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Post by tsruha on Feb 8, 2015 9:16:04 GMT -5
I have two UPA-1 monoblock amps that go into my UPA-1. I was wondering if I need another amplifier to use headphones or will the UPA-1 be sufficient? I will be using Sennheiser HD650 headphones. Thanks in advance and sorry if it's a stupid question but better to be safe than sorry and ask anyway.  |
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Post by garbulky on Feb 8, 2015 14:12:39 GMT -5
Gotcha....I have the HD600's which have the same driving requirements.
From personal experience, Well the headphone amp on the XDA-2 you have sounds better than the amp on the USP-1. But it's still not fantastic. But it does do the job.
If you want a bit more grunt, check out Schiit audio, they have a $100 amp.
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Post by vcautokid on Feb 8, 2015 14:20:14 GMT -5
Also if you would like another preamplifier stage too, and 3 times the power supply of the Schiit Magni 2 @ $99.00. Consider the Schiit audio Magni 2 Uber. Just $149.00. Running AKG 701's and some IEMs with great results. The preamplifier drives my Stealth 6 speakers. Schiit is my new hero for headphones listen on the bargain budget.  |
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Post by tsruha on Feb 8, 2015 18:11:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies!
I was hoping to just be able to plug my headphones into my USP-1 and be able to listen to my albums and CD's. I only use my DAC for my ipad because the Tascam CD player already had a DAC. I have no idea if it's better then the XDA-2 or not.
Anyway, I assume that I would have to unplug wires constantly to run into the Schiit when listening to headphones and then plug them back into the USP-1 when listening through my speakers. The connections on the back of the Emotiva equipment are not the strongest and am very leery of plugging and unplugging audio connections too much.
Would I be better off buying a better preamp that has more power than the USP-1? I just want an easy setup, plug and play.
Now I'm wondering if I should have an XPS-1 Phono Preamp in between my turntable and UPS-1. What do you think?
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Post by garbulky on Feb 8, 2015 18:39:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! I was hoping to just be able to plug my headphones into my USP-1 and be able to listen to my albums and CD's. I only use my DAC for my ipad because the Tascam CD player already had a DAC. I have no idea if it's better then the XDA-2 or not. Anyway, I assume that I would have to unplug wires constantly to run into the Schiit when listening to headphones and then plug them back into the USP-1 when listening through my speakers. The connections on the back of the Emotiva equipment are not the strongest and am very leery of plugging and unplugging audio connections too much. Would I be better off buying a better preamp that has more power than the USP-1? I just want an easy setup, plug and play. Now I'm wondering if I should have an XPS-1 Phono Preamp in between my turntable and UPS-1. What do you think? Hmmm....well the USP-1 will drive the headphones okay directly. They are just not fantastic that's all. The choice of headphone you made performs best with beefy headphone amplifiers. I tried the USP-1 on mine ... but I tend to be pretty critical for headphone listening.... and I found it "okay" but just that I have heard signficiantly better. If you aren't really a headphone afficianado you may be just fine but I doubt you'd be going "wow" with the audio quality that's all. I believe there is tape monitor loop or something that allows the hookup of the headphone amp without unplugging....but honestly I know little of tape monitor loops etc so I may be very wrong here. The schiit magni 2 uber version has pre-amp outputs....that you can connect .... to your USP-1 preamp! So the magni will go in the chain FIRST and then pass the signal along to the USP-1. Another alternative method - you can also split the signal using Y-adapters and send one to the schiit and one to the USP-1. This way you wouldn't have to unplug anything with either of these methods. With the latter, you'll have to manually turn the speakers down before using the headphones as they will both play at the same time. |
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Feb 8, 2015 18:56:25 GMT -5
The HD-600's are actually a relatively HIGH impedance headphone. Because of this, they aren't a difficult load to drive at all - in fact, they require very little current, and so are a very easy load to drive. The problem is that, being high impedance, they require a relatively large amount of VOLTAGE to sound their best at high listening levels. Most headphone amps that are included inside other equipment (including ours) run from +/- 12V or +/- 15V rails, which means that they can't put out enough signal voltage to drive the HD-600's to loud listening levels (virtually any headphone amp should have little trouble making the HD-600's sound very nice - if you only play them quietly). You want to be sure and use a headphone amp specifically designed (or at least known) to work with high-impedance phones. Any of the Schiit amps should work well, and many others, but most portable ones will not. If you're not sure about a particular one, it might be a good idea to check reviews or specs specifically to make sure it's known to work well with high impedance phones.) The headphone amp in the XDA-2 is better overall than the one in the USP-1, and can also deliver more current, but can't deliver significantly more voltage - which is the limiting factor with the HD-600's. Gotcha....I have the HD600's which have the same driving requirements. From personal experience, Well the headphone amp on the XDA-2 you have sounds better than the amp on the USP-1. But it's still not fantastic. But it does do the job. If you want a bit more grunt, check out Schiit audio, they have a $100 amp. |
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Post by tsruha on Feb 8, 2015 19:22:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! I was hoping to just be able to plug my headphones into my USP-1 and be able to listen to my albums and CD's. I only use my DAC for my ipad because the Tascam CD player already had a DAC. I have no idea if it's better then the XDA-2 or not. Anyway, I assume that I would have to unplug wires constantly to run into the Schiit when listening to headphones and then plug them back into the USP-1 when listening through my speakers. The connections on the back of the Emotiva equipment are not the strongest and am very leery of plugging and unplugging audio connections too much. Would I be better off buying a better preamp that has more power than the USP-1? I just want an easy setup, plug and play. Now I'm wondering if I should have an XPS-1 Phono Preamp in between my turntable and UPS-1. What do you think? The schiit magni 2 uber version has pre-amp outputs....that you can connect .... to your USP-1 preamp! So the magni will go in the chain FIRST and then pass the signal along to the USP-1. I think this is what I'll do. I ordered the magni 2 uber. I have noticed that when listening to albums the volume is a bit low through the speakers so the magni will help in this regard as well... Keith, thanks for all the info.! |
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Post by tsruha on Feb 9, 2015 11:07:23 GMT -5
Darnit. Now I'm thinking that I should buy a phono preamplifier to run the rca's from my turntable into and then into the USP-1 for listening through my speakears.
