences in SQ. 
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03-28-2008, 05:12 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Nijmegen, Holland
Posts: 358
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
Most have found that either one (optical or coaxial) works great with the Zero. No differences in SQ. |
But what if my laptop have neither coaxial nor optical 
I really have read most of this thread and still I'm (unpleasantly  ) surprised that there's NO USB on the ZERO :'(
I guess a was blinded by the stellar review 
No offence Dave 
__________________
Here's my IEM/Portable amp site
Home: Marantz CD 5001 • El Cheapo© Toslink • Stello DA100 • Monster Cable RCA • DarkVoice 336i / Stello HP100• AKG K701 / Sennheiser HD650
'Portable': iRiver H120 • Toslink • iBasso D1 • Qables mini-to-mini • Xin SuperMacro III v6 • Etymotic ER4p
She said : "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing"
I said : "That's nothing - you should hear me play piano"
Last edited by fl00r; 03-28-2008 at 05:19 PM.
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03-28-2008, 07:48 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: KL, Malaysia
Posts: 532
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The ZERO is almost identical to the Zhaolu... even looks the same... heard the design was also based on the Zhaolu...so no surprises that it doesnt have a USB.
i guess a cheap option would be to get a USB -> SPDIF converter. ive heard both good and bad about the converters though and that direct SPDIF from ur soundcard is best.
if ur laptop has neither SPDIF formats, i guess the converter will definitely be needed. else a simple USB soundcard with SPDIF output should do the trick.
__________________
Main Setup: Firestone Audio Fubar II USB DAC -> Battery Cute II Headphone Amp (w/ OPA2107) -> BeyerDynamic DT990 '05 Edition (250 Ω)
Other Eq: Philips HP-250 (Temporary Retirement), Koss UR20 (for home use), Somic DJ-840 (broken headband fixed with twist ties and cellotape, cracking drivers - why the hell am i still keeping them???)
Arrived!!:
For girlfriend -
* LDM+
* Crossroads MylarOne X3
For 'Toying' -
* Koss KSC-75 - Done toying with it...it is now the Franken PhilKoss!!
Itching to try -
* Alessandros
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03-28-2008, 08:53 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 4,388
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03-28-2008, 10:18 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
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Just got my Zero unit 2day through the post, currently burning in and all I wanted to say is thanks to everyone here at HeadFi for the help and information.
Indeed sorry about my wallet but damn its was money well spent hehe. Next on the hit list HD650/LD MKIII
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03-28-2008, 11:32 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fl00r
But what if my laptop have neither coaxial nor optical
I really have read most of this thread and still I'm (unpleasantly ) surprised that there's NO USB on the ZERO :'(
I guess a was blinded by the stellar review
No offence Dave |
Quote:
Originally Posted by scompton
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I'll be darned! I could have sworn you said your notebook had a flexi-jack (both line out and optical combined in one) way back when! Scompton's idea is a good one for the price for sure. I think Diykits on ebay sells a silver looking one inexpensive also. Sorry! 
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03-28-2008, 11:44 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mADmAN
The ZERO is almost identical to the Zhaolu... even looks the same... heard the design was also based on the Zhaolu...so no surprises that it doesnt have a USB.
i guess a cheap option would be to get a USB -> SPDIF converter. ive heard both good and bad about the converters though and that direct SPDIF from ur soundcard is best.
if ur laptop has neither SPDIF formats, i guess the converter will definitely be needed. else a simple USB soundcard with SPDIF output should do the trick.
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This is one of those "someone said that someone else said in another thread about another site post" rumor-facts. It actually doesn't look very much like the Zhaolu and the design according to Lawrence is not from the Zhaolu. All of this was talked about earlier in this thread because of statements like this from previous Zhaolu owners who didn't like them very much (I think) . Its been quite a while ago. Some of the posts may have been removed, as the discussions were super heated by a person who keeps getting banned all the time and their posts kinda disappear each time they get banned.
