[Dan the audioman]

Should I use the part values in Chu Moy's article for the High Z configuration or the Low configuration? Which sounds better?

thanks

 

[alsq]

It is my impression that low-Z goes after
the amp (i.e. btw. amp and cans) and high-Z
goes before the amp (i.e. btw. source and amp).

In general, within reason, trouble with sound
quality tends to occur more intensely where more
power is handled; in this case in the low-Z setup.
However, power for cans is nothing to brag
about; and I don't have any direct experience
with a low-Z crossfeed anyway. My 2c.

 

[benjohnson]

Quote:

Originally posted by alsq It is my impression that low-Z goes after the amp (i.e. btw. amp and cans) and high-Z goes before the amp (i.e. btw. source and amp). In general, within reason, trouble with sound quality tends to occur more intensely where more power is handled; in this case in the low-Z setup. However, power for cans is nothing to brag about; and I don't have any direct experience with a low-Z crossfeed anyway. My 2c.

From what I remember of the writeup over at Headwize, this sounds right.

Also, if you're building this as a standalone unit without an amp, build the low-z version. I put it between an iPod and my Shure e2s. The iPod can still drive it comfortably.

 

[Dan the audioman]

Can i use it with both amped and nonamped? I will most likely use it amped but just in case...you know...


thanks

 

[tangent]

Quote:

Can i use it with both amped and nonamped?

The low-Z version is a compromise. It has to be high enough in impedance that it doesn't add too much load to the circuit driving it, while not being so high that it totally robs the driving circuit of control over the headphone drivers. It's a very difficult place for a circuit to be.

The high-Z version just has to be high enough in impedance that the driving circuit doesn't get loaded too much. You could make it higher and life would only get easier for the circuit driving it, while not bothering the circuit following it, either. The only limit here is noise and practical issues like the size of the caps. Furthermore, since it doesn't load the output path, the headphones sound their best.

 

[Dan the audioman]

thanks