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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
11-22-2008, 06:00 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 698
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Whats the best volume knob mod? I am quite sick of the cheapo stock knob.
__________________
HEADPHONE RIG: Winamp --> LILO III Classic --> Monarchy DIP 48/96 Upsampler --> Monarchy NM24 DAC/Line Amp
HEADPHONES: AKG K-501; Senn HD650
SPEAKER RIG Stello CDT 200 --> Genesis Digital Lens -->Stello DA 220 --> Wyred 4 Sound ST preamp SE --> Marsh A400s Amp -->Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Floorstanders
Gone: Headphones - Audio Technica ATH-AD2000; AKG K-340; AKG K-701; Sennheiser HD580; Goldring DR-150 x 2; Grado SR 80; Audio Technica ATH-AD700; Beyerdynamic DT880 x 2; Sennheiser HD555; Sennheiser HD201; Amps - Woo Audio 6 Maxxed; Rockhopper M^3 with Sigma 11 PS; Little Dot MK III; Little Dot MK II; Creek OBH-11; Headstage Lyrix; DACS - Zero DAC
Team AKG
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11-22-2008, 06:44 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Tbilisi - Georgia
Posts: 918
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ciphercomplete
Whats the best volume knob mod? I am quite sick of the cheapo stock knob.
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have a look at this :
http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalo...sandknobs.html
KNOBS- 64392 Solid Brass - matte silver, 6mm - shaft diameter with Allen/socket screw mount 26 $22.95
It may not be the cheapest option, but I know some folks in the forum using these for their Zero and they are very happy..
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11-22-2008, 04:36 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Singapore
Posts: 498
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do you guys mainly use the spdif to the zero or use a usb -> spdif converter? which one would entail better results?
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11-22-2008, 07:32 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: United State of Britainland
Posts: 639
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Which one would entail better results?
Out of the choices presented - SPDIF and SPDIF - I'm going to take a stab in the dark that SPDIF will win hands-down...
__________________
Senn 480II-13R cans, overshadowed by...
Black Stax SRS-4040II rig - awesome! Loving it! Certainly worth most of the extortionate amount of pennies it cost. ;-)
Compass DAC by Audio-GD - very, very nicely made with a lovely sound. First UK owner?
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11-22-2008, 07:49 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by athenaesword
do you guys mainly use the spdif to the zero or use a usb -> spdif converter? which one would entail better results?
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It only matters if you are going to do something like kernel streaming or ASIO. USB might not have enough bandwidth for ASIO so if you are going to go that route you should go with spdif without the usb conversion.
__________________
HEADPHONE RIG: Winamp --> LILO III Classic --> Monarchy DIP 48/96 Upsampler --> Monarchy NM24 DAC/Line Amp
HEADPHONES: AKG K-501; Senn HD650
SPEAKER RIG Stello CDT 200 --> Genesis Digital Lens -->Stello DA 220 --> Wyred 4 Sound ST preamp SE --> Marsh A400s Amp -->Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Floorstanders
Gone: Headphones - Audio Technica ATH-AD2000; AKG K-340; AKG K-701; Sennheiser HD580; Goldring DR-150 x 2; Grado SR 80; Audio Technica ATH-AD700; Beyerdynamic DT880 x 2; Sennheiser HD555; Sennheiser HD201; Amps - Woo Audio 6 Maxxed; Rockhopper M^3 with Sigma 11 PS; Little Dot MK III; Little Dot MK II; Creek OBH-11; Headstage Lyrix; DACS - Zero DAC
Team AKG
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11-22-2008, 09:02 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Russia, Saint-Petersburg
Posts: 10
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Hello all!
Some weeks passed after receiving Zero, but it is still some bad things with it.
First of all I resoldered Elna cap in the right position. Then downloaded RMAA and did some tests. My setup was AC'97 optical out connected to Zero, HDAM in the DAC and 2*NE5532(because one of the LT1364 is dead) in the HeadAmp.
THD+noise:
Intermodulation distortion:
As you can see results are very bad.
After that I inserted LT1364 in the DAC position instead of HDAM.
THD+noise:
Intermodulation distortion:
This is much better.
After more tests I understood that problem is HDAM. Then I inspected it with multimeter and I have a feeling that some transistors are inverted:
And maybe one of these (I'm not sure):
Please, someone, help me understand what's wrong with my HDAM. I think I'd beter fix it myself than ship it to Lawrence.
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11-22-2008, 10:51 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: GreaterTorontoArea in Sub-Urbaine hell
Posts: 3,077
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My first gen HDAM has copper shielding covers on it so I can't confirm or deny the orientation of the transistors you have pointed out Baltozar.
Send these pics with your questions to Kingwa at audio-gd. It's likely he'll be the one person that could answer your inquiries (most likely his schematic these were assembled with ).
I don't see a ground wire on your module ...where is it ? DaMnEd found the module measured rather badly with the ground wire unconnected and cleared up considerably with it grounded. The odd thing though is the differences between grounded and ungrounded is inaudible in listening tests. I leave mine alone and have at times had them grounded and ungrounded...haven't really heard a difference.
IMHO at least. Since I swap modules on a regular basis it's easier for me to leave these wires loose for convenience sake. Once I settle on a permanent installation I will solder in the ground wires for good because it looks better 
Peete.
__________________
Cans :HD650, AKG 240M (HD650 DIY cables SE and Balanced)
Desktop amps : LD MK III (6H30P-i DR's + DIY mods, Jaycar DIY kit amp (major DIY mods), 2 X Audio-gd Compass (test prototype,final version), Audio-gd C-2C W/ Stepped pot Upgrade, Audio-gd Phoenix SS balanced preamp/headamp.
