[Tyll Hertsens]

We're quite happy with the Desktop Line as it currently stands, and have a few other fish to fry, but I know that someday we'll revisit the Desktop line and make quite a few significant changes.

At the moment, we know we want to put microcontrollers in the box so that we can:

1. Use a display.
2. Make "soft" switches to control what goes on inside the box, and get those dang switches off the back panel.
3. Have a remote control.
4. Use relays inside to route audio and be able to get rid of extra circuitry when crossfeed is disengaged.

Additionally, we would like to get a grip on Digital Signal Processing and put one in the box to:

1. Provide Dolby Headphone.
2. Provide a HeadRoom digital crossfeed processor for two channel audio intended to improve audio imaging on headphones, but which doesn't mess with the fidelity of the music by adding extranous cues.
3. Provide a parametric equaliser function.
4. Provide prestored compensation curves for "correcting" the performance of a wide variety of headphone models.

That a pretty good list of the basic stuff we want to do, but I'd ove to hear your thoughts on the kinds of feartures and functions you'd like to see in future changes to the product.

I'd like to keep something very important in mind as you comment: this product needs to be the perfect thing for you to recommend to a relatively well off technophile friend. What I mean by that is our gear should be perfect for folks who know how to appreciate quality in technical products but aren't neccesarily Head-Files or audiophiles. The target customer is a 40 year old man with a healthy wallet, and who enjoys and buys a fair few sophisticated gizmos---cameras, cars, pens, flashlights, bicycles, etc. This guy loves music, and likes gear, but may not neccesarily be looking for a hobby.

 

[thrice]

Wireless access to a music collection (a la Slim devices type products) right from the amp. Man would I love to have a headphone amp that didn't need interconnects.

 

[asebastian0]

1) A way to bypass the DSP stuff/equalizer. Perhaps even a button which completely bypasses this portion of the circuit. I have had some real horrible experiences with equalizers getting in the way, even with all ranges set to "0"

2) A way to store some if not all files directly on the unit (in addition to thrice's recommendations) Something like the hard drive on the xbox360, but hopefully using flash based memory, smaller. Customer's decision to use or not to use. I personally stream all of my files but I know some people don't like the idea.

3)On the matter of "soft" switches... Perhaps something more robust than the average soft switch (like on microwaves or whatever) which can degrade pretty quickly. A hybrid of the two would work nicely although I can't think of something which uses mechanical/software switches, I know I have used such a device.

4)Anything you can do on the control should be accessible via buttons/tactile devices on the front panel! Remotes are nice but they get lost, run out of batteries, etc.

 

[thrice]

ohh, ohhh! Add these!

 

[Jamey Warren]

I'd like a parametric EQ rather than a graphic one.

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

Sorry Jamey. Slip of the tounge. I want a parametric equalizer, too.

Sorry guys. We've actually talk a lot about these things in product developement meetings. There's a lot more than just that it's got a parametric equalizer that I'm sure Jamey and I agree about at this point.

One tiny example is that these various DSP settings can be added together and stored as user defined pre-sets. So there are storing and recalling functions in the user interface. But, I can't go around spilling the entire product developement here. I do think that we can paint a picture of the general nature of some future products; and that we can discuss pros and cons of things you guys bring up.

That sounds like fun!

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrice /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wireless access to a music collection (a la Slim devices type products) right from the amp.

That sounds fun. How many people would like a HeadRoom Desktop Slim Server Amp?

 

[mkozlows]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens /img/forum/go_quote.gif That sounds fun. How many people would like a HeadRoom Desktop Slim Server Amp?

My nightstand cries out for this product. (Squeezebox + MicroStack was just a bit too clunky for the bedside.)

 

[thrice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens /img/forum/go_quote.gif That sounds fun. How many people would like a HeadRoom Desktop Slim Server Amp?

It would be pretty slick, with optional USB, optical, Coax digital inputs as well and great onscreen navigation.

 

[noseallinit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens /img/forum/go_quote.gif Additionally, we would like to get a grip on Digital Signal Processing and put one in the box to: Provide Dolby Headphone. Provide a graphic equaliser function.

