Violectric HPA V281 - Vorsprung durch Balanced (September 2023 Update: Limited Reissue Edition up for preorder!)

[Drewligarchy]

Random question: i am using the v281 as a pre-amp for my Stax 717 so I have remote control volume control, therefore I have the v281 setup to run as a pre-amp pre-fader so it's volume pot controls the 717.

I recently purchased some LCD-4s which are power hungry and I've found sound best with pre-gain set to +12db. But, if the v281 is set up pre-fader as a pre-amp, does the pre-gain affect the line level outputs I'm sending to the stax717? Concerned the signal would be too hot if it did, and worried about trying it and overloading the Stax.

If anyone has experience with a setup in a similar configuration and can advise, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[PleasantSounds]

I tried it and changing the pre-gain settings does not appear to have any impact on the preamp output levels.
 
When you do that start with the volume on the V281 muted to zero and increase slowly - just in case I'm wrong...

 

[sandalaudio]

Random question: i am using the v281 as a pre-amp for my Stax 717 so I have remote control volume control, therefore I have the v281 setup to run as a pre-amp pre-fader so it's volume pot controls the 717.

I recently purchased some LCD-4s which are power hungry and I've found sound best with pre-gain set to +12db. But, if the v281 is set up pre-fader as a pre-amp, does the pre-gain affect the line level outputs I'm sending to the stax717? Concerned the signal would be too hot if it did, and worried about trying it and overloading the Stax.

If anyone has experience with a setup in a similar configuration and can advise, it would be greatly appreciated!

 
The pre-gain jumper only affects the front headphone outputs. The line output splits off before the pre-gain, as shown on Page 13 of the manual.
http://violectric-usa.com/download/Violectric V281 Manual.pdf
 
Inside the V281 chassis there is a "Line Output Gain level adaption" jumpers that can be adjusted between -12, -6, 0, +6, +12 dB.
You shouldn't need to change that, since the factory default is 0dB, which means it is unity gain on the line output.
 
That means the volume knob acts as an attenuator only, so if you crank up the volume knob all the way to the max, it should achieve a level that is equivalent to the input RCA signal. You just have to be careful that you don't accidentally blow up any headphones connected to the front of V281....
 
Whether the Stax gets overloaded or not will depend on what RCA output voltage is pushed out from the upstream source that connects into the V281.

 

[goobicii]

can anyone tell me why is everybody buying V281 when V220 is better amp? I bet 99% dont even utilize the extra power 281 has over 220

 

[ken6217]

  can anyone tell me why is everybody buying V281 when V220 is better amp? I bet 99% dont even utilize the extra power 281 has over 220

How do you know that? if you are listening to balanced headphones its not close. Just because a headphone has a minimal power rating, doesn't mean it sounds better with a less powerful amp. In balanced mode it is two V220's. More power will always sound better.
 
I have speakers that sound good using my 250 watt mono blocks for each speaker. However they sound even better using 1000 watt mono blocks. The minimal power rating required is about 90 watts.

 

[manpowre]

  can anyone tell me why is everybody buying V281 when V220 is better amp? I bet 99% dont even utilize the extra power 281 has over 220

With 300 ohm or even 200 ohm headphones you DO need the extra power to drive them and to open them up.
V220 better than V281 ?? Users been reporting to use the LCD4 you have to use Gain to +12db to drive them properly on the V281.
 
V220 doesnt even have balanced XLR4 out. There is a huge difference with jackplug and the XLR4 output for headphones. Even on my Oppo HA-1 its a big difference. I also heard Pioneer SE Master-1 balanced/jackplug on the Pioneer headphone amplifier, and theres a huge difference. Also the Sennheiser HD800 on the Sennheiser top model balanced Amp there is a big difference.
 
You dont need V281 to drive headphones where people use a jackplug. And this is where V220 comes in, its possible to equip it with a dac, and the oter features for the price of starting version of V281.

 

[fradoca]

  Audio-GD's big boys like Master 9 or Master 11 should be considered too, as Dan of Headfonia pointed out that in most aspects it's a better amp than 430HA. Comparison here: https://headmania.org/2015/03/08/simaudio-moon-430ha-headphone-amplifier-review/
 
At USD1550, it looks like a bargain too. http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/Master-9/Master-9EN.htm
 
It would be good to hear from someone who have compared the V281 and Master 9, particularly in driving cans like HE6 and HE1000.