Transports: Auzen Prelude PCI 7.1 SC/ASIO native driver using Media Monkey (all EAC ripped FLAC/Wav), Vanguard CDM12 Pro (BNC mod), HK HD720 (completely upgraded), Audio-gd CD7 Transport.
Sources: FrankenDAC DIY 24/192 dac (HDAMs/Teflon/PIO cap mod), Compass DAC, See Corp Vintage UK TT(Mission arm/Ortofon OM20S MM cart), Yaqin MS12B tube phono preamp, TEAC V530X Tape deck, Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC. C2C DIY pot mod http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/ste...1/#post5846722
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11-22-2008, 10:55 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: GreaterTorontoArea in Sub-Urbaine hell
Posts: 3,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by les_garten
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Far be it for me to comment on another man's knob (  ) but that is one sweet piece of aluminum Les !!!
Post a pic or two when you have it installed....I'm curious to see if this style works with the Zero....I bet it will look really cool.
Peete.
__________________
Cans :HD650, AKG 240M (HD650 DIY cables SE and Balanced)
Desktop amps : LD MK III (6H30P-i DR's + DIY mods, Jaycar DIY kit amp (major DIY mods), 2 X Audio-gd Compass (test prototype,final version), Audio-gd C-2C W/ Stepped pot Upgrade, Audio-gd Phoenix SS balanced preamp/headamp.
Transports: Auzen Prelude PCI 7.1 SC/ASIO native driver using Media Monkey (all EAC ripped FLAC/Wav), Vanguard CDM12 Pro (BNC mod), HK HD720 (completely upgraded), Audio-gd CD7 Transport.
Sources: FrankenDAC DIY 24/192 dac (HDAMs/Teflon/PIO cap mod), Compass DAC, See Corp Vintage UK TT(Mission arm/Ortofon OM20S MM cart), Yaqin MS12B tube phono preamp, TEAC V530X Tape deck, Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC. C2C DIY pot mod http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/ste...1/#post5846722
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11-22-2008, 11:25 PM
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Junior Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3
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Just got the Zero, and I'm finally looking at HDAMs now.
Does anyone use HDAMs in the Zero HeadAmp? Does it make any difference over LT1364s?
I've read a few difference forums/websites, and some people suggest going with HDAMs in the HeadAmp, while others say that's a bad idea. Could someone shed some more light on this, please? DaMnEd in the Zero Mod thread said it was a gamble going with 3x HDAMs in the Zero, and I was looking for more opinions on this.
Last edited by vitosu; 11-22-2008 at 11:28 PM.
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11-22-2008, 11:38 PM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 609
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Can the DAC portion of the ZERO be the source of sound imbalance?
I'm sorry to step in and change the subject guys but I have a problem that I need you to help me solve it.
I have a sound imbalance and I was wondering if the DAC portion of the ZERO could be responsible. If so, I would have to purchase another DAC?
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11-23-2008, 12:02 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: S. FLorida
Posts: 3,183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete
Far be it for me to comment on another man's knob ( ) but that is one sweet piece of aluminum Les !!!
Post a pic or two when you have it installed....I'm curious to see if this style works with the Zero....I bet it will look really cool.
Peete. |
My Knob says thanx for noticing!
__________________
<<<Les Garten>>> Leave the gun, take the cannoli -- Fat Clemenza circa 1950
Conversation with future Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing in 1969: Lessing: "You do still have gangsters [in Chicago], don't you?" Studs Terkel: "Yes, but these days they're mostly in business, or politics."
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office" Aesop
Ich Bin Ein Europeaner!
JOIN TEAM Snake Oil
Head-Fi Feedback<<>> ebay Feedback<<>> Pink Noise Burn-In Tool!!
I Changed My Windows Desktop to a PIC of the Audio-GD REF 1
Witness the Birth of the Phoenix Phoenix
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11-23-2008, 12:08 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 82
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Zero arrived today (it shipped Tuesday and got here this afternoon, very impressed). My first visual impression was that this thing is MUCH larger than I anticipated. For whatever reason I got the idea that this thing wasn't too much bigger than a Sonic Impact T-Amp Gen2, boy was I wrong. Before hooking anything up I cracked it open to confirm the presence of the OPA627, which it did have, and that's where I ran into the first, and currently only, QC issue. The screwhole on the lower left hand corner (looking at the Zero from the front) was stripped. I had to guide the screw out with a flat head screwdriver.
As far as sound quality goes, compared to coming straight from the X-Fi, the Zero sounds just a tad bit sharper and more detailed but feels weaker (its doesn't seem as loud at a corresponding volume setting compared to the X-Fi). In short, it sounds great to me. I've only tried the headphone port once so far, and I got the impression that it didn't sound as good compared to plugging straight into the X-Fi, but then I probably need to give it some serious play time so it can settle in.
Just for the benefit of not having to sniff around the back of my computer anymore makes this an excellent buy for me. The sound quality is just a very pleasant bonus!
Last edited by Kurotetsu; 11-23-2008 at 12:14 AM.
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11-23-2008, 01:50 AM
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Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 59
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This is the RCA ground wire, correct?
__________________
cult
–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. An instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
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11-23-2008, 04:05 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 322
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ah ha. I can see the silver cable. the arrow u pointed is correct. there are 3 pins on the pcb, the mid one is ground and it is a better choice.
__________________
HTPC -> [BlueJeans Fiber Optic] -> DAC-19MK3 -> [ CAST] -> CIA-400 -> [ VDH Goldwater ]-> KEF-CRESTA10 modded
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