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icon hdp - will I destroy it?

post #1 of 8
1/31/12 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 

Hi there,

the short: Will I fry my preamp stage in case I directly connect the analog output to the analog input? What would happen if I set the input switch to 'analog in'? Self Destruct?

 

Before I get fried myself for asking a seemingly stupid question, here's the longer version: On one hand, I'd like to use the HDP as an additional input chooser (to the limited inputs of my integrated) so its analog out will feed one of the integrated's inputs and further on, speakers. At the other hand as head amp. As he latter, it would be best to feed it from the line output of my amp to have headphone access to all sources feeding into the integrated (plus anything going into the HDP itself). So there you go: Line out from amp and analog stage out back to amp. 

Not planning on using it as preamp for all sources; I'd rather avoid an additional piece of equipment in the chain where not necessary.

 

So: What would happen in the unwanted but possible event of all input chooser switches set to a 'loop' (HDP input set to 'analog in' / amps input set to HDP)?

 

thanks!

 

 

 

 

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post #2 of 8
1/31/12 at 1:54pm

I'm not gonna say yes or no either way.  But, after years of doing stupid things myself, I can say that this is a golden rule for electronics:

 

If it seems like a bad idea, it's a bad idea.  And, just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

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post #3 of 8
2/1/12 at 12:07am

I kinda didn't understand what you wanted to do. You have the HDP and want to use it as a digital receiver, sending analog signal to a separate intergrated amp for speakers and a headphone amp?

Why not make things easier and just use the HDP's headphone amp? It stops the signal out the RCA ouputs whenever it detects a headphone plugged into the front socket. Plus it's discrete Class A already, maybe a little wimpy on the output figures compared to other devices designed more as an amp with a DAC than the other way around but it's still no slouch.

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post #4 of 8
2/1/12 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 

hmmm..to explain what I am after, I'd use the same words as above.

 

But what you're suggesting is using the headphone out as overall output to my integrated, right? This way I would still have to unplug and then plug in my headphones to said output (since my integrated has no headphone amp) if I wanted to use them. 

 

I guess what I am trying to do is using two features of the device which are inherently not combinable: An input chooser (not really digital receiver since I am not too fond of the HDPs DAC, and will probably use the one I already have and like) AND headphone amp. The first would sit in front of my integrated and the latter behind.

 

Sure, I could always use it as amp in front of the integrated and add my CDP/DAC since this way the analog input will become available. Just not sure if it's a good idea to add more stuff in the chain... will probably have to test this first. Uuuurgh, choices choices...

 

 

 

 


Edited by schotter - 2/1/12 at 2:04pm
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post #5 of 8
2/1/12 at 2:05pm
Thread Starter 

 

@hodgji: And thanks, that pretty much sums up my concern.

 

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post #6 of 8
2/1/12 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by schotter View Post

hmmm..to explain what I am after, I'd use the same words as above.

 

I. But what you're suggesting is using the headphone out as overall output to my integrated, right? This way I would still have to unplug and then plug in my headphones to said output (since my integrated has no headphone amp) if I wanted to use them. 

 

II. I guess what I am trying to do is using two features of the device which are inherently not combinable: An input chooser (not really digital receiver since I am not too fond of the HDPs DAC, and will probably use the one I already have and like) AND headphone amp. The first would sit in front of my integrated and the latter behind.

 

Sure, I could always use it as amp in front of the integrated and add my CDP/DAC since this way the analog input will become available. Just not sure if it's a good idea to add more stuff in the chain... will probably have to test this first. Uuuurgh, choices choices...

 

 

 

 


I. No, what I was suggesting is to use the preamp outputs at the rear to feed a signal to an integrated amp or better yet a simple power amp because the HDP can send out a preamped analog signal. Your use for the HDPs headphone out is to drive your headphone. The power amp or integrated amp is permanently connected to the rear RCA output. When you listen to speakers, the HDP sends the signal to the speaker amp. When you want headphones, you take its phono plug and insert that into the dedicated headphone socket on the front of the HDP, and it automatically shuts off the signal to the amp; when you want to go back to the speakers, then pull out the headphone, and it automatically switches the signal output back to the RCA sockets at the rear going to the speaker amp. Yes, you will "plug and unplug" the headphones, but not to switch it with the cable going to your speaker amp. The signal out the headphone amp is not the ideal signal for feeding an integrated amp or driving a power amp.

