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Isabellina dac / headphone amp - Page 6

post #76 of 149
6/10/09 at 12:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnie R. View Post
Just to clarify:

You can order the Isabellina HPA with "fixed" RCA outputs, or "variable" RCA outputs.

FIXED - For this option, the output from the Isabellina dac gets fed directly to the RCA outputs. This is a 2Vrms fixed output that you can feed to another headphone amplifier, or home audio preamplifier, or home audio integrated amplifier. In this configuration, it works exactly like the stand-alone Isabellina dac: Red Wine Audio Isabellina

VARIABLE - For this option, the output from the Isabellina dac passes through the volume control before passing to the RCA outputs. This option is great if you plan to feed your Isabellina HPA directly into a home audio power amp. The volume control is like a "passive preamp" (no voltage gain). Most power amps can be driven to full output power with 2Vrms.

-- I suspect that the majority of you will go with the FIXED outputs, but there might be some of you who want to also use their Isabellina HPA connected directly to a home audio power amp and the VARIABLE feature is perfect for this.


-- What is stated above applies for the RCA output jacks. Some of you who are only using the Isabellina HPA as a headphone amp will not even care about the RCA output jacks (but you might down the road, especially if you want to integrated your Isabellina HPA into a home audio system, or use it as a dac to feed a different headphone amplifer).

Hopefully eveything is clear on this...

Vinnie
Just a few questions:

1. The home amp can control the output. Why we need to control the output of the RCA through the Isabellina?

2. Will the variable output to the RCA degrade the quality of the signal?
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post #77 of 149
6/10/09 at 1:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLeo View Post
Just a few questions:

1. The home amp can control the output. Why we need to control the output of the RCA through the Isabellina?

2. Will the variable output to the RCA degrade the quality of the signal?
To answer question 1, you would need the fixed level output from the RCA's if you wish to feed the RWA Isabellina to an integrated amp. Your integrated amp will control the volume.

To answer question 2, a variable output from the RW Isabellina will be needed to feed a power amp only. The volume will be controlled off the RW headphone amp (basically a pre-amp) in this setup. No sound degradation will occur.

Edit: ^^^Vinnie KNOWS!

I have a question: Will using the headphone out mute the RCA outputs?


Please correct me if I am wrong as I don't want to give false info.

This is very interesting thread...I'm so tempted to hop aboard.
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post #78 of 149
6/10/09 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnie R. View Post
...

YES - FOR EVERYONE INTERESTED >> please send me an email (do not use headfi PM) to: vinnie@redwineaudio.com

...
Vinnie
Hi Vinnie,

I'm in. Will send you an email tonight as a double confirmation.
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post #79 of 149
6/10/09 at 1:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheemo View Post
To answer question 1, you would need the fixed level output from the RCA's if you wish to feed the RWA Isabellina to an integrated amp. Your integrated amp will control the volume.

To answer question 2, a variable output from the RW Isabellina will be needed to feed a power amp only. The volume will be controlled off the RW headphone amp (basically a pre-amp) in this setup. No sound degradation will occur.

Edit: ^^^Vinnie KNOWS!

I have a question: Will using the headphone out mute the RCA outputs?


Please correct me if I am wrong as I don't want to give false info.

This is very interesting thread...I'm so tempted to hop aboard.
I believe the variable output will only go from DAC > potentiometer > RCA out, and not through the headphone amp at all.
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post #80 of 149
6/10/09 at 2:11am
Well I know that is now 2/10 because Im in.
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post #81 of 149
6/10/09 at 2:18am
Well that is at least 2/10 because I am in. You just cant go wrong with this. The isabellina by itself is worth the money and you get a good headphone output too.
Quote:
This is very interesting thread...I'm so tempted to hop aboard.
Embrace the force, it is strong with in you.
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post #82 of 149
6/10/09 at 2:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingStyles View Post
Well that is at least 2/10 because I am in. You just cant go wrong with this. The isabellina by itself is worth the money and you get a good headphone output too.

