[BoardC3]

Hey im currently looking at a nice comp system and im either getting this or the M-audio audiophile firewire. I have a few questions about this. How exactly do i connect this to my headphone amp? where do i get the parts, what are they called and how much?
thanks alot for the help
chris

 

[mshan]

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70422

 

[Jasper994]

The E-mu is designed to be used in a pro environment so it uses 1/4" balanced outs. If you have an amp that takes 1/4" balalanced in's you're set. If not, you should be able to find 1/4" to RCA cables at places like Guitar Center at the lower end. At the higher end, you can have some really nice cables made. I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find some high end cables that are already 1/4" to RCA. And of course, there are always adapters.

 

[Edwood]

Use two of these.

Radio Shack Gold Phono-to-Mono Adapter $3.99 Catalog #: 274-884

My RME PAD has two 1/4" jacks as balanced outputs, but I can use those adapters to output unbalanced. It will also work with the Emu.

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Ed, you know that since there are no caps or opamps on your RME, it is not a good idea to use it unbalanced, because of possible DC offset, right? Forgive me if you have already thought about this and checked for DC with your DMM.

 

[Edwood]

I didn't notice anything other than the dreaded ground loop when trying those adapters.

It was more dominant in the right channel, though.

What would the DC offset do, BTW?

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

It can destroy headphones, particularly low impedance ones. Beware if it is >.1V or 100mv.

 

[Edwood]

How can it destroy headphones if it's hooked up to an amp?

I'll measure the output voltage on the RCA's and see what it is.

-Ed

 

[Edwood]

I'm getting 2.3V from unbalanced and balanced.

Measuring the output on the end of the cables from the RME PAD.

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Try it from the output of the grace.

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer Try it from the output of the grace.

I'll check when I get home. I think I have a spare 1/4" plug that'll make it easier to measure.

BoardC3: Sorry for hijacking your thread.

-Ed

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

What I'm thinking is that when the Grace sums the two balanced signals there should be basically no DC, since it cancels out, but it would still remain on the unbalanced, hence my warning. That is why I do the unbalanced with caps, so as to prevent DC from gettiing through.

 

[TrevorNetwork]

Regarding the 1212M, it is my understanding that it supports balanced outputs. I have a Stax 007t, which does support XLR inputs. Am I able to easily, and losslessly convert the 1/4" balanced outputs of the 1212M to regular fully-balanced XLR?

Trevor

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Tev, yeah, you just need cables that are wired for 1/4" on one side and XLR on the other. I built some for Edwood that are like that. The signals are 100% compatible, so no problems there.

 

[Edwood]

I read -0.001VDC at volume off(reading shield,tip and shield, ring) from Grace's output for both unbalanced and balanced. -0.01VDC average with High Gain and volume maxed out. Perhaps the Grace can deal with higher voltages just fine, as it's designed with pro audio equipment in mind.

I'm going to try my Little More Power to confirm. I remember it clipping like crazy from your smART DI/O's output.

Yikes. Little reads -0.001VDC at volume off 2.27V max volume. Is this bad? It doesn't clip. It actually sounds really good. I can't believe the amount of bass coming out of the Little More Power.

-Ed