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"The Lab"

Jun 20, 2015 at 9:31 PM Post #9,377 of 20,145
Hey guys, just wanted to write impression post after I received LineP A985 4x4 switch some of the Labsters mentioned about earlier.  Bought this unit from ebay (paid $25.99 shipped, http://www.ebay.com/itm/121598865694), arrived in about 10 days, can definitely recommend the seller.
 
Product is not "generic" but rather has a nice sturdy carton brand-name box with lots of foam padding inside to keep switch from banging during shipment.  The switch has solid aluminum housing with a brushed aluminum faceplate and rotary switch knob and rubber feet at the bottom.  It has 4 screws on the back and the front to take it apart if you want to tinker with internal circuit, etc.  The whole switch is lightweight, 122g and with dimensions of 75mm x 65mm x 25mm.  In addition to a switch it comes with 4x 3.5mm to 3.5mm flat audio cables in different colors.  Cables are on a flimsy side but do the job.
 
The way how this switch works is you have 4x 3.5mm Inputs on the back which you can select with a rotary switch on the front.  Switch has a nice click action.  The front has 4x 3.5mm headphone outputs, all of which are on.  So basically it's a passive switch where you can select between 4 input sources connected on the back, and the front has 1x4 splitter where you can have 4 headphones connected simultaneously with output on each port.  I'm sure due to a nature of the splitter you will loose at least 6 dB of sound level since there is no active amplification or compensation due to splitting the signal 4-ways.
 
My impression, it works as intended and VERY useful when you are testing multiple DAP sources or if you want to do a burn-in of up to 4 pairs of headphones at the same time.  I wouldn't use it for a critical listening and testing of headphones since you are messing with impedance due to splitter and two sets of mis-matched cables between the source and headphones.  But again, this might only mess up sound a bit if you are testing multi-driver TOTL IEMs/CIEMs and listening to high res FLAC/DSD files ;)  For general evaluation with budget headphones and mp3s - the negative effect might be very subtle. 
 
Overall, a quality solid unit to use as a splitter for multiple-headphone burn-ins or to share a source when watching a movie or listening to a music.  Also, not bad for a/b/c/d comparison of different sources; was using it the other night to compare X5/X5ii/X3ii.  I wouldn't rely on it 100% for a final sound analysis especially with quality headphones while listening to hi-res audio, for that do a final check with headphones plugged directly to your source.
 
Here are the pictures.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Jun 20, 2015 at 9:37 PM Post #9,378 of 20,145
Is the review cue a bit slow for you now? Just HAVE to review something huh? :D

Just kidding! Very useful information, thanks. :)
 
Jun 20, 2015 at 9:52 PM Post #9,381 of 20,145
x relic x said:
Is the review cue a bit slow for you now? Just HAVE to review something huh?
biggrin.gif


Just kidding! Very useful information, thanks.
smily_headphones1.gif
Click to expand...

 
Neah, this is a PRIVATE review for Labsters only
wink.gif
  Not sharing it with anybody else on head-fi
tongue.gif
  So, you guys can feel special
biggrin.gif

 
Got X5ii, E80, and ASEN silver cables in queue, and next week incoming samples of W50 and QLS360.  Plus, a TON of review sample promises which I have been waiting for months, where it might not show up at all or I might receive all at once...
 
Starting to work on X5ii review now.  You guys covered a lot of grounds with it already, so I want to fill in gaps from a slightly different perspective.  Also, digging these new ASEN cables, will write about them more after X5ii.  Got both 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm (connectors are carbon fiber), pure silver wires with mmcx connectors (they got 2pin connector version as well).  Also, got their silver-plated 3.5mm-3.5mm cable version.
 
@acain : Adam you gonna dig this eye candy shot with M40 (a sick color match):
 

 
Jun 20, 2015 at 10:00 PM Post #9,382 of 20,145
Ooooh, looking forward all the info!
 
Jun 20, 2015 at 10:35 PM Post #9,384 of 20,145
twister6 said:
   
Neah, this is a PRIVATE review for Labsters only
wink.gif
  Not sharing it with anybody else on head-fi
tongue.gif
  So, you guys can feel special
biggrin.gif

 
Got X5ii, E80, and ASEN silver cables in queue, and next week incoming samples of W50 and QLS360.  Plus, a TON of review sample promises which I have been waiting for months, where it might not show up at all or I might receive all at once...
 
