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Review of Little Dot MKV Dual Mono Solid State Headphone Amplifier - Page 9

post #121 of 722
4/4/08 at 2:07am
does any of you guys out there with mk v notice their unit has a distortion hiss with just the amp turn on volume at 0 with no input to the amp?
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post #122 of 722
4/4/08 at 2:12am
is this normal for mk v or did i get a defective unit?
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post #123 of 722
4/5/08 at 6:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafe zeenuts View Post
is this normal for mk v or did i get a defective unit?
I have never heard of this, so I would recommend emailing DavidZ and tell him in detail what you are experiencing. If it's a simple fix, he'll know it. If not, he'll know just what to do.
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post #124 of 722
4/5/08 at 9:08pm
ok thanks.
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post #125 of 722
4/13/08 at 1:47am
Hey Penchum do you have a low impedance phone to try on the mkv? i think the hiss i'm hearing is due to the low impedance headphone i'm using atm.
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post #126 of 722
4/13/08 at 1:49am
My headphone is the sony MDR-V6 @ 63ohms.
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post #127 of 722
4/13/08 at 1:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafe zeenuts View Post
Hey Penchum do you have a low impedance phone to try on the mkv? i think the hiss i'm hearing is due to the low impedance headphone i'm using atm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafe zeenuts View Post
My headphone is the sony MDR-V6 @ 63ohms.
Give me a few minutes and I'll try a couple and see. I have to find them first!
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post #128 of 722
4/13/08 at 2:18am
ok cheers.
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post #129 of 722
4/13/08 at 2:21am
Thread Starter 
Hummm, this was interesting. My 32ohm HD212's have a silver mini plug. I had a gold colored 1/4 adapter on it. When I plugged them in to my MKV, I had a bunch of noise. I wiggled the adapter and the noise changed. So, I dug around and found a silver colored 1/4 adapter and gave that a try. Most of the noise was gone, wiggling the adapter didn't do anything either. There is a constant background noise if I turn the volume all the way down.

I couldn't detect anything while the music was playing, so I would bet this is due to the 32ohms. If your's does the same, you might want to get some of those impedance adapters that raise your impedance up to like 120ohms. I understand they are cheap and do not change the sound. Good luck!
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post #130 of 722
4/13/08 at 2:40am
Hey penchum thanks for that. I must buy a impedance adapter to try then.
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post #131 of 722
4/13/08 at 2:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafe zeenuts View Post
does any of you guys out there with mk v notice their unit has a distortion hiss with just the amp turn on volume at 0 with no input to the amp?
I just got mine today and i am also hearing this with my A900's (has a gold mini and a gold 1/4 adapter). It is pretty bad on my end when in down parts of song it pretty much kills the mood.

I am also not hearing much to all of a difference in sound. I think it may just be the A900 and the Impedence on them not to sure or happy about it...

(Set-up: high quality flac < foobar2000 < x-fi xtrememusic on XP < little dot MK V < A900's)
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post #132 of 722
4/13/08 at 3:01am
Hey i'm pretty sure is due to the low impedance. I'm getting a impedance adapter to try on my headphone, once i try it i will let you guys know how it when.
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post #133 of 722
4/13/08 at 4:00am
Great review, Penchum! The link to your thread was sent to me by another HeadFi member a few weeks ago, when I was researching the KECES DA-151 USB DAC. I'm scouting around for a new amp to go along with it, and had discovered the Mk.V on ebay. When I first checked-out your thread, I think it was up to Page 4. Today, I see Page 14, as I'm posting this. WOW! This amp is getting alot of attention. I actually read through all the posts

Truthfully; I'd like to take the plunge on it; but I'm now concerned that it won't be quiet enough for me to use with my Grado 225's 32-ohm impedence. I'm getting concerned about any possible hiss. If there are any members out there, that use the Mk.V with Grado headphones, who could add anything...it'd be much-appreciated. From everything I've read thus-far, it seems this amp is very-well suited to Senns. It even has me contemplating a future purchase of a Sennheiser...something I never thought I'd consider.
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post #134 of 722
4/13/08 at 6:53am
FWIW,

I have the Alessandro's MS-1, also 32 Ohm.
I tried it with the MK V and it's dead silent, even with the volume at max.
When I use the Zero as a Pre amp I do hear hiss, starting from a volume at 2 o'clock.
If I use the Zero just as a Dac, as I normally do,no hiss at all.

Hope this helps
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post #135 of 722
4/13/08 at 9:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nevuh View Post
I just got mine today and i am also hearing this with my A900's (has a gold mini and a gold 1/4 adapter). It is pretty bad on my end when in down parts of song it pretty much kills the mood.

I am also not hearing much to all of a difference in sound. I think it may just be the A900 and the Impedence on them not to sure or happy about it...

(Set-up: high quality flac < foobar2000 < x-fi xtrememusic on XP < little dot MK V < A900's)
Quote:
Originally Posted by cafe zeenuts View Post
Hey i'm pretty sure is due to the low impedance. I'm getting a impedance adapter to try on my headphone, once i try it i will let you guys know how it when.
These two might not be related. At least it is possible. Nevuh, your MKV needs burn-in time for sure. Also, if you are running "line-out" directly into the MKV, any slight noise from the card will be amplified as well. The cure is to go digital out (coaxial) into a DAC like the Zero, then drive the MKV with the Zero's DAC output. BIG TIME improvement in SQ vs the card.

Impedance may play a part in both, and that is the trick. Some phones don't exhibit anything, others do grossly. A quick check with borrowed higher impedance phones will tell you for sure. If it is discovered to be a problem, the impedance adapters are the easy, cheap fix. Maybe later, pick up a pair of higher impedance phones like HD-600 Senns or equivalent. If you can, do the "borrow a friends phones" thing and check it out.
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