Embrace the force, it is strong with in you.
Hi KingStyles Skywalker,

May the force be with you.
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post #83 of 149
6/10/09 at 11:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheemo View Post
...
Edit: ^^^Vinnie KNOWS!

I have a question: Will using the headphone out mute the RCA outputs?


...
Good question, I hope not because I usually have two amps and two headphone going at the same time and I would like to feed the dac out to the second amp.

BTW, email sent but I would like to be allowed to make a final call when the unit is in its finalized version. Thanks.
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post #84 of 149
6/10/09 at 11:48am
Quote:

I believe the variable output will only go from DAC > potentiometer > RCA out, and not through the headphone amp at all.
Headphoneaddict is correct!

Quote:
I'm in. Will send you an email tonight as a double confirmation.
Hi GreenLeo,

I don't believe I received your email. Please resend (sorry if you got blocked by my SPAM filter). I reply to all pre-order confirmations, so if you did not receive a reply back, I probably did not receive your email..

Quote:
I have a question: Will using the headphone out mute the RCA outputs?
No - you can use BOTH the RCA outputs and the headphone output at the same time.

Quote:
BTW, email sent but I would like to be allowed to make a final call when the unit is in its finalized version. Thanks.
Sure - no problem.

Best regards,

Vinnie
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post #85 of 149
6/10/09 at 12:33pm
Your gear and customer service are great! Thanks.
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post #86 of 149
6/10/09 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinnie R. View Post
...



Hi GreenLeo,

I don't believe I received your email. Please resend (sorry if you got blocked by my SPAM filter). I reply to all pre-order confirmations, so if you did not receive a reply back, I probably did not receive your email..



...
Hi Vinnie,

Just sent you an email for the confirmation.
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post #87 of 149
6/10/09 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheemo View Post
To answer question 1, you would need the fixed level output from the RCA's if you wish to feed the RWA Isabellina to an integrated amp. Your integrated amp will control the volume.

To answer question 2, a variable output from the RW Isabellina will be needed to feed a power amp only. The volume will be controlled off the RW headphone amp (basically a pre-amp) in this setup. No sound degradation will occur.

Edit: ^^^Vinnie KNOWS!

...
Thanks Cheemo for answering my questions .

I see, so basically power amp has no volume control at all? I've never owned a power amp and am ignorant on this. Mine is just a very humble integrated amp.

I need to clarify my concern of the degradation of the signal: What I mean is if the variable output from the RAC of the Isabellina is relatively inferior to the fixed output from the RAC of the Isabellina so that the output from the RCA will be degraded rather than if the output of the headphone amp will be degraded.

I know that it should not degrade the signal. But from my limited knowledge, I've always been told that adding an extra component to an audio circuit will usually degrade the signal. Hence I raise the question. May be Vinnie or other headfiers can verify or falsify what I was told.

Finally, can I feed this variable output to my integrated amp?

Thanks for any inputs.
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post #88 of 149
6/10/09 at 1:11pm
Hi GreenLeo,

I received your email, thanks

If you plan to use an Integrated Amp (which already has a volume control), then I recommend you go with the FIXED rca outputs. There would be no reason to put another volume control in the signal path. It will be cleaner to use a fixed rca output, and use the volume control in your integrated amp.

If you were using a home audio power amp (and do not plan to purchase an external preamp), then the VARIABLE rca outputs are great because you can connect the rca output directly to your power amp and you'll have a remote volume control for it.

Correct - dedicated power amps do not have a volume control. They require a preamp (active or passive) to control the signal level coming from the source component. Otherwise, you'd get full output volume all the time!

I forgot to say 'thank you' to Cheemo for posting in response to your question (which I missed) to help you - thanks, cheemo!

Best regards,

Vinnie
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post #89 of 149
6/10/09 at 4:13pm
wow these Red Wine products look amazing I am curious about this one for droolstatus
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post #90 of 149
6/11/09 at 6:01am
Hi Vinnie,

Is Isabellina HPA power enough to drive K1000?

Thanks
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