Starting to work on X5ii review now.  You guys covered a lot of grounds with it already, so I want to fill in gaps from a slightly different perspective.  Also, digging these new ASEN cables, will write about them more after X5ii.  Got both 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm (connectors are carbon fiber), pure silver wires with mmcx connectors (they got 2pin connector version as well).  Also, got their silver-plated 3.5mm-3.5mm cable version.
 
@acain : Adam you gonna dig this eye candy shot with M40 (a sick color match):
 
Click to expand...


Wow that Is one beautiful color scheme, and you know how much I like the MH40's. What is the cables outside material some kind of paracord?
 
Jun 20, 2015 at 11:57 PM Post #9,386 of 20,145
acain said:
 
twister6 said:
   
Neah, this is a PRIVATE review for Labsters only
wink.gif
  Not sharing it with anybody else on head-fi
tongue.gif
  So, you guys can feel special
biggrin.gif

 
Got X5ii, E80, and ASEN silver cables in queue, and next week incoming samples of W50 and QLS360.  Plus, a TON of review sample promises which I have been waiting for months, where it might not show up at all or I might receive all at once...
 
Starting to work on X5ii review now.  You guys covered a lot of grounds with it already, so I want to fill in gaps from a slightly different perspective.  Also, digging these new ASEN cables, will write about them more after X5ii.  Got both 3.5mm and balanced 2.5mm (connectors are carbon fiber), pure silver wires with mmcx connectors (they got 2pin connector version as well).  Also, got their silver-plated 3.5mm-3.5mm cable version.
 
@acain : Adam you gonna dig this eye candy shot with M40 (a sick color match):
 
Click to expand...


Wow that Is one beautiful color scheme, and you know how much I like the MH40's. What is the cables outside material some kind of paracord?
Click to expand...

 
They don't specify details in listing (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RTL477K/) but it does feel like paracord.
 
    
 
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:06 AM Post #9,388 of 20,145
twister6 said:
  Hey guys, just wanted to write impression post after I received LineP A985 4x4 switch some of the Labsters mentioned about earlier.  Bought this unit from ebay (paid $25.99 shipped, http://www.ebay.com/itm/121598865694), arrived in about 10 days, can definitely recommend the seller.
 
Product is not "generic" but rather has a nice sturdy carton brand-name box with lots of foam padding inside to keep switch from banging during shipment.  The switch has solid aluminum housing with a brushed aluminum faceplate and rotary switch knob and rubber feet at the bottom.  It has 4 screws on the back and the front to take it apart if you want to tinker with internal circuit, etc.  The whole switch is lightweight, 122g and with dimensions of 75mm x 65mm x 25mm.  In addition to a switch it comes with 4x 3.5mm to 3.5mm flat audio cables in different colors.  Cables are on a flimsy side but do the job.
 
The way how this switch works is you have 4x 3.5mm Inputs on the back which you can select with a rotary switch on the front.  Switch has a nice click action.  The front has 4x 3.5mm headphone outputs, all of which are on.  So basically it's a passive switch where you can select between 4 input sources connected on the back, and the front has 1x4 splitter where you can have 4 headphones connected simultaneously with output on each port.  I'm sure due to a nature of the splitter you will loose at least 6 dB of sound level since there is no active amplification or compensation due to splitting the signal 4-ways.
 
My impression, it works as intended and VERY useful when you are testing multiple DAP sources or if you want to do a burn-in of up to 4 pairs of headphones at the same time.  I wouldn't use it for a critical listening and testing of headphones since you are messing with impedance due to splitter and two sets of mis-matched cables between the source and headphones.  But again, this might only mess up sound a bit if you are testing multi-driver TOTL IEMs/CIEMs and listening to high res FLAC/DSD files ;)  For general evaluation with budget headphones and mp3s - the negative effect might be very subtle. 
 
Overall, a quality solid unit to use as a splitter for multiple-headphone burn-ins or to share a source when watching a movie or listening to a music.  Also, not bad for a/b/c/d comparison of different sources; was using it the other night to compare X5/X5ii/X3ii.  I wouldn't rely on it 100% for a final sound analysis especially with quality headphones while listening to hi-res audio, for that do a final check with headphones plugged directly to your source.
 
Here are the pictures.
 


 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Click to expand...

 
100% agree... glad this has turned out to be useful for some folks!
 
Jun 21, 2015 at 12:08 AM Post #9,390 of 20,145
wokei said:
The Lab is pretty slow nowadays....no 100 posts a day huh? C'mon Labsters...where are the boys at?
Click to expand...


Been working on a review all day... ESS RLM-713 Hybrid On-Ear Cans.
 


Check it out HERE.
 
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