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Balanced 1/4" in and 1/4" out Amp for my RME Babyface

post #1 of 8
12/10/11 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 

I don't know why my search has thus far been so difficult. All I want is a reasonably good headphone amp capable of boosting the signal of my RME Babyface's stereo 1/4" headphone out. Incredibly, RME did not see fit to make the Babyface capable of driving headphones beyond 30ohms. My Beyer Dynamic DT770's are 80ohms, and thus the signal is too low. 

 

I do already have a Samson S-Phone 4 channel amp, but when I boost the audio volume it adds to much noise to the signal. 

 

 

WHY OH WHY do all these expensive amps that I see on Head-Fi have RCA jacks instead of 1/4" ins and outs?

 

 

Here is what i'm looking for: 

 

-- A decent headphone amp that has balanced stereo TRS 1/4" ins and outs (only one in is necessary, but preferably 2 X 1/4" outs). 

 

-- Willing to spend a few hundred dollars, but not more than $400. 

 

-- Must not be noisy 

 

 

Thanks

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post #2 of 8
12/10/11 at 4:19pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Breathless View Post

WHY OH WHY do all these expensive amps that I see on Head-Fi have RCA jacks instead of 1/4" ins and outs?

 

 

Here is what i'm looking for: 

 

-- A decent headphone amp that has balanced stereo TRS 1/4" ins and outs (only one in is necessary, but preferably 2 X 1/4" outs). 

 

-- Willing to spend a few hundred dollars, but not more than $400. 

 

-- Must not be noisy 

 

 

Thanks



Why are you so focused of TRS plugs as a standard?

 

I've never seen or hear of TRS plugs used for amp inputs or as output in a balanced environment. I'm not aware of any balanced amps in the $400 price range.

 

 

 

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post #3 of 8
12/10/11 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 

Why go unbalanced if I don't have to? What benefit does it give me to have a unbalanced signal?

 

The Samson S-Phone is a balanced amp (as far I know)...  it just has too much noise. 
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by fatcat28037 View Post



 



Why are you so focused of TRS plugs as a standard?

 

I've never seen or hear of TRS plugs used for amp inputs or as output in a balanced environment. I'm not aware of any balanced amps in the $400 price range.

 

 

 



 

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post #4 of 8
12/11/11 at 6:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fatcat28037 View Post

Why are you so focused of TRS plugs as a standard?

 

I've never seen or hear of TRS plugs used for amp inputs or as output in a balanced environment.


Balanced via 1/4" TRS is commonly found on semi-pro audio gear.

 

se

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post #5 of 8
12/11/11 at 2:05pm
Thread Starter 

 

Aphex Model 454 Headpod

 

This seems to be exactly what I was looking for, thanks guys. 

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post #6 of 8
12/11/11 at 2:11pm



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Breathless View Post

Why go unbalanced if I don't have to? What benefit does it give me to have a unbalanced signal?

 

The Samson S-Phone is a balanced amp (as far I know)...  it just has too much noise. 
 



 



 



Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Eddy View Post


Balanced via 1/4" TRS is commonly found on semi-pro audio gear.

 

se



Ahhhhhhh.....now I better understand. You're talking about gear made for studio or on stage use. I'm not a musician or engineer so I wasn't familiar with the 1/4 in. plug/jack standard on that equipment. I can't tell you why home audio equipment used RCA instead. Why does pro equipment utilize the 1/4 in. as standard?

 

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post #7 of 8
12/11/11 at 4:09pm
Quote:

Originally Posted by fatcat28037 View Post

 

I can't tell you why home audio equipment used RCA instead. Why does pro equipment utilize the 1/4 in. as standard?


Because in the beginning, pro audio took a lot from the telecommunications industry. Which is why 1/4" plugs are also called "phone plugs."

 

The RCA came about when RCA wanted a plug for allowing a turntable to be connected to their audio consoles, which is why RCA's are also called "phono plugs." And they wanted something cheap.

 

se

 

 

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post #8 of 8
12/13/11 at 5:29pm

^ Thanks, I learn something new every day.

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