I have the DT 1990 Pro that uses a 3 pin mini XLR to connect to the headphones and has a single end. I need to take advantage of the higher wattage output from the balanced connection on my amp. Is this possible? Do I just use an adapter? I was considering Hart audio cables.
I noticed in some of Zeos’s reviews he has adapter cables to test balanced and SE output using a single ended headphone. So I’m guessing this is what I need to do?
I’m just not fully comprehending how the headphones are getting more power, if it’s the single ended cable design that reduces power, or if it’s the single ended output stage of the amp?
That sounds right. Since it’s not a balanced headphone. But it seems that the balanced output from the amp provides about 3 times more power. I’m just trying to understand if and how I can take advantage of that with single ended headphones.
What am I looking at here then? From Hart audio cables:
That’s 4 pin male XLR into the balanced output of the amp -> ending in mini 4 pin female.
Then mini 4 pin male to connect to it, ending in 3 pin mini XLR into the headphone.
Right, but that goes back to my other question about how the wattage is being sent from the amp to the headphones. Is the single ended output of the amp reducing the power by about 1/3rd, or is it the design of single ended cables that causes it to reduce the power sent to the headphones?
In other words will using the adapters as shown in the images above, take advantage of the full power of the balanced XLR output from the amp? Or will the adapters themselves, converting to single ended, reduce the power by 1/3rd?
I think it will reduce the power but I’m sure one of our more learned members will hopefully be able to answer your question more accurately Interested in outcome too
If you use an adapter to convert a balanced 4 pin xlr to a 3 pin you would be mixing the L- and R- signal from the amp (in a single ended those are ground and share the line) and may cause a short and damage your amp. The balanced output is more powerful by design because… science… (Some other members might explain that better than me). Cables have nothing to do with the power output, it’s just how the amp is designed. If you need a more powerful single ended you need to buy a more powerful single ended amp.
Why would Hart audio offer this cable adapter then? I’ve also seen these adapters on Amazon. Are they used for something else like microphones or something? Confusing…
I don’t own any Hart audio cables but the principles stand. You don’t mix two different signals in one cable, balanced = L+, L-, R+, L-. Single ended = L, R, Ground. So if you somehow use a single ended cable in a balanced output you will unite the R- and the L- in the ground channel, that will not likely affect the headphones but will likely affect the amp. It’s a no no. A few months ago I was also confused by this until I understood cables have nothing to do with processing the signal it is done in the amplifier with different channels. So I would recommend for you to get a single ended powerful amplifier like the Schiit Asgard 3, Smsl Sp200 or any other amp below 300 us/euros
You can connect balanced headphones to a single ended output amp using an adaptor, but not the other way around, going from a single ended headphone to a balanced output from a amp will damage the amp.
The Hart Audio kit is not meant to be used that way, it’s meant to be used with headphones that are balanced.
Edit: Meaning the balanced interconnects are only meant to be used with balanced headphones.
Just out of curiosity, how would that damage manifest through the amp’s performance? Would it completely short out the amp or would it still work, but with decreased performance and added noise? Maybe someone actually did this to this amp, then returned it.
Because I still feel like the Amazon seller that sent me this amp, intentionally gave me a returned/defective one. I asked for a return shortly after buying it, but instead they stuck a shipping label on it and just let it sit in their warehouse for a few days. When I received the box it looked like someone ripped it open in a hurry and some of the packaging was missing.
I just listened to the DT 177X Go again with some songs and I can hear it clipping when the music starts to get loud… But they are only 32 ohm. So it seems like the power being insufficient is not the issue for the clipping/distortion. It seems to be the amp itself?
It also had a HUGE amount of noise which was directly related to how much power my PC was using. This was using the RCA inputs. My Schiit Magni 3 had zero noise using the RCA inputs. I read a review on Apos audio which repeatedly mentioned that the SPSL SP200 had exceptionally low noise floor, etc., yet I experienced the exact opposite. So again I’m thinking, this is a defective amp ?
Not sure about your amp, but the best thing is to return it as defective if you can?..Get a set that can be run balanced from a balanced amp or get a single ended amp with a bit of …An iFi Micro iDSD can drive most headphones and sensitive iem’s with zero background noise.
It’s hard to say how much damage there would be, but you would most likely hear it everything you played if it was still “operational”.
I have a SP200 and I’m feeding it signal with RCA cables and don’t notice any noise problems with it.
You could try using different RCA cables, different power cables and connecting it to a different power outlet, if you still hear noise it’s most likely defected.
In a blanced signal, one signal is the inverse (or 180° shift) compared to the other. Both have the same voltage to ground, and double that to each other
When the unbalanced output is more of an afterthought, then just one of the signals is fed out the front resulting in “half” the voltage. As Power is Volts times Amps, half the voltage results in half the power.
You can achieve the same power at out of single ended as you can out of balanced. Just have to do the engineering for it.
I’ve ordered some quality RCA cables, which I’ll use to test my Schiit Magni 3 with the DT 177X Go (since they’re only 32 ohm and would get a lot of power). That way I can test if I still get clipping at similar volume levels as the SMSL SP200. If I don’t then I’ll know for sure if the SMSL amp is defective.
They’re not adapters so much as interconnects that enable you to interchange the terminations while keeping the majority of the cable the same. You can use a single ended interconnect on a balanced headphone, but should not attempt to use a balanced interconnect on a headphone that is not capable of running balanced. As others have said, you run the risk of grounding issues that could cause a short and potential damage to headphone and/or amp.
Interested in outcome too 
