elnero
Headphoneus Supremus
Thanks, that makes a bit more sense.
I have used the DACmini with my LCD-2 Rev.2 in the past and the power of the amp was just enough sufficient, I wouldn't want to use an amp that is less powerfull than the DACmini with the LCD-2. But I have to admit that I like to listen to my music at a very high level.
I have also tried the LCD-3 with the DACmini and for my tastes, the amp was not powerfull enough to drive the LCD-3 correctly.
So if the amp of the HiFi-M8 is as powerful as the amp of the DACmini, I will be extremely happy because I'm planning to use it with the LCD-2 Rev.2.
I just got the LCD-3 () and am currently using them with a DACport, which just seems barely adequate. I believe Audeze conservatively recommends that they be driven by an amp of at least a couple of watts, which I don't think the DACport provides. I'm really hoping that the HiFi M8 will be more than sufficient (way more!) to drive the 3's.
On the current topic of XLRs, is there any advantage (sonically, electrically, or otherwise) to having dual L/R 3-pin XLRs (as originally configured for the HiFi M8) versus one 4-pin XLR? (This would assume separate L/R leads for each earpiece on the LCD-3 if used with a dual 3-pin HiFi M8.)
Russell
If I am understanding you correctly, you are trying to go from a 1/4" single ended cable to the balanced dual XLR's? That won't get you anything beyond a normal single ended cable. The dual XLR's are combo jacks, meaning you can simply stick a 1/4" plug into the middle of one. Only way to get the benefits of balanced is to reterminate your cable (if it has 4 conductors) to a balanced connector.
The only reason I really wanted to plug it into the (dual) XLR slot with a 1/4" to XLR adaptor was so that it locks into place. Although I suppose that my 1.4" plug going into an XLR adaptor would be 'unlocked' so perhaps it doesn't really make any difference. I know I'm losing out on the benefit of balanced if I choose the XLR balanced version however when I bought my ultrasone pro 2900s, I'd have needed to spend nearly 50% extra for the balanced mod version of my cans.
Maybe I'm not quite following how dual XLR sockets work. You're saying that even if there are two dual XLRs in the M8, one for 'left' and one for 'right', putting my single stereo 1/4" headphone plug into the middle of one of those would result in both the left and right signals being transferred to my headphones? I (mistakenly?) thought that would result in just the left or right signal coming through.
The dual XLR sockets are combo jacks. They can each support 1/2 of a balanced config OR 1 unbalanced. That means that putting two of them gives you one 2x3pin balanced output or two 1/4" unbalanced outputs.
Kenny,
I originally ordered 1 x 1/4 and 1 x XLR (full size only option at that time), thinking that if one day I would re-cable my phones, I could listen to my M8 in balanced mode. If I am reading correctly (probably not I cannot do that with the way I have the unit configured?
I don't quite get all the mini XLR talk, I mean I understand the desire to have it as an option, in fact now that I have a little better understanding of all the balanced options that would probably be my choice if it was offered, but what I don't understand is the talk of using adapters. Do you guys already have headphones terminated with mini XLR's that you're trying to accommodate? If not, why would you terminate a new cable in mini XLR then use an adapter to go to the full sized 4 pin?
Because we sometimes have one amp with 4-pin XLR, another one with 1/4" jack, and one with an RSA balanced output. How do we connect one headphone to all three amps? Via adapters. The mini-XLR is small enough to put in the middle or end of a cable, so we can separate the plug from the headphone cable and attach the appropriate plug in it's place.
Because we sometimes have one amp with 4-pin XLR, another one with 1/4" jack, and one with an RSA balanced output. How do we connect one headphone to all three amps? Via adapters. The mini-XLR is small enough to put in the middle or end of a cable, so we can separate the plug from the headphone cable and attach the appropriate plug in it's place.
Because we sometimes have one amp with 4-pin XLR, another one with 1/4" jack, and one with an RSA balanced output. How do we connect one headphone to all three amps? Via adapters. The mini-XLR is small enough to put in the middle or end of a cable, so we can separate the plug from the headphone cable and attach the appropriate plug in it's place.