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

[PrTv]

I'm looking to set up my V281 LE as a pre-amp for both a Marantz 2230 Speaker Amp and a Headphone Amp (Icon HP8 or DNA Stratus/Starlett) in my living room. My goal is for the V281 to be fed by a DAC and to pre-amp both amps WHILE having the V281 still available as a headphone amp. I have certain headphones that pair better with the V281 and others that will pair better with the other amp. Is this achievable?

A rough diagram is below.



Sorry if it is a bit busy. The dotted RCA lines from the DAC to Marantz/TubeAmp represent an alternative path if the V281 cannot act as a pre-amp for 2 sources.

My current setup is quite similar to your diagram.


V281 is connected to May KTE
V281 XLR out > Tube Amp (power amp) for my Susvara
V281 as a headphone amp for Utopia / VC

It works great!

[Euforia is connected with my May directly though]

I think you will like the flexibility as you can separately setup different gains for XLR/RCA and headphone outputs.

On the V281 serving 2 sources as a preamp, from my memory, you get sound out of both XLR/RCA but it sounds better with only one type of connection at a time (shared output).

 

[geoffalter11]

My current setup is quite similar to your diagram.


V281 is connected to May KTE
V281 XLR out > Tube Amp (power amp) for my Susvara
V281 as a headphone amp for Utopia / VC

It works great!

[Euforia is connected with my May directly though]

I think you will like the flexibility as you can separately setup different gains for XLR/RCA and headphone outputs.

On the V281 serving 2 sources as a preamp, from my memory, you get sound out of both XLR/RCA but it sounds better with only one type of connection at a time (shared output).

Nice set up!

 

[atomLI631]

I'm looking to set up my V281 LE as a pre-amp for both a Marantz 2230 Speaker Amp and a Headphone Amp (Icon HP8 or DNA Stratus/Starlett) in my living room. My goal is for the V281 to be fed by a DAC and to pre-amp both amps WHILE having the V281 still available as a headphone amp. I have certain headphones that pair better with the V281 and others that will pair better with the other amp. Is this achievable?

A rough diagram is below.



Sorry if it is a bit busy. The dotted RCA lines from the DAC to Marantz/TubeAmp represent an alternative path if the V281 cannot act as a pre-amp for 2 sources.

This is how my chain is configured. Instead of single speaker amp, Im using 2x Schiit Rekkrs, but same thing really

 

[Pharmaboy]

My current setup is quite similar to your diagram.


V281 is connected to May KTE
V281 XLR out > Tube Amp (power amp) for my Susvara
V281 as a headphone amp for Utopia / VC

It works great!

[Euforia is connected with my May directly though]

I think you will like the flexibility as you can separately setup different gains for XLR/RCA and headphone outputs.

On the V281 serving 2 sources as a preamp, from my memory, you get sound out of both XLR/RCA but it sounds better with only one type of connection at a time (shared output).

I don't have the LE's manual here, but the OG V281's manual (pg-22) makes it clear that using both the XLR and SE outputs (on the back, not the headphone outputs) is not recommended:

"PLEASE NOTE:​

It is generally possible to use the unbalanced and balanced outputs simultaneously, but slight sound deterioration might occur depending on​

the following devices connected. In order to ensure optimal sound quality, only one output type should be made use of at a time."​

​

Not sure how others feel, but for me, "slight sound deterioration" is the opposite of what I want from this wonderful SS amp, so I only use the SE output in my main system--and then, only when the V281 serves as the system preamp.

 

[PrTv]

I don't have the LE's manual here, but the OG V281's manual (pg-22) makes it clear that using both the XLR and SE outputs (on the back, not the headphone outputs) is not recommended:

"PLEASE NOTE:​

It is generally possible to use the unbalanced and balanced outputs simultaneously, but slight sound deterioration might occur depending on​

the following devices connected. In order to ensure optimal sound quality, only one output type should be made use of at a time."​

​

Not sure how others feel, but for me, "slight sound deterioration" is the opposite of what I want from this wonderful SS amp, so I only use the SE output in my main system--and then, only when the V281 serves as the system preamp.

I just checked my V281 LE manual and on page 24 it says both outputs can be used simultaneously but slight sound degradation is to be expected. I'd rather use either XLR or RCA at a time.

 

[rage3324]

Just making sure I understand the Pre/Post (Fixed/Variable) capabilities. If I set to Fixed, the v281 acts as a pass-through? If set to Variable the v281 acts as a preamp?

 

[mattiastomas]

Just making sure I understand the Pre/Post (Fixed/Variable) capabilities. If I set to Fixed, the v281 acts as a pass-through? If set to Variable the v281 acts as a preamp?

Both act as a preamp.
Fixed means that the volume pot is bypassed and it outputs the full signal to the outputs.
Variable means the volume pot is active and you can adjust the output using the volume knob.

You can still set the switches at the back for + / - gain in both fixed / variable.

 

[rage3324]

Both act as a preamp.
Fixed means that the volume pot is bypassed and it outputs the full signal to the outputs.
Variable means the volume pot is active and you can adjust the output using the volume knob.

You can still set the switches at the back for + / - gain in both fixed / variable.

Thanks for the clarification! Unless I’m missing something, setting the v281 to Fixed is the preferred way to go when hooking up to another headphone amp such as an Hp8/Stratus?

 

[mattiastomas]

Thanks for the clarification! Unless I’m missing something, setting the v281 to Fixed is the preferred way to go when hooking up to another headphone amp such as an Hp8/Stratus?

I wouldn't say it's the preferred way. More like depends on your use case.

I say try both ways and see which one you prefer.

For example I have a DIY Aegis and feel that it sounds better with the volume knob close to max. So I leave the Aegis volume knob near max and use the V281 preamp in variable mode as the volume control.

 

[Fegefeuer]

Which Volume Control does your Aegis use? ALPS?

 

[atomLI631]

I want to add my Apos Gremlin to my chain without having to add an XLR switcher. Below is a snapshot of my chain with red being the Gremlin addition. Based on the last few comments in here about using the V281 as a pre-amp for both SE and Balanced, is this going to be an issue? I obviously wouldn't be using the speakers and gremlin at the same time, but I don't see a selector where you can choose what outputs you want to use, so I assume its sending the signal out both simultaneously?

Also, where do you change fixed and variable output? Is that an internal adjustment?