Headphone amplifier rivaling RME quality

I have two headphone outs on my RME. One goes to a cheap Rolls 4 out headphone amp. The other I use when recording vox (as the output is very near the mic).

Now the quality of the signal from the direct out if the RME is far better than the output of the headphone amp (duh!!!! the Rolls was like $60).

So my question is, what headphone amp (4 or 6 output) rivals the sound quality of the RME?

Sorry I don't have the answer but I do have the same curiosity.

I often wonder what would happen if I used a stereo 1/4" 'Y' adapter to 1/4" phone plugs and ran them from an unused pair of outputs from the RME FF800. Not sure if there is enough there to drive the headphones or not.

One of these for each person will settle the matter.



... all you need is a TRS to pigtails adapter.

BIAB..

Lots of good advice here.

One of the benefits of the Rane and Stewart headphone amplifiers (and if I may pat myself on the back, mine too<G>) is that the front end includes a proper attenuator, so that you can drive the distribution amplifier from any reasonable source - +4 dBu Line, -10 dBu Line, or even a headphone output. You can't do that with the Rolls, or a lot of other inexpensive devices, they are designed to be driven from a line level output. In some cases a specific line level output.

It's still better, in general, to use a line level output because headphone outputs are designed to drive headphones, not line level inputs. I did build a headphone level input into my little headphone amplifier, but I eventually scrapped it, since it did not seem all that valuable. I'll have to re-think that if I decide to make it a product!

The splitter cable thing will work with a well designed headphone amplifier. You will reduce the power delivered to each set by half (3 dB), but often times that isn't a big deal. The issue to consider is that an amplifier will, of course, deliver all the power it can, and when you exceed that the amplifier goes into a condition known as current limiting, which is exactly what it sounds like. The power supply that powers the headphone amplifier can provide X mA of current, when the load on the amplifier exceeds that the power supply rails start to dip below their rated voltage, and things can get really ugly from there.

This is LARGELY dependent on the headphones in question. When I designed my headphone amplifier I surveyed a bunch of popular headphones and ear buds. I discovered two things:
1) the impedance ranged from less than 30 ohms to over 600 ohms - that's a wide range, and it is nearly impossible to design an output stage that doesn't care about that.
2) the sensitivity of the headphones was all over the map - even after you address the fact that each manufacturer uses a slightly different means to specify sensitivity<G>!

I'd certainly try the splitter cable, but I would not be terribly disappointed if it did not work well

If that price does not scare you I think you can't go wrong. It is a great sounding headphone amplifier! Truthfully I thought it was more than $400, but I knew it wasn't 4 figures - probably should have mentioned that<G>!

In a rare bit of serendipity, I'm having dinner with one of the Rane folks tomorrow night. We used a bunch of their gear in a large project, and they want to see how well it worked. This is part of the gig I really enjoy - when we build a large system around specific products, and it works, it is fun to share that with the manufacturer.

Hi Mike,
 
Not sure if you meant that as a joke or not, but I've used power amplifiers to drive headphone distributon in studios for years. It is common practice, although you do have to be mindful of the widely varying load. I never used a Haffler for that, but I used a lot of Crown D-60s and D-75s along the way.
 
These days I use the Rane because it sounds better - at least to my ears - and it behaves better. It also lets you control the level per headset, which can be really handy.
 
The current cool thing - in larger studios moreso than home studos - is the "more me" thing where you feed a number of channels or subs to a distribution box that feeds a bunch of personal mixers. Then each musician can create their own mix.
 
I used to do something similar, I'd route the tape buss outputs to a matrix, and feed them to the individual inputs on the headphone amplifier. I could create unique sub-mixes for each channel of the headphone amplifier that way. Not as easy (for me) as the Aviom or similar personal monitor mixers, but it was way better than the one or two cue mixes most consoles provided.
 
Take care,
 
Bill

mike_mccue


One of these for each person will settle the matter. 

<pic snipped> 

... all you need is a TRS to pigtails adapter.

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Hi Bill,
 It was part joke / part real life.


 I use headphones for work so often that I rarely use them for enjoyment, but I do have several hi-fi_headphone-nut friends and have watched them experiemnet with both big and small amps for the purpose.

 I have a few Haflers here... so that's why I chose that as a photo example to illustrate the idea.

 all the best,
mike

wst3

bapu

Mebee you can ask them to send me an "eval" HC6 unit?

You have no idea how much I wish it worked that way!!! Now that would be a perq that would make up for a lot of the nonsense...

You're just not pushing hard enough....... for me.

... should a gone for the haflers.






A rack of six can heat half a house.

bapu


Just picked up a used HC6 from Guitar Center (online) for $240 (including tax, 1 year coverage & shipping).

BAPU - there's a RANE HC6 on Colorado Springs Craigslist right now for $65 ... only 5 of 6 channels are working (?) but if you are interested I could help you snag it.

And, all the channels probably work on the one you bought ... priceless!

Just got the HC 6. Best used purchase I ever made.

Thanks for the recommendation Bill. This thing is awesome!!!!!!!!

Prolly the only thing better would be the 6 Haflers.