Where does the headphone amp go in the chain now?
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Post by garbulky on Feb 9, 2015 11:36:08 GMT -5
Ok it looks like the USP-1 has tape loops. I'm not familiar with the USP-1 tape loops, so read the manual to see if it will work to use the headphone amp. I think it might do the trick! emotiva.com/resources/manuals/usp1_manual.pdf |
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Post by tsruha on Feb 10, 2015 6:52:53 GMT -5
The headphone amp hasn't arrived yet. But... I bought an NAD pp4 and it is no match for the phono amp in the USP-1. I didn't hear any difference between the two so needless to say, I'll be returning it and getting my $200 back. |
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Post by vcautokid on Feb 10, 2015 10:02:07 GMT -5
Darnit. Now I'm thinking that I should buy a phono preamplifier to run the rca's from my turntable into and then into the USP-1 for listening through my speakears. Where does the headphone amp go in the chain now? No problem. Just split the Pre out signal from the full range output left/right of the USP-1 allowing you to feed your power amplifier, and headphone amp with ease. Emotiva Audio sells the splitter boxes, and interconnects to make it all happen effortlessly. |
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Post by garbulky on Feb 10, 2015 10:14:40 GMT -5
Darnit. Now I'm thinking that I should buy a phono preamplifier to run the rca's from my turntable into and then into the USP-1 for listening through my speakears. Where does the headphone amp go in the chain now? No problem. Just split the Pre out signal from the full range output left/right of the USP-1 allowing you to feed your power amplifier, and headphone amp with ease. Emotiva Audio sells the splitter boxes, and interconnects to make it all happen effortlessly. Can he use the tape loop to use his headphone amp with the USP-1? |
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Post by vcautokid on Feb 10, 2015 10:17:37 GMT -5
Monoprice.com sells the splitters too. Just get these and right count of interconnects, and you are golden.http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021803&p_id=663&seq=1&format=2
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Post by vcautokid on Feb 10, 2015 10:19:38 GMT -5
No problem. Just split the Pre out signal from the full range output left/right of the USP-1 allowing you to feed your power amplifier, and headphone amp with ease. Emotiva Audio sells the splitter boxes, and interconnects to make it all happen effortlessly. Can he use the tape loop to use his headphone amp with the USP-1? Good question. I don't recall if you can. But if you could that would be great too. |
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Post by clearear on Jan 15, 2017 14:53:53 GMT -5
Can he use the tape loop to use his headphone amp with the USP-1?[/quote] Did anybody find an answer to this? |
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Post by Axis on Jan 15, 2017 16:08:32 GMT -5
Can he use the tape loop to use his headphone amp with the USP-1? Did anybody find an answer to this? From the USP-1 manual. How the RCA Tape In and Tape Out work. TAPE INPUT/OUTPUT A tape loop is provided for recording 2-channel source material from a Cassette, DAT or a Hard Disk Audio device with analog outputs. How the Tape Monitor Button works. Tape Monitor Button This ‘loop’ connects an external recording device to the USP-1 preamplifier via RCA outputs and inputs. While this traditionally has been a cassette player or DAT player, this connection could also be a hard drive based recording device as long as the input and output connections are analog RCA audio connections. Any selected input will pass through to the Tape Monitor outputs except when the tape monitor is selected. When the Tape Monitor is not selected, the selected input is sent to the main outputs as well as the tape monitor outputs channels. When the Tape Monitor is selected, the Tape Monitor input is sent to the main output channels. |
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Post by clearear on Jan 15, 2017 16:44:15 GMT -5
Ok, I hooked up my Schitt Asgard to the tape output, turned down the USP-1's volume to zero and it's working well. Thanks.
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