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Post by monkumonku on Nov 19, 2016 16:55:48 GMT -5
HD-800 is 100db sensitive @1mw input. Power Hungry? NOT. What is the impedance of the '800? Try some Mid-80db sensitive Planars. I believe the HD-800 is 300 ohms. I know they are not like planars, but still they do give less powerful amps problems. |
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 19, 2016 17:28:35 GMT -5
Dang if only I knew it was a price mistake I would have gotten one. Err, it's currently on sale for $4 less than the price mistake, yet you wish you would have gotten it earlier at the slightly higher price? Definitely not following that one. |
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Post by beardedalbatross on Nov 19, 2016 18:55:01 GMT -5
Dang if only I knew it was a price mistake I would have gotten one. Err, it's currently on sale for $4 less than the price mistake, yet you wish you would have gotten it earlier at the slightly higher price? Definitely not following that one. The original price was $199, the discounted price was $169. |
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Post by rbk123 on Nov 19, 2016 18:59:13 GMT -5
Ahh, that makes more sense. That is pretty smokin'.
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Post by beardedalbatross on Nov 19, 2016 19:22:00 GMT -5
Ahh, that makes more sense. That is pretty smokin'. Mosdef. If the headphone amp delivers the way the specs imply it does, this thing is pure bang bang for the buck. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 19, 2016 22:10:54 GMT -5
bottlehead.com/crack-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit-specs/300$ OTL headphone amp KIT with a good reputation for driving BOTH HD800 and HD650 headphones. TOO MUCH amp power could be a bad idea. Running the VC at one click from 'off' is a great way to be the the noisiest part of the amps operating range. Some of the Planar headphones I've read about definately COULD benefit from this style of output. But they are in the mid-80s, sensitivity.
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator 
Res firma mitescere nescit.
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 19, 2016 22:14:27 GMT -5
I couldn't be more pleased with how quiet the A-100 is with my HD600's!
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Post by leonski on Nov 19, 2016 23:00:23 GMT -5
is that standard or 'high powered' headphone output? I'd guess regular.
If that's the case, you MIGHT want to experiment with the jumpers for higher power. Your VC will be at a lower setting and you might at that point notice other things. Maybe better? Maybe not?
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator
Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,850
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 20, 2016 1:04:45 GMT -5
is that standard or 'high powered' headphone output? I'd guess regular. If that's the case, you MIGHT want to experiment with the jumpers for higher power. Your VC will be at a lower setting and you might at that point notice other things. Maybe better? Maybe not? I've extensively tried both ways and both are equally quiet to my ears. Since the Direct High Power Headphone mode is just as quiet, and since I exclusively use the A-100 as a headphone amp, I've elected to leave it in this mode as I'm sure Murphy's Law would come into play at some point and I'd lose them(not that I couldn't buy replacements but this way I wouldn't have to).  |
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Post by vincedea on Nov 20, 2016 4:00:04 GMT -5
Ahh, that makes more sense. That is pretty smokin'. Lol yeah man it was smoking. |
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jrt3
Minor Hero
Posts: 15 
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Post by jrt3 on Nov 21, 2016 12:46:36 GMT -5
Well, my new a-100 is out for delivery! It seems that they sent the tracking info to my pre-Feb e-mail, while the CC receipt went to my current e-mail. I should have it this afternoon!
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jrt3
Minor Hero
Posts: 15
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Post by jrt3 on Nov 22, 2016 7:53:20 GMT -5
A couple of quick observations: Like last November's mini-X a-100, the A-100 BASX comes double boxed and in a blackish fabric with dessicant. I don't recall the first one smelling so foul... it actually made me go check the cat boxes for unburied 'prizes'. Satisfied that our six inside-only cats weren't the source, I continued the 'reveal'. I guess it's the rubber-like wiring insulation out-gassing. The L&R speaker & input connectors are still reversed - a tradition, I suppose. The added headphone jack is quickly noted. The volume control is surrounded by blue LED light when the AC power is on - like the mini-X - however, the metal volume knob is devoid of any reference line/dimple/mark to visually indicate what volume level to expect. The mini-X, on the other hand, has a dimple with a hole through the knob, which projects a blue dot at the volume setting, as well as a tactile feeling for it's position. Did I get the wrong knob... or was this a cost saving step? A nit, I suppose. The back panel connections for signal in, daisy-chain out, and speaker out are all nicely made and Au-plated (It's Iron Bowl week... I like writing AU anyway I can... War Eagle!). Also in the box was a two-wire 120V AC cord, a 12V trigger cable, two spare fuses, and a spiral bound.User Manual.
In operation, literally I slid out of it's cubby the mini-X and plugged in the BAS X, then slid it back, it works identically to my beloved mini-x. My Onkyo C-7030 is my only source and my Klipsch Heresy's are my speakers - they get plenty loud (... and clear!) at what should be 9-10 o'clock (I still think it needs a reference mark of some kind on the volume knob!). You can hear a relay click and the speakers cut out when you plug in a headphone. It drives my Sony MDR V6's and Koss Pro-4AA's with plenty of reserve - they sound better than from the C-7030's bult-in headphone amp - a first! Maybe it is a 'deal' as just a headphone amp. As delivered, it has plenty of power for my 'phones. I'd be careful about jumping out the current limiting headphone resistors - especially considering the lacking of a visual or tactile position indication of the volume setting. Still - a great amp - and, at currently sale priced at $195 shipped, it's a deal!
