headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation

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lcrim

headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« on: 11 Apr 2013, 03:21 pm »
I have a pair of systems, one has an X-Can V2 which offers this feature.  I can choose to listen to an amp and speakers and/or cans and there is only a single volume control (the amp) for the speakers.  My other system has an AudioEngine D1 which allows headphone listening or speakers as it has an analog output.  However, in this case there are two volume controls inline, and lately this setup feels less crisp and satisfying in comparison.  The X-Cans can be left unpowered and still acts as a passthrough of the signal.
I just don't want to set up a headphone system aa a total standalone, cost and complexity are just too much.
Does anyone know of a headphone amp which has a similar feature set to the X-Cans?  Other suggestions around this are welcome.
Larry

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Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #1 on: 11 Apr 2013, 04:00 pm »
The famous Decware brand had a headphone amp that also double as preamp, which had this volume control, infact it had 3 pots, at input, output and a master volume control.
The output pot is said to lower the noise floor, but 3 volume controls is too much for me.
The model is Decware CSP2+ :
http://www.decware.com/newsite/CSP2.html
Looks a great sound phones amp, it had all the good things, OTL, few parts, Triode tubes, etc for just $895.
Maybe Decware would made a custom model with no pot at output.
Somewhere in this page they mention the output pot apply only to the preamp output, the phones output is direct, but Iam not shure.

lcrim

Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #2 on: 11 Apr 2013, 04:42 pm »
The famous Decware brand had a headphone amp that also double as preamp, which had this volume control, infact it had 3 pots, at input, output and a master volume control.
The output pot is said to lower the noise floor, but 3 volume controls is too much for me.
The model is Decware CSP2+ :
http://www.decware.com/newsite/CSP2.html
Thanks for the input but if I understand this correctly, the adjustments necessary to use it as preamp not as headphone amp makes my present situation of only 2 attenuators inline seem simple in comparison. 
I have an earlier version of the Decware triode amp in that system.  I love the sound of that amp but it seems to belong to a simpler (and less expensive) day and age.
Larry

lcrim

Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #3 on: 11 Apr 2013, 06:20 pm »
dalethorn:
Thanks for your suggestion but  as I stated I own the D1 and I do use it almost every day.  There is no option to take the attenuator out of the output circuit short of physical modification.  Yes, I can turn the gain up full on the D1 and use the pot on the Decware amp I have, as the only attenuator in the circuit.  Somehow this doesn't sound as full as my other system and both use the Pogoplug loaded loaded w/ Squeezelite in addition to the iFi iUSB power as their source.
Larry
 

lcrim

Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #4 on: 11 Apr 2013, 10:04 pm »
dalethorn:
Thanks for the suggestion.  Do you have a link?

How do you set volume for headphones if there is no knob?  My system uses a Pogoplug which is a linux device and has no volume settings.  It acts as a replacement for Squeezebox Touch but runs a version called Squeezelite.  The only other thing I've found that includes volume is the iFi iDAC but it would be the same issue I have now, two volume setting devices on the same line albeit capable of deeper bit rates (24/192.)  Randytsuch has the iDAC, I wonder how that sets volume on its line out, probably the same way as the D1.  The microstreamer is from HRT, correct?
Larry

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Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #5 on: 11 Apr 2013, 11:41 pm »
Thanks for the input but if I understand this correctly, the adjustments necessary to use it as preamp not as headphone amp makes my present situation of only 2 attenuators inline seem simple in comparison. 
I have an earlier version of the Decware triode amp in that system.  I love the sound of that amp but it seems to belong to a simpler (and less expensive) day and age.
Larry
When I read the CSP2+ page I was shocked, I dont believe they put 2 pots at input/output, I though this was very strange for a minimalist OTL tube preamp.

I suppose Decware may made a no pots version if ordered.
These 2 pots dont make sense to me, it just add parts and solder work to the final cost, one master volume pot is enough.

Quiet Earth

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Re: headphone amp w/ line level out w/ no attenuation
« Reply #6 on: 13 Apr 2013, 02:48 pm »
This one will give you an active buffered output. The signal is taken after the op amp stage but before the volume control :
http://www.violectric.de/Pages/en/products/hpav90.php

A good place to buy one in the U.S.A. :
http://aphroditecu29.com/Violectric/V90.aspx

I bought my v100 there, and I am very happy with it.