GUSTARD H10 High-current Discrete Class A output Stage Headphone Amplifier

[BassDigger]

The cable? Well, at least that's an easy fix (and a cheaper cable).
 
What about the H10 itself? Didn't you report some issues with the volume control?
 
My H10 is, at last, on order! I expect to receive it quite soon. Then hopefully, I'll be able to make some more useful (or not

 ) contributions to the thread.

 

[strreamix]

  The cable? Well, at least that's an easy fix (and a cheaper cable).
 
What about the H10 itself? Didn't you report some issues with the volume control?
 
My H10 is, at last, on order! I expect to receive it quite soon. Then hopefully, I'll be able to make some more useful (or not

 ) contributions to the thread.

The H10 is fine, although there is some wiggle in the volume control, but it seems to go away if i "pull" on the volume knob a little. Not sure if this is a good idea, but atm everything is working fine. I know nothing about the insides of these things so I'd prefer not to open the amp unless I truly had to and had very detailed instructions.

 

[strreamix]

Can anyone tell me the procedure for using the H10?
 
Power on amp then plug in headphones? or Headphones in first then power on H10?

 

[Rynsin]

  Can anyone tell me the procedure for using the H10?
 
Power on amp then plug in headphones? or Headphones in first then power on H10?

 
 
In general, you'll want to turn the turn the volume knob all the way down, turn on the amp, then plug in headphones, then move the volume knob up slowly to a good volume. It doesn't matter too much, though. I doubt the H10 is any different, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions of the H10 with the LCD-3s once your PC is fixed. Good luck!

 

[lancevance117]

  Can anyone tell me the procedure for using the H10?
 
Power on amp then plug in headphones? or Headphones in first then power on H10?

 

   
 
In general, you'll want to turn the turn the volume knob all the way down, turn on the amp, then plug in headphones, then move the volume knob up slowly to a good volume. It doesn't matter too much, though. I doubt the H10 is any different, but someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions of the H10 with the LCD-3s once your PC is fixed. Good luck!

do whatever you want, but remember to turn the volume down to zero before turning on your h10, h10 design comes with a relay, which means it is safe to plug in ur headphones while on/off operation

 

[pippen99]

   
do whatever you want, but remember to turn the volume down to zero before turning on your h10, h10 design comes with a relay, which means it is safe to plug in ur headphones while on/off operation

Maybe I'm courting disaster.  I leave my phones plugged in all the time.  After each listening session I turn the volume all the way down, check before I turn back on, and let the H10 warm up at least 20 minutes before I start listening.

 

[lancevance117]

 
Maybe I'm courting disaster.  I leave my phones plugged in all the time.  After each listening session I turn the volume all the way down, check before I turn back on, and let the H10 warm up at least 20 minutes before I start listening.

lol, i do the same as well, this amp needs warm-up IMO

 

[BassDigger]

Maybe I'm courting disaster.  I leave my phones plugged in all the time.  After each listening session I turn the volume all the way down, check before I turn back on, and let the H10 warm up at least 20 minutes before I start listening.

 
Always returning the volume control to zero, is the best habit. Even if there is some kind of 'disaster' or 'mishap' that feeds a potentially damaging signal to your phones, the volume set at zero is giving 100% resistance that will essentially block the signal.
The only problem is the time that you forget that your volume is turned up very high; you forgot to return it to zero, and you do something 'silly'. That's why it's a 'belt and braces' measure to unplug your phones, as well as zeroing the volume.

 

[MrMoose0987]

Thought I'd report back after another week of using this. Y'all were right -- it's improved quite a bit since the initial listening. Enjoying it a good bit more now, and happy I've stuck it out.

Looking forward to further improvement too. So nice.
 
Thanks for running a great thread!

 

[DDDamian]

  The H10 is fine, although there is some wiggle in the volume control, but it seems to go away if i "pull" on the volume knob a little. Not sure if this is a good idea, but atm everything is working fine. I know nothing about the insides of these things so I'd prefer not to open the amp unless I truly had to and had very detailed instructions.

The volume pot may be slipping from it's "keyed" poisition, and pulling outwards on the volume knob re-seats it so it doesn't pivot. You may want to address that at some point as continual flexing of the wires to the volume pot could eventually break them. Your call

 

[mandrake50]

  The volume pot may be slipping from it's "keyed" poisition, and pulling outwards on the volume knob re-seats it so it doesn't pivot. You may want to address that at some point as continual flexing of the wires to the volume pot could eventually break them. Your call

The pot is soldered to the board... at the back of the unit. No wires to break... but this pulling could be messing with the pot itself.
 
But, if the knob has a loose set screw... it could show the same symptoms. I haven't looked, as mine has no wobble or play... is there an accessible set screw on the volume knob?
 
Check for a set screw and make sure it is tight. Next, open it up and see what is actually happening. I did not see any warranty seal. Check to see if the linkage to the pot has problems. Maybe the supports, or maybe the attachment to the pot . I haven't looked, as mentioned, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another set screw on the connection from the rod to the pot.

 

[DDDamian]

 
The pot is soldered to the board... at the back of the unit. No wires to break... but this pulling could be messing with the pot itself.
 
But, if the knob has a loose set screw... it could show the same symptoms. I haven't looked, as mine has no wobble or play... is there an accessible set screw on the volume knob?
 
Check for a set screw and make sure it is tight. Next, open it up and see what is actually happening. I did not see any warranty seal. Check to see if the linkage to the pot has problems. Maybe the supports, or maybe the attachment to the pot . I haven't looked, as mentioned, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another set screw on the connection from the rod to the pot.

Good call mate - I'd assumed the pot was anchored to the front panel. Your explanation makes sense if it's soldered to the PCB. I  checked and there is a setscrew on the knob - easily accessible without opening the unit.

 

[sunneebear]

One of these set/grub screws are loose.

 

[BassDigger]

Great pics @sunneebear
 
@strreamix I didn't want to get involved; I haven't got an H10 in front of me (yet). But the Sunneebear's pics clearly show what is probably your issue; the linkage between knob and control.
 
This amp has quite a rare set-up in that the actual volume pot is placed right at the back of the unit, next to where the signal feed comes in. This is the best solution. But it has the issue, because pot control isn't sticking out the front of the faceplate, as per a normal design, it needs a linkage to connect the knob (on the faceplate) to the pot. This gives extra opportunities for mechanical problems, such as what you appear to have.
 
This should be a very easy fix (if indeed it is the linkage). If you have no confidence, or the simple tools to get to and tighten these screws yourself, I'd strongly suggest that you find somebody to have a look at it. Anyone with some tools and technical experience could fix this; it's a <5 minute job. If you ignore it, it'll probably only get worse as the free-play wears at the loose component. (And of course, it could be something more serious, that could eventually have catastrophic consequences.)
 
If you don't know anybody who's a bit 'handy', then you could take this to any workshop or repair shop (hifi/av, secondhand goods, computer, mobile phone...etc) and they should be able to fix this very quickly and cheaply (maybe for free, or the price of a beverage), while you wait. (Maybe if you have Sunneebear's pics, to show them, they'd be more willing to take a look.)

 

[Tamirci]

Sorry guys for being a noob. Im so unfamiliar to balanced stuff.
While even the branded (Toxic, Hifiman itself) xlr to headphone cables are single xlr ended, how am I supposed to plug it properly to this amp?