I got the idea from Z Reviews. On one of his videos he had dual DACs, SMSL Sanscrit, one blue & one red & dual amps. He might have had a clocking issue using 2 DACs I think he later mentioned.
Switched to DT1990Pro & definately need to turn down Amazon’s volume 20-30% less than with the 600ohm DT880. I expected that. Sound wise, I can’t say there is any difference enough to matter in presentation. If you’ve got the power for them the 600ohm DT880 are just a hell of a deal.
I bought little isolation feet for the rack not that I believe it’s going to make a sound difference but they look cool and give me more height between shelves
Unfortunately not. You get the same power as if You would be using just one amp. It’s not a speaker amp where you can set a jumper bridge to combine 2 channels for extra power.
This ^. You’ll only be using one half (or channel) of the amplifier circuit in each of the SA-1’s - so one half doing all the work and the other left idle. You might get less crosstalk but that’s it.
No, I’m using both channels of input of both amps. What I’m wondering is if using a mono 1/4" TS on the headphone output of each amp will recieve the power from both sides of each amp? If not I have all the TRS cables, couplers, & splitters I need to get it done I think.
I’ve got stereo signal 2 different ways. One using a TS into each headphone output coupled to a female TRS. The other using a TRS into each headphone output, each into a female to female TRS & then a TS into each side. I have figured out what I need to really make sure I’m getting full power. New headphones that use a 2.5 or 3.5 TRS into each ear cup.
Whilst you are using unbalanced SE so TS and TRS will both output at the same power - in theory you should use the TRS all the way to the headphones. As the SE output you use is stereo and you have plugged into both stereo RCA inputs - so it will output a stereo signal. A TRS handles stereo in both balanced and unbalanced modes whilst a TS is always mono unbalanced.
My concern especially on blending two stereo outputs into one would be how the imaging is handled. Never tried myself for headphones only monoblocked to speakers as don’t have a scenario where I need the extra power (mainly use IEMs & Buds) so hearing your feedback on this would be great.
Here you may potentially be bottlenecked by the Zen DAC performance. I see you have the E50 there - that may be preferable to use since it has a higher max output voltage and I presume you are looking for power…
That is good but still You are using just one channel of each amp.
A TS connector in a TRS jack will use only one channel. The T (Tip) of your connector will connect to the left channel of the amp. The right channel in the jack, that would be on the Ring contact (R) of the plug, is now connected to the sleeve contact (ground). Means the right channel is in a constant short circuit state in your configuration right now. TRS are designed to withstand short circuits because they happen all the time during plugging in and out but I would probably not leave it like this. At least use a TRS male adapter in the amp.
For a high impedance headphone you need high voltage. To get a higher voltage with 2 sources you need to connect them in serial, like two 1.5V batteries connected in a row in a remote control to achieve 3V. You can’t do this with amps.
That would be the best solution.
Question at all (and maybe summon @MazeFrame ), while I can’t hook up two amps in series to get a higher voltage wouldn’t it be possible to connect 2 amps parallel, left and right channel of both amps connected to a headphone, to achieve a higher current for like inefficient planars?
“Bridge Mono” is what that configuration would be called, and some amps support that (usually via a switch in the back). I have never seen bridged setups with more than one amp though.
In theory possible, problem is that the amp with the lower output voltage gets “back fed”. No idea how to do this on device level, fairly simple to achieve on a component level (= with Op-Amps).
He is using both channels not one. One channel from DAC is feed into two channels in amp and outputted in stereo SE. You can technically bridge any SE output but in this configuration it is not truly “mono” bridged it is something else… My concern is for imaging (perhaps phase but in reality it shouldn’t be an issue here for headphones unlike for speakers in a mono block configuration)
TRS are the way to go in this configuration.
Potentially, a higher DAC voltage output and gain stage/control may be more effective here for what the OP needs if using a single amp. And using a single monitor controller after the dual amps to regulate volume evenly may also be helpful.
agree with @MazeFrame at component level parallel would be easy but device level I am also not sure how you can achieve that.
If you want to do the power calc you will see this configuration will yield an uptick in power (not double though) but you can work out if it is more cost effective and simpler to just use a more powerful amp dependant on the higher bar for impedence / sensitivity of the headphones he is looking to drive and what their max voltage input can be. I suspect it probably would be but each to their own for how they want their setup to look and feel like.
One channel goes from the dac to both inputs of one amp. Okay.
With a TS adapter he Is still shorting out one output channel of each amp.
When he changes to a TRS connector he still needs to connect L+ and R+ (Tip and ring) of each side / amps.
Don’t think it is like that in his current setup.
agreed - That’s why I stated in my first post that the OP needed TRS all the way up to the headphone itself - only way this works properly connection of + and - to L & R for both channels.
So in reality for the layman a custom headphone cable with dual TRS connectors is what is required. Please correct me if I am mistaken or you can see an easier way.
The other concerns listed above, I believe would still stand though even with such a connection.
Probably best to continue the conversation in
The soundstage & imaging are fantastic, given the music is well recorded, mixed, & mastered. It’s perhaps better than a single amp in stereo, but I need to do more comparison. One thing I did catch yesterday on one particular song is that the digital stereo reverb & delay sounded like digital stereo reverb & delay of the time; being not so smooth, not so natural sounding. I haven’t yet heard it on a straight stereo amp to know if it blends in better. I.G.Y on The Nightfly by Donald Fagen.
I hadn’t posted it, but I got the Olina SE on Friday. The Tripowin Noire cable showed today. I am digging the combo with the BTR5.
I have a 7Hz 71 and the QKZ x HBB IEM showing up later in the month too. I am curious to hear that budget AKM dongle.
Just bought a used set of Sony MDR-CD900st, this will be my first vintage headphone, I can’t wait to get them.
Nice little sub but the shiney optic would be the bane if my existence 
Congrats. I feel like the addition of a sub was exactly what my speaker setup needed as well. My REL has the nice lacquer finish and I love it. Enjoy.
