difference between line out and 'phones out?

[stevenb]

In another forum I asked which phones + amp combo to use with an iPod. The response was that you can't use an amp because it has no "line out". I thought a line out was just your normal 'pones connection with a fixed volume (i've even got this nifty "portable" record player from Sony which must be 10 years old, and in the manual it says that you have to put the output volume between 3 and 5 when you connect it to the AUX input of an amp)

Also, is it possible to put a crosfeed between iPod and ER-6?

Stevenb

 

[Braver]

you can use an amp in such a setup. line out means you by-pass the amp of the iPod so you can use a better amp (like a CMOY). but you can plug an amp in the phones-out to get louder sound or to drive headphones that need extra power. it won't neccesarily mean better sound tho.

and, yes, you can put a crossfeed between the iPod and a pair of headphones. just built a little bow with a little circuit like Jan's crossfeed (or the bass enhanced version). check the libraries at www.headwize.com.

 

[edog]

You're right... you can use a headphone amp with a portable that doesn't have a dedicated line out. Depending on the quality of the headphone amp, the results can be great or horrible, or anything in between.

I've never used the iPod, so I can't comment on the quality of the headphone out. I know that many portable MDP's and PCDP's have headphone outputs with some noticeable hiss, while the line out (if there is one) has no noticeable hiss. Also, with some units, pressing buttons on the main unit or on the remote will result in a horrible confirmation beep, which is amplified to unbearable levels by the amp.

 

[MacDEF]

A "true" line-out gives a standard-level signal that is not altered by any processing or amplification circuitry. These are the jacks that most people use external headphone amps with, since they want the purest signal sent to the amp.

There are also "emulated" line-out jacks, which are basically headphone jacks that can emulate the output *level* of a true line-out jack. However, they don't offer the same quality of signal since the signal is being pushed through amplification and EQ circuitry. You can approximate the level of a line-out using an iPod, but the signal is not going to be as good as it would be if you had a true line-out, and the great amp circuitry of a dedicated headphone amp is going to be wasted to some extent, since the signal is already degraded.

However, an external amp will still give you more volume, and will better drive hard-to-drive heapdhones.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

New facial expression on your tin head, I see, MacDEF

 

[MacDEF]

Quote:

Originally posted by Joe Bloggs New facial expression on your tin head, I see, MacDEF

Yeah, he saw my post-holiday-buying wallet