[Syan25]

Anyone care to explain the difference between fixed and variable audio outputs on amplifiers...
 
Cheers!

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Anyone care to explain the difference between fixed and variable audio outputs on amplifiers...
 
Cheers!

 Fixed means that the output voltage does not vary with the volume control setting, variable means it varies with the volume control setting. Word roots are your friends

 

[Syan25]

Thanks - and in terms of audio quality - what - if any - is the difference?

 

[xnor]

Depends on the circuitry and overall setup.
 
For example, if the volume control is crap there could be channel imbalance problems.
Or the fixed output level could be low, so you have to amplify the signal (and noise) additionally in a later stage.

 

[Syan25]

Actually - this is the output options on my MCD 301 SACD player. I am merely wondering which I output I ought (fixed or variable) to use to connect to my headphone amp...
 
the other will be used to connect to my intergrated amp...
 

 

[xnor]

Sr-71 specs mention a max. input (sensitivity) of 4 Vpp, which is about 1.4 V.
The unbalanced fixed output of the MCD 301 is specified at 2 V.
 

 

[Syan25]

Ah... I should have said - the headphone amp I am going to connect the MCD301 to is the HR-2 Ray Samuels amp which I will buy in January. I just want to know what would be my best output choice for future reference
 
My intergrated amp is the MA 6600.
 
I would not try connecting the SR-71A to the MCD 301.

 

[xnor]

A shame there are no specs for the HR-2 (like gain) ...
 
Just try it out, either option should work fine. But looks like (not even this is specified!? he gotta be kidding..) the amp was designed for 2 V unbalanced RCA input, so I'd use that.

 

[Syan25]

Cheers! I appreciate your help!