[plakat]

   
I did try XLR and RCA. I also tried both out settings (fixed volume and variable)
I connected several amps to it, I don't have any speakers I can try though. Yes both channels. Yes I tried other cables
 
So yeah, I'm pretty clueless for now.

 
If the effect is present on both settings and both outputs with different amps... that sounds like the output section is not working correctly. I'd contact Lake People and ask what to do.
 
Just to be sure: the source is fine? I.e. you hear the signal as intended on the headphone out on the V281? It does sound OK connecting your source directly to any of the other amps?

 

[Ultrainferno]

That's correct. Source is working fine and the SE and balanced out on the front are working too.
I have emailed Fried, I tried calling him but they're probably not open on Saturdays

 

[plakat]

Yes, almost certainly closed on weekends... they are a manufacturer, not a shop, so I guess they'll answer your mail on Monday.
 
Sorry to hear that... in case the output board is defective they might be able to send you the board to install yourself, sparing you the roundtrip of the whole amp.

 

[gipsy]

  I have a problem and I hope you can help:
 
I'm using the XLR IN and XLR out to my Tube amp. However I only get very little and very distorted sound on my headphone amp.
The internal amp on the V281 is doing just fine, but it seems the Line out just isn't working.
 
What am I doing wrong here?

 
Just some idea from manual;
 
Are you using unbalanced and balanced outputs
simultaneously??
Do you use balanced-to-unbalanced adapter or vice versa?? Pin out should be checked with multimeter...

 

[Ultrainferno]

I am not mixing them, right now I was trying RCA but nothing. I opened it up but everything seems to be connected ok, that's all I, as tech amateur, can check. I'll just wait and see wat Fried says on monday. thanks!

 

[gipsy]

  I am not mixing them, right now I was trying RCA but nothing. I opened it up but everything seems to be connected ok, that's all I, as tech amateur, can check. I'll just wait and see wat Fried says on monday. thanks!

How do you like the amp/sound so far anyway??

 

[roskodan]

  I am not mixing them, right now I was trying RCA but nothing. I opened it up but everything seems to be connected ok, that's all I, as tech amateur, can check. I'll just wait and see wat Fried says on monday. thanks!

if you did not activate the line outputs, you may be hearing the crosstalk (low and distorted)
 
MANUAL: http://www.lake-people.de/violectric-manuals.html?file=tl_files/Standard_Theme/downloads/Manuals/V281-E%20Manual%202014.pdf
 

 

[Ultrainferno]

 
How do you like the amp/sound so far anyway??

 
The balanced out is where the money is, the SE out is hardly if any different from my V200. But yes, the balanced out is very good with all my orthos.
 
And yes, I did activate the line out

 

[roskodan]

 

 
How do you like the amp/sound so far anyway??

 
The balanced out is where the money is, the SE out is hardly if any different from my V200. But yes, the balanced out is very good with all my orthos.
 
And yes, I did activate the line out

hehe, one never knows...
 
check
PRE-POST FADER or FIXED-VARIABLE and Switching between “Pre“ and “Post“ sections
 
AND you can try a system reset :
 

 

• FACTORY RESET
  of all software based settings can be done by pushing the “XLR” button during powering up.

 

 

[Ultrainferno]

Tried all that and did a reset twice. Thanks for trying to help though

 

[project86]

Sounds like everything you could try, has already been tried.
 
The only other thing I sometimes do is sleep on it and start fresh the next day, going over everything you've already done with fresh eyes. Sometimes I discover that what I thought I did.... I didn't do properly. Happens every once in a while. 
 
Most likely though you have some loose connection inside, or other defect. Hopefully Fried and crew can troubleshoot it and get you going quickly and easily. 

 

[sandab]

  does it matter how much of that gain comes from the pre gain and how much from the volume knob?

The gain setting almost certainly adjusts the feedback ratio.  This affects distortion.  From this perspective, less closed-loop gain (= more feedback) is better.
The volume knob attenuates the input signal, typically outside the closed loop.  Less attenuation is generally better, but this also lowers the input impedance.  (This is true even if it's part of the IPS LTP.)    In some cases, lack of attenuation can cause audible "flattening" due to the source output not being able to drive the amp input.  (Less likely if it's part of the LTP.)
 
So, reduce the gain until you run out of volume control, or there is an audible loss of dynamics and texture, or an audible shift in frequency response (like muffled highs).

 

[Fred Hi-Res]

Having used the V281 for about a week I can attest to that this amp is a true champion for all music genres that I listen to. 
 
The amp with all its muscle drives the bass in a very tight and controlled way, it doesn't increase the bass, but rather enhance it. Although, given my limited experience with other amps I do feel that this amp produce the most impactful bass of any amp I've yet listened to.
 
Mids are super lush and smooth, and at the same time extremely detailed. This is probably the greatest characteristic of this amp. The level of details it produce is astounding. I never really thought that an amp could reveal so many new details in the music, I always thought that this was reserved for the source choice and quality of the recording. Today I listened to one of my favourite recordings, the Gardiner's recording of Vespro della beata vergine, and the layering and separation of the voices in the choir was mesmerising. Of course this has also to do with the HD700 that I used, which by the way are truly excellent HPs for classical music, never heard a better HP for this genre.
 
Treble is well extended and not bright. It's not an overly analytical amp, just very detailed with great dynamics, and when driven fully balanced produce a very nice soundstage.
 
Thanks Fried for a great amp, looking forward to the V282

 

[project86]

Thanks for your impressions - sound very similar to what I hear. Listening to V281 right now, fed by a "lowly" Parasound Zdac v2 which is in for review, and driving an LCD-3F. Amazing system! Revealing enough to help spot the differences between this DAC and my reference (which costs 10x as much), yet in the end it's still very enjoyabl even without a megabuck source. 

 

[gipsy]

The Beauty or the Beast??