Happy Thanksgiving and WAR EAGLE!
John (AU '75)
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Post by Dan Laufman on Nov 25, 2016 0:46:47 GMT -5
Hey John,
I'm happy to see you are pleased with the new A100!
I believe that you will soon realize the significant improvement in performance we've made with this new model.
I have to be honest... the missing indicator point on the volume control is an oversight on our part. 😳 We've been using encoders on the rest of the BasX line and forgot that we have a real potentiometer on this model.
I'll have to look onto getting this and the reversed silkscreening corrected as a running change. Sorry about that! 😋
I hope you enjoy this new model. The amplifier design is all new.
Cheers,
Big Dan
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Post by Dan Laufman on Nov 25, 2016 0:46:49 GMT -5
Hey John,
I'm happy to see you are pleased with the new A100!
I believe that you will soon realize the significant improvement in performance we've made with this new model.
I have to be honest... the missing indicator point on the volume control is an oversight on our part. 😳 We've been using encoders on the rest of the BasX line and forgot that we have a real potentiometer on this model.
I'll have to look onto getting this and the reversed silkscreening corrected as a running change. Sorry about that! 😋
I hope you enjoy this new model. The amplifier design is all new.
Cheers,
Big Dan
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Post by beardedalbatross on Nov 25, 2016 1:55:05 GMT -5
The volume control is surrounded by blue LED light when the AC power is on - like the mini-X - however, the metal volume knob is devoid of any reference line/dimple/mark to visually indicate what volume level to expect. The mini-X, on the other hand, has a dimple with a hole through the knob, which projects a blue dot at the volume setting, as well as a tactile feeling for it's position. Did I get the wrong knob... or was this a cost saving step? I was also disappointed in the lack of volume level feedback on the unit. I hadn't noticed until I was actually using it. Pairing the mysterious volume level with a potentially very powerful headphone amp section is definitely an oversight. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 25, 2016 13:09:30 GMT -5
Uh, turn it down when connecting, turn UP to satisfaction level than return to lower level when shutting off.
No fancy indicator needed.
Keep out of reach of Toddlers to will simply start cranking on knobs since they fit their grippy little hands. That's the problem I see.
That being said, my last integrated, a PSAudio DID have a readout in db or whatever. It was reliable and repeatable AND mostly unused.
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Post by danny01 on Nov 27, 2016 4:54:54 GMT -5
I impulse ordered a pair of Audeze LCD-2 during their BF sale. But I sold my Audio GD 10.33 and now I need a headphone amp and a dac. I never was seriously into headphones so I don't know much.
Would the baby Emotiva with the jumpers in place be a good match for Audeze LCD-2 cans? I know they're a common set of cans, but here are the specs from their page:
Impedance 70 ohms
Efficiency 101dB / 1mW
Optimal power requirement 1 – 4W
Maximum power handling 15W (for 200ms)
Sound pressure level >130dB with 15W
101db/1mW seems too sensitive to use the mini with the jumpers in place?
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Post by Gustavo on Nov 27, 2016 9:59:12 GMT -5
I've got a question regarding the BasX A-100 volume control and the line out. Will the volume control affect the line out? IOW, Can I use the A-100 as a preamp with volume control?
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator
Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,850
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 27, 2016 10:52:17 GMT -5
I've got a question regarding the BasX A-100 volume control and the line out. Will the volume control affect the line out? IOW, Can I use the A-100 as a preamp with volume control? This is a line level output that only passes on what signal it's being fed. The volume only controls the main and headphone output volumes, so no the line out isn't affected by the volume control. While I have not actually tested it in this manner, the owner's manual is definitive on what the volume control affects. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 27, 2016 13:50:10 GMT -5
I impulse ordered a pair of Audeze LCD-2 during their BF sale. But I sold my Audio GD 10.33 and now I need a headphone amp and a dac. I never was seriously into headphones so I don't know much. Would the baby Emotiva with the jumpers in place be a good match for Audeze LCD-2 cans? I know they're a common set of cans, but here are the specs from their page: Impedance 70 ohms Efficiency 101dB / 1mW Optimal power requirement 1 – 4W Maximum power handling 15W (for 200ms) Sound pressure level >130dB with 15W 101db/1mW seems too sensitive to use the mini with the jumpers in place? You CAN, of course, carefully experiment. The VERY HIGH sensitivity of the Audeze indicate you probably will NOT need to install the jumpers. As a test? Try 'em in an iPod or iPhone. Not a lot of power. Worst case, maybe. If that's ok, you could even BUILD a nice headphone amp like THIS. tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy/Not too tough and a great learning experience. It'll fit in an ALTOIDS tin if you are careful. Other than that? Maybe the Bottlehead? bottlehead.com/product/crack-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit/This is a little more ambitious but gives great results and will drive even some more aggressive 'cans. |
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