Can someone explain to me the reason why I get great slam out of 250-600 ohm headphones via vintage gear vs. a dedicated HP amp,like for example the Gilmore Lite Mk 2?
Is it the voltage? Current? Damping factor? None of the above?
I just got running after doing all the updates (Metalbone), but it sounds wonderful! Lush and full would be a good words to describe it via both my HPs and LS3/5As. I do expect it to improve further with burn in. Many capacitors were replaced.
Bob............sweet setup! Have you thought about going direct to the speaker taps with your HE-500? My HE-400 sounds incredible from the taps - much better than from the headphone plug, as did my HE-6 when I had it.
Thanks Oregonian. About the speaker taps, I've thought about that many times. The fact is that not only am I not tech savvy, I'm also tech challenged with an inability to grasp that side of this hobby. Same situation as with math back in my school days. My brain just isn't wired that way (pun intended).
Remember about a month ago when we were talking about the custom cable I needed? That was a speaker to 4 pin XLR cable, I got one built at a local computer repair shop .$20 in labour and about $15 in parts. You can get a good xlr cable off of eBay too actually.
Bob, that looks sweet. How does your new AU-7900 compare to your old AU-719? I'm totally loving my AU-717. Had it re-capped and serviced it's like new now and sounds incredible.
Bob, that looks sweet. How does your new AU-7900 compare to your old AU-719? I'm totally loving my AU-717. Had it re-capped and serviced it's like new now and sounds incredible.
Hi Yates7592, thank you. Very happy for you that you're enjoying your re-capped & serviced AU-717. It's a very well reputed vintage amp. I prefer the AU-7900 to the AU-719. The AU-719 sounded good but was analytical & bright compared to this one. The AU-7900 sounds more lush but remains quite detailed & definitely more dynamic also. Great sound attributes when combined together.
Remember about a month ago when we were talking about the custom cable I needed? That was a speaker to 4 pin XLR cable, I got one built at a local computer repair shop .$20 in labour and about $15 in parts. You can get a good xlr cable off of eBay too actually.
My he-400 sound was a bit clearer from the speaker taps with the Sansui-7700,but it was more confortable for the volume control level from the headphone out... And I think the sound from the headphone out was the same organic fluidity than from the speakers out.... For reason of confort i reverse to the headphone out....The 7900 is a marvel piece and the headphone out was of high quality,modulo some resistance ,the same sound....Congratulations Bobg55....Merry Christmas to all !
Can someone explain to me the reason why I get great slam out of 250-600 ohm headphones via vintage gear vs. a dedicated HP amp,like for example the Gilmore Lite Mk 2?
Is it the voltage? Current? Damping factor? None of the above?
I think it is because most vintage HP outs have 200 or 300 ohm dropping resistors in the circuit thus allowing us to approach maximum power transfer with higher impedance HPs (i.e. rout == rload). On the other hand a lower impedance HP probably won't sound as good on vintage gear. I have found that to be the case with my systems.
Of course it is not just the dropping resistor that impacts this as the output resistance of the amplifier itself must be included also. Ideally what you want is the amplifier resistance + dropping resistance to roughly equal the HP impedance. A case where this shows up is on my HK330A vs. the Fisher 400. Both receivers have 330 ohm dropping resistors. My 300 ohm HD600s sound like crap on the HK (lifeless) and off the charts good on the Fisher.
I think it is because most vintage HP outs have 200 or 300 ohm dropping resistors in the circuit thus allowing us to approach maximum power transfer with higher impedance HPs (i.e. rout == rload). On the other hand a lower impedance HP probably won't sound as good on vintage gear. I have found that to be the case with my systems.
Of course it is not just the dropping resistor that impacts this as the output resistance of the amplifier itself must be included also. Ideally what you want is the amplifier resistance + dropping resistance to roughly equal the HP impedance. A case where this shows up is on my HK330A vs. the Fisher 400. Both receivers have 330 ohm dropping resistors. My 300 ohm HD600s sound like crap on the HK (lifeless) and off the charts good on the Fisher.
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