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I didn't say you were using tape. Do they not make receivers with a "Tape Monitor Output" anymore?

Usually a receiver has a set of 4 RCA jacks that are for a "tape loop", whatever you want to call it, where one pair is an input and one is an output, and they are connected to a "tape monitor switch". Back in the old days, you could listen to the tape playback 1/2 second after it was just recorded with the "tape monitor" - and to feed the tape deck the signal, the receiver has a set of fixed level outputs to run into the recorder. I was saying to find these output jacks (tape out, tape monitor, whatever) to get a clean signal without hiss.

If the Pioneer headphone out is bad, cheap, defective, it will give you hiss from any source. The tape monitor usually includes an un-amplified line level out signal, that will sound closer to the source than to the awful headphone out.

Amps do burn in - the capacitors need to form and settle (chemical slurry passing electrons though it will change). The Caffeine sounded very good out of the box, but it will sound better as it ages. Trust me on that. This is a good thing, so don't sweat it.

Just go look for that line-level output on the back of the Pioneer now, and get a cable to connect the RCA jacks to your Caffeine.

Okay this might be a stupid question but on penguinamp.com there is no reference to Caffeine ultra with bass boost, only the Caffeine amp, are these the same?

No, Caffeine and Caffeine Ultra (with bass boost and gain switches, previously also known as "Caffeine") are not the same. Besides the missing switches, the normal Caffeine has also e.g. smaller caps. Robert simply does not list an amp anymore if this particular amp is on backorder.

Hmmm. Maybe he is differentiating his product lines a little more. I wonder if the bass boost will only be available on the Headstage or Lyrix product line from now on.

I sent an email to Headphonia asking about the Caffeine ultra, and the reply was that it was out of stock. It should be available again next month.

I guess Robert has a bit of a backlog on some models...I've bought 3 different amps of his and they were always delivered safely. His Ebay feedback is also 100% so I'm sure your amps will arrive, if sometimes slowly, but imo its well worth the wait. My latest purchase was the Lyrix total and right out of the box its sounding very very very nice...

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Thanks!

What would this amp do for the extreme highs with my Sony MDR-V6?

Bump

I don't think I could find the line output on this receiver, and its kind of inconvenient , not sure how i can make it work with all of my sources connected? I'm not comprehensive in this matter.
I thought I need to connect to an INPUT ie headphone input.

I think I will just find someone to upgrade my receivers headphone out, I'd rather do that , where is Zemo?

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As for the highs amplification , they get sharper (slightly) but still sound crunchy.
I'm not getting much improvement on these phones. The highs are too veiled still and the headphones aren't worth a listen even with this upgrade. Volume doesn't increase as much either compared to the A900s, and bass doesn't gain layering or impact.

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Finding the receiver's audio line out is more convenient than sending it off to be modded. You just run an RCA to mini cable from the receiver's line out to the PenguinAmp's input.

If you have to pull the amp out of an entertainment center to get it modded, you can just as easily find it's line out and try it, because the RCA-mini cable will be a lot cheaper than shipping the thing out for mods.

So, you can listen to DVD, CD, LP, Cable TV, Satellite Radio or whatever is going into the receiver, and just flip the source switch on the receiver to change what goes through the line out. You don't have to unplug the components and go direct from each device.

In my case, I have my audio line out from my Yamaha receiver going to a Motorola D800 bluetooth transmitter, and then I have a Motorola S705 receiver plugged into power next to my bed. So, what ever is playing on the receiver goes out through the D800 and into the receiver by my bed so I can listen there with any of my headphones. Sometimes I'll even hook to BT receiver into my headphone amp and use my hard to drive full size cans.

Hi Buster,
the line out in question is labeled CD-R/Tape/MD on the back of your receiver. To be verified, but it should go as follow in the little square where CD-R/Tape/MD is written: the OUT (REC) right and left are on top of the IN (PLAY) RCAs.

OUT [right RCA] [left RCA] REC
IN [right RCA] [left RCA] PLAY

You will also have a similar arrangement of monitor out for the VCR/DVD-R except with video IN and OUT.

Those line outs only output whatever source being played, un-amplified, so if, let say, you have in your system a Mini Disc player/recorder (or a tape deck) you plug both sets (Play IN and REC OUT) the receiver will "receive" the signal when you play a MD (or cassette), but if you play a disc, you will be able to record it on a cassette, because the signal is sent out through the REC OUT (all the time).

I actually have a pair of amplified computer speakers connected on the tape monitor of one of my receivers, so it prevents me from rocking the floorstanding towers when everybody is sleeping...

I hope this was enlightening!

Too much information

I would just tell him the first part, so he isn't confused because the Caffeine doesn't record, it plays: Just do the line out of Pioneer into the input of the Caffeine. Using the "un-amplified" signal like tycobee says, means the hiss from the Pioneer built-in headphone amp is never heard again.

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You are right, I got carried away (because of the lateness...)


Tell us if it worked, Buster!

While i'm at it, which one would you choose: Caffeine Ultra or Minibox-D, same price?
Thnx