The All Purpose Advice Thread

If it's a high-end system this kind of thing is generally to be avoided. But if it's a low to mid system and you can't hear any difference it's probably fine. One thing to listen for is ground hum since you're effectively connecting ground to ground between three or more components. No ground hum and everything sounds fine... it's probably fine. A slightly more professional approach is a soldered splitter cable since the connection will be a lot more solid than in those cheap splitters you buy in electronic stores.

 

@TwoEars,

Thanks for that. I'm trying to connect my phono pre-amp (Pro-Ject Phono Box) and DAC (Bifrost 4490) to my Valhalla 2.

Dave.

 

So I was wondering I am getting a NFB 11 and a Vali 2 with EH 6922 or 6C7G EH tubes for my headphones which are the HE 560 and K612, are there something that fits my headphones better for the same price or less or is this basically as good as it gets with this kinda budget

 

If I were to setup a dedicated powerline for my audio system outlet in a 220V region, do I still shoot for 20A? Or, is that only for US voltage?

 

Has anyone used Douk Audio Fully Balanced Passive Preamplifier Pre-Amp XLR/RCA Volume Controller?
It looks like a bit more versatile alternative to Control Freak but cannot find any reviews. It's $56 on Amazon shipping from China
https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Bal...1490882335&sr=8-1&keywords=passive+preamp+xlr

 

Hey everyone. I bought a Sennheiser HD650 second hand for $300 and I'm looking to spend $200-300 on a DAC/AMP.
I have a pair of powered speakers (Microlabs Solo 8C). If I understand correctly, the functionality of the pre-outs on the Schiit Magni 2U or Schiit Fulla 2 would provide me the ability to switch devices by plugging the HD650 in. As such, I have narrowed my audio solution down to the M2U and F2. Which of the following options do you think would give me the best audio quality and overall user experience?

1) Schiit Fulla 2 connected to motherboard USB
$200

2) Schiit Magni 2U connected directly to motherboard, relying on on-board ALC889 chip for DAC purposes
$279

3) Schiit Magni 2U connected immediately to a Fiio D03K by RCA male-male adapters, connected to motherboard optical out
~$279 + $40 + cables

Thanks.

 

Option 4?

Vali 2 + Modi 2U via TOSLINK.

 

@mjoseph97 this is general advice because I'm not familiar with your motherboard or fiio DAC chips. I personally see the source (DAC) as just as important if not moreso than the amplifier. You can't amplify what isn't there to begin with, after all. Therefore I would personally avoid using the mobo as a DAC unless you know from other sources that it is especially good for onboard audio. I've used a Fulla 2 with a HD650 and was pleasantly surprised by how decent it sounded for the low cost. I would go that route and then re-assess in a year or two if you want to spend more to get dedicated DAC and amp components rather than a combo unit. The "next step up" right now would be something like Modi Multibit + Vali 2 (~$419 USD).

And yes, the Fulla 2 will mute the preamp outs if you plug in headphones. Good luck.

 

Hello Everyone!


I'm looking for an amp for my AKG K701. As an DAC I would either use Asus Xonar Essence One or Chord Mojo just because I already own them and I'm not confident enough to sell my gear... but maybe someday I will try, who knows.

I was thinking about Schiit Lyr 2, because of its warm-ish sound signature and it would give my AKG a lot of power. Valhalla 2 has its dry treble which wouldn't be a good match for AKG, at least i think so, correct me if I'm wrong. I was also looking for some amps from different companies, since in my country, Schiit products are not as cheap as in USA.. damn you taxes.. but then again, price/performence ratio of their amps is really good, and it would be difficult to find better ones even after taxes.

Thank you for your help.

 

@Jackork

K701's are pretty easy to drive, I'd say save your money. Maybe get the HD650 down the road.

 

Hi Guys. I've just received an all male 4pin XLR to dual 3 pin XLR cable, to use with my 3.5mm TRRS to 4pin (female) XLR cable, out of my GO2A. I've plugged the cable into my amps XLR inputs (the source end is unplugged) and with the amp turned on and headphones plugged in, there is a buzzing/hum. If I touch the amp, the buzzing/hum lessens, but it is still present. Could this be a grounding issue? If I turn the amp off, the buzzing disappears. If I plug the source end into my GO2A with my computers charger plugged in, the buzzing gets a lot worse. All in all, a bit confused. Any help would be appreciated. If you need more info about the set up let me know. Thanks for any help in advance!

 

@ufospls2

Are you sure your amp supports that kind of thing? XLR is balanced and balanced +/- is not the same as ground. You could really damage something if you get it wrong. It can be done on some amps if you know what you're doing but if not stay away.

Doesn't your amp have RCA inputs? If so use those, that's what they're there for. Using XLR inputs will not give you better sound.

 

I honestly have little knowledge of electrical engineering. I asked the cable maker if it would work before I purchased the cable, and he said it would, but he could be wrong of course. The reason I wanted to give this a go is balanced sounds better out of the GO2A, at least it does with headphones straight out of it. I don't have a desktop DAC currently. Originally I was using the GO2A's single ended out with a 3.5mm TRS to RCA cable, but as I said, wanted to give the balanced out a go. I already had a 3.5mm TRRS to to 4 pin female XLR for headphone use with the GO2A, so I figured all male 4pin XLR to dual 3pin XLR would be the way to go. I certainly don't want to damage my amp accidentally. I have emailed the amps company owner, and will see what he says. Thanks for the reply.

Edit: For what its worth, I tried playing music and it worked, just with the hum present. I feel dumb.

 

@ufospls2

Edit: It's possible this could work if you have a real balanced TRRS connector out. But I'd want to test the pin out before doing anything like this myself. And I'm still skeptical about it giving you better sound, the reason headphones sound better with balanced is usually down to more power. Which isn't needed when using an amp.

Read up a bit on single ended amps and differential amps, there are a few good youtube videos around. If you have real balanced output, a real balanced cable and a real balanced amp everything is fine.

 

I think that theGO2A TRRS output is really balanced? and my TRRS to 4pin XLR should be? Whats confusing me is that the noise is there with the source end unplugged. With the cable not plugged into the amp the headphones are dead silent, plug in the XLR's and boom, the buzzing shows up.

 

@ufospls2 is this cable taking the output from the GO2A into a headphone or into the input of an amp? The balanced TRRS output of the GO2A is balanced as far as output to a transducer is concerned, but it is not balanced for use in a balanced input to an amp or preamp.

A "balanced" output for headphones is only different in that it's no longer using a shared ground. A TRS connector has three conductors: one for the signal of each channel and a shared ground. A TRRS or 4-pin XLR conductor adds a 4 conductor to give each channel it's own ground conductor.

A balanced input into an amp or output to go from a source to an amp will have three conductors per channel (hence two 3-pin XLR connections). Each channel has a + and - conductor for the signal and a conductor for the shield/ground.

Not knowing exactly how it's wired, I'm not sure that I can tell you exactly what's going on with your cable, but I'd guess that you're not actually getting the inverted signal for the - conductors. Of course, I could be completely wrong here, and I'm sure someone will happily correct me.

 

Option 4 unfortunately costs $600AU

Thanks, I'll go for the Fulla 2 I think!

 

Thanks for the reply. What is strange is that I tried plugging in regular XLR cables, again with nothing plugged in at the source end, and they caused the buzzing/hum as well. Maybe something is wrong with my amps XLR inputs?

 

Does the buzzing increase/decrease with volume?