[tbabb]

I got a Audeze LCD-2 on order and started looking at Headphone amps.  I got a Vinyl rig with a tube phono stage with RCA output.  After looking at the Isabellina HPA LFP-V Edition I can't figure out how I am going to listen to my vinyl on it. Am i missing something?

Tim

[Vinnie R.]

Hi Tim,

The Isabellina HPA LFP-V is the Isabellina dac with volume control and headphone output stage... so it
only features digital inputs.

The Isabella LFP-V (preamp) offers 3 analog inputs, 2 analog outputs, hi/lo gain, and can be configured with headphone stage and Isabellina dac board.

Regarding the headphone stage, something new and exciting that is coming out can be found here:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/437559/isabellina-hpa-owner-s-thread-and-impressions/405#post_7391006

and:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/441696/red-wine-audio-isabellina-hpa/30#post_7350833

More details soon enough...

Vinnie

[tbabb]

Interesting. I wonder if the final version (Isabellina) offer both unbalance and balanced outputs? Can I order it with both?

[jtwrace]

Interesting. I wonder if the final version will offer both unbalance and balanced outputs? Can I order it with both?

Balanced outputs is much different then XLR outputs.  I don't think the Isabellina is a fully balanced unit. 

[Vinnie R.]

All,

The 4-pin XLR shown on the front panel of the prototype unit linked to above is a true balanced, headphone output stage that is smokin' good  and can drive even the most demanding headphones (HE-6s, K1000s, LCD-2s, etc.) in a way very few people have heard before (except those at the NY Headfi Meet who commented, but it will be getting even better.

A balanced to single-ended adapter would need to be used.

NOTE: this is NOT designed for IEMs.  IEMs are not my thing (never have been, and I cannot design something that I don't have passion for), but there are other great products out there that excel with IEMs. 

More details to follow...

Vinnie

[jtwrace]

What about a fully balanced, battery powered, pre only?

[Vinnie R.]

What about a fully balanced, battery powered, pre only?

That is not in the line-up of things to come... at least not for a while.   To many other
goodies cookin' on the stove right now.

Best regards,

Vinnie

[tbabb]

Sorry, IEMs?

[jtwrace]

That is not in the line-up of things to come... at least not for a while.   To many other
goodies cookin' on the stove right now.

Best regards,

Vinnie

    

[srb]

Sorry, IEMs?

In-Ear Monitors (iPod type - can be inexpensive entry-level consumer-grade up to $500+ audiophile grade).
 
Steve

[kitten]

Perhaps someone could explain this thread to a complete Dummy like me. There will at some stage be a new version of the Isabella with Balanced headphone stage  - and an adapter plug / cable will be needed for use with headphones that do not already have balanced terminations???

I don't really understand what Balanced means other than it's something to do with better grounding or something like that? (With RWA gear off the grid, why does it matter?)

[Alwayswantmore]

I don't really understand what Balanced means other than it's something to do with better grounding or something like that?

Balanced has a "+" and a "-" for each channel (four wires). Single end has three wires (shared ground). So the adaptor coverts the multi-pin (four-wire) plug to standard stereo phone plug (three wires).

IF your headphones have four wires (many do). The better bet is to change the termination on your headphones to the plug that matches the balanced Isabella (easily done for many headphone models).

How does balanced sound compared to single end? For a given component (like Isabella), the balanced version should have more control over the drivers in the ear phones. Typically shows up as improved bass, larger soundstage and improved imaging and detail.

I owned several balanced rigs prior to going to all RWA. So just because a product is balanced does NOT mean it sounds better than ALL single end products. But typically when a vendor offers the same product in both single end and balanced versions, the balanced comes out on top.

There's more technical stuff behind this, but the basics come down to:

Balanced amp + headphones wired with balanced plug = best sound for a given amp

Hope this helps, Kent

[kitten]

Thanks Kent, that is a great explanation.

[Paganini Alfredo]

All,

The 4-pin XLR shown on the front panel of the prototype unit linked to above is a true balanced, headphone output stage that is smokin' good  and can drive even the most demanding headphones (HE-6s, K1000s, LCD-2s, etc.)
Vinnie

Can the single ended version in production now drive the HE-6?

[alamakazam]

I am so sad... lfp-v upgraded just a few months, now a new feature..