II. I'm not sure again by what you mean here so I might have this wrong, but basically you want to be able to switch sources but not use the HDP's DAC which you do not like? If that's the case I'd sell the HDP and get a device with all the inputs and outputs than try all these to get around them. Get a something like a  Wolfson-based AudioGD DAC+Preamp and use the digital inputs on it to take a signal from all sources, and use separate outputs to the speaker and headphone amps. Unless they have multiple inputs or you use an input switcher (basically the same thing but separate) you won't be able to use another device's analog output into either amp once they're hooked up to this DAC-Preamp.

 

Then again, if you're using a CD/DVD player, are they very good or have such a flavor you like that they'd be wasted if used as a digital transport with the HDP or another DAC with more features? Using optical disc players as transports aren't a bad idea unless that's the case; I mean, for one, you won't have to wait for the OS to start up or for some error to be corrected. The transported showing ERROR after a few years however is another matter...

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post #7 of 8
2/2/12 at 6:41am
Thread Starter 

Hey Protege,

firstly, thanks for your thoughts and effort. 

The reason I phrased my original post in a 'the short' / 'the long' fashion (hoping someone could simply answer 'the short'), was exactly to avoid a long chain of misunderstandings,

based on different experiences / views in regards to a versatile item like the HDP with an already confusing number of possible uses. 

 

I.

Yes, sorry. I probably got you wrong here. But I know how this thing operates since I've had it for a couple of days now (except the answer to: Will a preamp fry in case of a loop?).

 

II.

Again, thanks for your suggestion, thought about unloading it. But I would have to get an additional head amp, one more box. 

So far I was hoping my HDP bears the possibility of having the two in one box: A very good head amp (in my limited experience) AND an input chooser.

Which would be a huge plus for me (did not elaborate on that since my original post sounded complex enough, but here goes): A very sleek and sturdy enough way to bring one simple volume control / sources switch to the front of my system (the rest is packed inside in a sort of cabinet) for family friendliness and simple convenience: Music server, DVD and Apple TV all accessible by the HDP (the 'lesser' audiophile sources possibly making use of its DAC), keeping the CDP/dedicatedDAC and Vinyl safely inside the cabinet.

And yes, valid point about the disc transport, so far I prefer both my CD Transport/DACs and other USB DACs flavor over the HDPs DAC/Mac (but different story...).

 

But still: Even without a killer DAC (in my own system/taste/universe) and no need for a preamp, I was thinking that this little thing still has enough going for it. 

Unless, of course, I cannot make it work as both head amp and input chooser.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Edited by schotter - 2/2/12 at 6:45am
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post #8 of 8
2/2/12 at 7:24am

No problem, I was in the same boat years and years ago and there weren't too many internet forums then. As far as possibly frying your preamp, I'd go back to hodgjy's short advice on this: it sounds like a bad idea. You might get feedback through the system, minimum. Personally, if I was trying to get what you'd want out of that system, I'd really just get a full-featured DAC-Preamp with more inputs, and in case I really like my speaker amp/active monitors now but they don't have pass-through in-outs (normally labelled "Tape Loop/In-Out"), all the more that will be important if I want to take analog inputs into the same signal network.

 

That or (have someone) DIY me a really good switcher. I heard Radioshack had quality switchers before so probably a bunch of websites should have those. The thing is the values of whatever electronic parts going in there could mess up the signal enough, considering even low-level signals have a range of impedances for which they were designed for (that's why some amps will really be able to show the difference between an iPod and a CDP, for example, and it's not just the DAC resolution or op-amp/HDAM that's the issue.)

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