[justpiggy]

Hi all, I'm New to this forum as well as hifi world.
 
I recently brought an AK120 II and noticed that it has a 2.5mm TRRS output.
 
I was wondering as my Shure 535's cable ([THOR SILVER 8W] by effect audio)  is using the 1/8 jack, as if i purchase a 1/8 female to 2.5mm
4 poles male jack, will it still work? or will it affect the sound quality.
 
Thanks!

 

[HUM24H]

In theory all you will be doing is converting the 2.5mm jack to a 3.5mm, you wouldn't actually be benefiting at all by doing this. You need a dedicated balanced cable with a 2.5mm jack to take advantage of the 2.5mm. 
 
So to answer your question, yes it will work and it probably won't affect the sound quality but can't be 100% on that part.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I recently brought an AK120 II and noticed that it has a 2.5mm TRRS output.
I was wondering as my Shure 535's cable ([THOR SILVER 8W] by effect audio)  is using the 1/8 jack, as if i purchase a 1/8 female to 2.5mm
4 poles male jack, will it still work? or will it affect the sound quality.

 
I'm not an expert on the A&K120 II, but i just checked the manual.
The A&K 120 II has two output jacks, both appear to be 3.5mm (1/8") jacks.
One functions as a regular 3.5mm amplified headphone output, that can also be used as a optical output.
The other 3.5mm jack, used in conjunction with the headphone port, can provide a balanced analog audio signal, for headphones that work with a balanced analog audio signal.
 
What lead you to believe the A&K 120 II has a 2.5mm jack?
(which does not seem to be practical for the A&K 120 II to have)

 

[justpiggy]

   
I'm not an expert on the A&K120 II, but i just checked the manual.
The A&K 120 II has two output jacks, both appear to be 3.5mm (1/8") jacks.
One functions as a regular 3.5mm amplified headphone output, that can also be used as a optical output.
The other 3.5mm jack, used in conjunction with the headphone port, can provide a balanced analog audio signal, for headphones that work with a balanced analog audio signal.
 
What lead you to believe the A&K 120 II has a 2.5mm jack?
(which does not seem to be practical for the A&K 120 II to have)

Hi, I'm sure the smaller hole on the 120 II is a 2.5mm Balanced Out only 4-pole supported > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_II_Manual.pdf
 
the older version "AK 120" has two 3.5 mm jacks. "Earphone / OPTICAL OUT terminal" as well as "OPTICAL IN Port" > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_Manual_English.pdf
 
and i think the 3.5mm jack on the new "AK 120 II" is both an Earphones / Optical Port
 
Please correct me if i'm wrong
 
Cheers!

 

[HUM24H]

  Hi, I'm sure the smaller hole on the 120 II is a 2.5mm Balanced Out only 4-pole supported > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_II_Manual.pdf
 
the older version "AK 120" has two 3.5 mm jacks. "Earphone / OPTICAL OUT terminal" as well as "OPTICAL IN Port" > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_Manual_English.pdf
 
and i think the 3.5mm jack on the new "AK 120 II" is both an Earphones / Optical Port
 
Please correct me if i'm wrong
 
Cheers!

Yes you are correct, the Astell & Kern AK120 II has both a 3.5mm and 2.5mm (Balanced) Outputs.

 

[HUM24H]

In fact all of Astell & Kerns latest portables, with the exception of the AK Jr, have a 2.5mm Balanced Output.

 

[HUM24H]

So what happens in the AK120 II, is that both the CS4398 DAC's are used individually and are treated seperately with one DAC doing the left side and the other DAC doing the right side. Then this is fed into the single AMP chip before being passed out into the 2.5mm Balanced Output.
 
Below is a diagram from A&K Website:
 

 
Here is the page link: http://www.astellnkern.com/ 

 

[HUM24H]

So really when you take the 2.5mm and then convert it to 3.5mm; what happens is the L+ and L- become L on 1 pole, then R+ and R- become R on the 2 pole, then the third pole is left as a ground but I don't think it gets used. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Hi, I'm sure the smaller hole on the 120 II is a 2.5mm Balanced Out only 4-pole supported > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_II_Manual.pdf
the older version "AK 120" has two 3.5 mm jacks. "Earphone / OPTICAL OUT terminal" as well as "OPTICAL IN Port" > http://www.soundfidelity.co.uk/media/downloads/products/AstellKern_AK120_Manual_English.pdf
and i think the 3.5mm jack on the new "AK 120 II" is both an Earphones / Optical Port
Please correct me if i'm wrong

 
Your right, the second port is a 2.5mm, had to go all the way to page 46 of the manual to find that out.

 

[Mozbach]

So really when you take the 2.5mm and then convert it to 3.5mm; what happens is the L+ and L- become L on 1 pole, then R+ and R- become R on the 2 pole, then the third pole is left as a ground but I don't think it gets used.

Hi,

Dont mind the nuwbie query, but how does a balanced cable with 2.5mm jack work? Im not sure how and where the ground wires get connected on either the 2.5mm TRRS and 3.5 mm TRS jacks? How do i connect the L+ and L- from the 2.5mm TRRS on the 3.5mm TRS on the headphone jacks? Also if connect the L+ and L- wires from plug are connected to Tip and Ring on one of the 3.5mm TRS headphone plugs, does it mean neither 3.5 trs plugs have a ground connection?

Appreciate your answers

Thanks

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Hi all, I'm New to this forum as well as hifi world.

I recently brought an AK120 II and noticed that it has a 2.5mm TRRS output.

I was wondering as my Shure 535's cable ([THOR SILVER 8W] by effect audio) is using the 1/8 jack, as if i purchase a 1/8 female to 2.5mm
4 poles male jack, will it still work? or will it affect the sound quality.

Thanks!

It depends on the plug you've on your cable.
If it's a trrs it may work, but you've to check the wiring of the cable first.

If it's a 1/8" trs, i wouldn't recommend to use it or such an adapter.
You could damage an amp by shorting the R+ with R- or L+ and L-, which one is dictated by the wiring of your dap.

My advice is to buy a proper wired cable with 2.5 trrs termination or recable your existing one to 2.5 trrs in regard to the wiring of the dap you own.
From that point, it's much safer to go from Trrs(balanced) to Trs( unbalanced) with an adapter.
As said, the other way around could damage your amps.

Be aware that not all 2.5 trrs sockets share the same wiring on the dap side!