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03-28-2008, 11:46 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LaZyKun
Just got my Zero unit 2day through the post, currently burning in and all I wanted to say is thanks to everyone here at HeadFi for the help and information.
Indeed sorry about my wallet but damn its was money well spent hehe. Next on the hit list HD650/LD MKIII |
Congratulations! I like your shopping list too! You are going to have one heck of a rig when you have it all put together!! 
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03-29-2008, 04:22 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7
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Just a little update from me:
Got my new Opamps and threw 'em in the headamp board.
1. When using the DAC as a simple DAC without the true preamp function, it works perfectly. Sounds great.
2. When using the DAC as a true preamp, it goes wayward. The sound is balanced roughly 90% to the left channel.
3. When using the headamp, the sound is balanced 100% to the left channel.
I'm a bit baffled!
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03-29-2008, 05:52 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Deep South Texas
Posts: 139
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hxcxor
Just a little update from me:
Got my new Opamps and threw 'em in the headamp board.
1. When using the DAC as a simple DAC without the true preamp function, it works perfectly. Sounds great.
2. When using the DAC as a true preamp, it goes wayward. The sound is balanced roughly 90% to the left channel.
3. When using the headamp, the sound is balanced 100% to the left channel.
I'm a bit baffled!
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Hi! Which opamps did you get and try out. Maybe someone can tell you of similar results and what to try or not try!
__________________
Go ahead, follow that "Yellow Brick Road"... 'cause no matter where you go there you are.
Foobar2K (KS/FLAC)-> AV-710 (coax)-> COMPASS Dac/Amp (Earth HDAM in DAC)-> Gilmore Lite/DPS-> Senn HD650
Portable: Cowon D2 > CrossRoads MylarOne Ruby x3i
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03-29-2008, 10:37 AM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7
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The ol' LT sample pack - 1361, 1364, 1469. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure the probably lies elsewhere than the particular opamps I'm using though, as it's irrelevant which pair I have in the headamp. No matter which I use the problem remains the same.
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03-29-2008, 02:48 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
Congratulations! I like your shopping list too! You are going to have one heck of a rig when you have it all put together!! |
lol its mainly due to your reviews :P but seriously cheers dude, always wanted to get some serious headfi gear and xtremely pleased I took the plunge.
qq - does anyone else's Zero have a tiny tiny hum when its on, not coming from the headphones but unit itself. Not any kind of major problem since you have to put your ear pretty near it to hear.
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03-29-2008, 08:41 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 10
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I got mine to day, but how can I make it work? I have tryed to connect it to my PC with coaxial and toslink and all I can hear is some flickering noise when I connect my headphones to the Zero. I have set my soundcard to use digital out.
LaZyKun: Mine does also have that hum.
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03-29-2008, 10:24 PM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Germany
Posts: 80
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ZERO USB Mod prototype
Zero with USB Mod prototype:
I bought a nice USB analogue sound card cable with Burr Brown PCM2704 (used in Meier Audio Corda Opera). Stripped the analogue part to use the S/PDIF output.
Had to removed the coaxial socket of the ZERO, because I didn't have the heart to put a hole into the chassis. Now the coaxial switch is the USB switch.
Glued the USB board onto some resistors. Fits like a glove.
Positive: No toslink jitter, USB conversion into Zero's receiver chip, no need for a sound card, plug-and-play
Negative: only 32kHz, 44.1Khz and 48Khz sampling frequency
Next: PCB with USB socket, no glueing. ZERO has to switch between optical, coaxial and USB.
Pictures:
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03-30-2008, 12:45 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hxcxor
The ol' LT sample pack - 1361, 1364, 1469. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure the probably lies elsewhere than the particular opamps I'm using though, as it's irrelevant which pair I have in the headamp. No matter which I use the problem remains the same.
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Just a thought. The headphone amp is dependant upon which Opamp you have in the DAC, so maybe trying a different Opamp in the DAC will change the results you are having in the headphone amp, with trying different Opamps? Check it out and see.
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Really sorry about your wallet!
