[Darkblade48]

Does anyone have a viable alternative to the HS2 that they are satisfied with? I am looking for a switcher for A/B/X testing and was thinking of purchasing one rather than building one myself (lack of parts).

 

[mrmagoo]

  Does anyone have a viable alternative to the HS2 that they are satisfied with? I am looking for a switcher for A/B/X testing and was thinking of purchasing one rather than building one myself (lack of parts).

 
I'm using the psb2-1 switch box with 2 quality 6.35mm cables: I bought everything here: mfspdesigns.com.
It's very good quality and has separated grounds. All aluminum case.
You can see pics a few posts ago and on my thread here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/705169/how-do-you-compare-2-headphone-amps/30#post_10306002 (after you have done some A/B tests, you're welcome to post your comments there too...)

 

[moriez]

 
Does anyone have a viable alternative to the HS2 that they are satisfied with? I am looking for a switcher for A/B/X testing and was thinking of purchasing one rather than building one myself (lack of parts).

 


I'm using the psb2-1 switch box with 2 quality 6.35mm cables: I bought everything here: mfspdesigns.com.


It's very good quality and has separated grounds. All aluminum case.


You can see pics a few posts ago and on my thread here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/705169/how-do-you-compare-2-headphone-amps/30#post_10306002 (after you have done some A/B tests, you're welcome to post your comments there too...)

 


Are you still happy with that kit? Is anything about it a downside maybe? I'm leaning towards getting one from mfsp.

 

[mrmagoo]

Quote:

 


Are you still happy with that kit? Is anything about it a downside maybe? I'm leaning towards getting one from mfsp.

 
I bought it several months ago and I use it exclusively for A/B amp testing and I think it's a great device. The provided cables are high quality too. (I should have bought longer cable though.)
It makes A/B comparisons so easy and enjoyable. It let's you know without any doubt if you prefer “A” or “B”. And you may have a few surprises, finding for example that an expensive tube amp sounds worst to your ears than a cheaper diy solid state amp... so you're warned...

 

[moriez]

Thank you. Sounds really good what you're saying and I'm ready to debunk Will buy one today.

 

[Darkblade48]

   
  I can't hear any added noise when all my gear is connected to it. The selector knob chooses one of the rear inputs and outputs to all four front outputs at the same time. I have no idea what those little chips on the board are though - I looked inside my HS2 and there are no chips whatsoever, only the printed circuit board and the jacks/switch.
  My main gripe with the A985 is that the knob has grooves running along its surface in the direction that the knob is turned, so it can be hard to grip while turning it. Otherwise the A985 does its job pretty well.
 
Anyone know what those enigmatic chip-thingies could be?

 
Have you figured out what the chips in the A985 are for? I just got mine yesterday, and am having some "interesting" problems with it.
 
From what I can tell, much like the Fiio HS2, you can plug multiple sources into the back (marked INPUT 1 through 4) and then have headphones on the OUTPUT side. Music will play through all headphone outputs at the same time (if you have 4 headphones plugged in), and the selector knob selects which source is going to be played to the headphones.
 
Of course, I realized if you don't want to be auditioning sources and headphones instead, you just plug the (single) source into any of the OUTPUTs and then plug each headphone into the INPUT side, and the knob will then control which headphones has sound being played.
 
My problem, however, is when I have multiple sources (the "intended" use). I have (say) my Android phone connected from its 3.5 mm headphone out to INPUT 1 on the switch. Then I connect my Fiio E17 (connected to my desktop via optical) to INPUT 2 via the 3.5 mm headphone out on the Fiio E17.
 
When I do so, on INPUT 1 (Fiio E17), I can hear static in the background, whereas on INPUT 2 (Android phone), there is no static.
 
If I replace the Fiio E17 with an iPod, I don't get the static.
 
I have tested the following combinations:
 
E17 + Desktop (line out) = static when E17 is selected
E17 + Android phone = as above
E17 + iPod = as above
iPod + Android phone = no static when either are selected
 
I have yet to try desktop + Android phone/iPod, but from the combinations I have tested so far, it seems to be the E17.
 
Might anyone have any insight into this?
 
Edit: Very strange. I think I've narrowed it down to USB on the Fiio E17. When I just have the optical cable in, there's no noise, but with the USB cable, it's hit or miss (sometimes there's static, other times there's not).

 

[hallom]

Does HS2 affect sound (quality) in any way? (sorry if it has been asked already, but "search this thread" function doesn't work at the moment.)

 

[FiiO]

  Does HS2 affect sound (quality) in any way? (sorry if it has been asked already, but "search this thread" function doesn't work at the moment.)

Dear hallom,
The HS2 will not affect the sound quality.
Best regards

 

[Mightygrey]

Dear hallom,
The HS2 will not affect the sound quality.
Best regards

Hey @FiiO I'm really keen to get my hands on one of these, is it possible to buy one from you guys by any chance??

 

[FiiO]

Hey @FiiO I'm really keen to get my hands on one of these, is it possible to buy one from you guys by any chance??

Dear friend,

This item has stopped production for quite a long time. We do not have it in stock now.

Best regards