 
Hi,
i have both master 9 and v281. I prefer the v281 with the he6 because the v281 is a little bit on the warmer side and it helps the he6 to have a more neutral sound.The dac used with the v281 and the he6 is the Tobby by Firestone Audio and my v281 has the pregain set at +6 dB.The master 9 is a monster amp and for me it's one of the top 3 solid state balanced amps along with the headamp Gs-x mk2 and the Headtrip by wells audio.
The master 9 is literally a wire with gain and i use it with my lcd-x and a mytek dac as the main reference system for critical listening sessions and audio mastering jobs.All the amps and the headphones are connected through balanced connections.The master 9 is a little bit faster, more powerful, more transparent, and neutral compared to the v281 which remains an very very good amp.The he1000 pairs better with the master 9 than with the v281.I've used headphones in the last 20 years for audio mastering, audio broadcasting ,quality control so my opinion could be biased by the fact that i'm not an audiophile but i see and hear things from a professional audio point of view.So my taste for amps could be quite different from yours.Not better just different.Just my two cents.

 

[13713]

can anyone tell me why is everybody buying V281 when V220 is better amp? I bet 99% dont even utilize the extra power 281 has over 220

Balanced alone is worth it.

 

[goobicii]

Balanced alone is worth it.

 
lol V220 is balanced
 
I think what happened is people were thinking,V220 have only unbalanced output like V200 so they buy V281 becose they were thinking its better when in reality they wasted extra money on amp that is inferior in crosstalk and noise with only advantage being power,power that they will never use becose V220 is extremly powerfull alone

 

[goobicii]

  With 300 ohm or even 200 ohm headphones you DO need the extra power to drive them and to open them up.
V220 better than V281 ?? Users been reporting to use the LCD4 you have to use Gain to +12db to drive them properly on the V281.
 
V220 doesnt even have balanced XLR4 out. There is a huge difference with jackplug and the XLR4 output for headphones. Even on my Oppo HA-1 its a big difference. I also heard Pioneer SE Master-1 balanced/jackplug on the Pioneer headphone amplifier, and theres a huge difference. Also the Sennheiser HD800 on the Sennheiser top model balanced Amp there is a big difference.
 
You dont need V281 to drive headphones where people use a jackplug. And this is where V220 comes in, its possible to equip it with a dac, and the oter features for the price of starting version of V281.

from Lake-People.de
 
V220
 
Features :
 
  Balanced inputs with gold-plated Neutrik XLR connectors
-  Unbalanced inputs with gold-plated RCA connectors
-  Balanced line outputs with gold plated XLR connectors

 

[yc1204]

lol V220 is balanced

I think what happened is people were thinking,V220 have only unbalanced output like V200 so they buy V281 becose they were thinking its better when in reality they wasted extra money on amp that is inferior in crosstalk and noise with only advantage being power,power that they will never use becose V220 is extremly powerfull alone

No. Balance line out is not balance headphone out. The V281 is built in 4 amp system with 2 amps (V220 amp board) for each chanel. Which make it become true balanced headphone output. The V220 only has 2 amps inside, 1 for each chanel for SE headphone output.

Do your homework 1st before you announce your words that mislead other people.

 

[13713]

No. Balance line out is not balance headphone out. The V281 is built in 4 amp system with 2 amps (V220 amp board) for each chanel. Which make it become true balanced headphone output. The V220 only has 2 amps inside, 1 for each chanel for SE headphone output.

Do your homework 1st before you announce your words that mislead other people.

I will re-read the manuals and sheets but this is what I meant.

 

[manpowre]

  from Lake-People.de
 
V220
 
Features :
 
  Balanced inputs with gold-plated Neutrik XLR connectors
-  Unbalanced inputs with gold-plated RCA connectors
-  Balanced line outputs with gold plated XLR connectors

 
Umm dont know what to say if you dont know the difference between balanced LINE output and balanced headphone XLR4 output.. 
Also as mentioned the v281 has 2x V220 amp boards inside to drive each of the two channels.
 
Better sound as you stated ? where did you read that and with what kind of equipment ?

 

[YugiRider2]

Joining the club.
Just ordered one from A2A in Australia.

 

[mulder01]

  Joining the club.
Just ordered one from A2A in Australia.

 
They've got pretty awesome prices on Vio gear at the moment.  Just bought their phono pre amp a few weeks ago.