Dolby Headphone sounds killer! I listen to the majority of the movies I watch using my headphone setup.
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html

an equalizer or even treble, midrange and bass tone controls w/ tone defeat is a feature so missing in headphone amps. I would almost rather have tone controls and defeat on the amp and then have the option of purchasing a separate equalizer. I guess, I dunno..

a parametric EQ?

if HR uses a graphic display please keep it simple for most graphic displays are just eye candy to me. I prefer the simple displays with more attention to the electronics on the inside. HeadRoom products already have a very appealing look to them!

two 1/4" TRS headphone connections(drop the 1/8" connection). it would be nice to have the ability to drive two sets of equal headphones on the Desktop line.

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif 1) A way to bypass the DSP stuff/equalizer.

Yeah. Might be cool to be able to completely shut of the digital circuits if you're using the analog ins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif 2) A way to store some if not all files directly on the unit (in addition to thrice's recommendations)

It's a natural to put the streamer and the network attached stroage in the same box. But I'm not sure I'd want all that computer stuff in the same box as the DAC and analog section. And I'm pretty sure you couldn't fit all that into one enclosure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3)On the matter of "soft" switches... Perhaps something more robust than the average soft switch (like on microwaves or whatever)

Sorry I wasn't clear: What I meant was that the switches did different things dependant on the operating mode the box was in. A "soft button" is a programmable button. As for the mechanics of the switch itself, the button is just a bit of stylishly formed metal protruding through the face plate, attached to a circuit trace. When you touch it, a little circuit senses the capacitance change of your finger hitting the button and sends the push signal to the microcontroller.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asebastian0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Anything you can do on the control should be accessible via buttons/tactile devices on the front panel! Remotes are nice but they get lost, run out of batteries, etc.

You bet. Desktop amps need to be designed for use primarily within hand reach. Personally I don't have a strong feeling about remote controls one way or the other. I'd be perfectly satisfied to find one that just did basic volume/on/off functions. But I don't think I really know much about all the number of ways people could/might use these "boxes of the future." What would you like to see on the remote?

 

[thrice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyll Hertsens /img/forum/go_quote.gif What would you like to see on the remote?

A touchscreen device with no buttons. The amp itself would be stark...a la Wadia....few buttons, few controls....it just sits there....you control everything from the remote. Either that or the remote can be some sort of touchscreen device in existence....like an iPhone or similar device. The software to control the amp could be stored and accessed on the amp itself.

 

[bradman]

Wow! All the things Tyll talks about in his initial postsound awesome. However, I'd like to see two additional things: Firstly, since there is going to be pre-stored data such as correction curves, etc., then I would hope there will be a flash RAM for storage as well as some mechanism for making updates to this data for new headphones appearing on the market as well as to update firmware, etc. Returning the unit for firmware updates, etc., should ideally not be necessary in this day and age. The USB port already used by the DAC would be ideal for this purpose. Although I suspect a little two-port hub with connections to the DAC (for audio input) and control subsystem (for firmware/data downloading) would be necessary for use without the need for specialised USB drivers for audio reception. I imagine that some kind of specialised drivers would be needed on the computer side for firmware/data download, but I can see how this could probably be done without the need for any special drivers at all. Secondly, I would like to see HR employ principles of universal accessibility in whatever user interface is eventually developed for the future Desktop line. Of most interest to me is the ability to be able to operate the device without sight. Many interesting devices are simply and frustratingly not usable by blind individuals or if they are, only a limited subset of their functionality can be accessed by a blind user without sighted assistance. All of HR's current products are designed to be simple and intuitive to use and, due to this simplicity, a pair of eyes is not a prerequisite for enjoying their products. However, the kinds of new features Tyll is talking about here will require a much more sophistocated user interface than has been necessary to date. Since what we're discussing here is a few years down the track, I am jumping in early to ask HR to keep blind customers in mind when designing fancy interfaces with displays and/or touch-sensitive elements.

Finally, I'm in the camp who dislikes products with all functionality deligated to the remote control. Imho, if it can be done from the remote, it should be doable from the device. If something ever happened to the remote, I wouldn't want the amp to become an expensive brick while waiting for a new remote to arrive.

 

[Azure]

A standalone DAC with those DSP features would be nice.

 

[gz76]

"HeadRoom Desktop Slim Server Amp?"

Forget streaming wirelessly, I'd like to take the computer out of the equation and be able to plug a USB HDD loaded with songs directly into it.