minimum HP imp for use with x-can?

[Deleted]

I agree with the above, BTW, Alex (your comments re the noisy warts) but totally disagree with all that bull about hissy valves!

Mike
The simple fact is , that with either technology, if the gain is quite high, you will hear a slight background hiss at maximum volume
as long as you aren't as old as I am !
Tape hiss wouldn't worry unduly, too many of our members these days either. If you place your ears fairly close to speakers driven by a normal power amplifier using either valves or semis, you will hear a slight hiss if it isn't drowned out by residual mains hum.
Alex

[oldson]

Oct 10, 2011 21:43:20 GMT @sandyk said:

Simon
With the GS amplifier,at what position of the volume control is your maximumum USABLE sound level volume ?
Alex

Alex
with use of my 60 ohm imp adapter on d7000 (25 ohm) i usually listen at 10 oclock on the volume, max 11 with some poor recordings.
Simon

[oldson]

Oct 11, 2011 2:27:48 GMT mrarroyo said:

Simon & Ian & Alex: I have a Solo Ultra Linear on loan, it has about 165 hours of burn-in with a PSU1. I have listened to the unit with a pair of Grado RS1 and did not hear any noise, I then paused the cd-player and raised the volume to max with no noise heard. Wonder if it is my old/tired ears

Miguel
what imp' are the rs1?
could it be my psu?
i am not using a psu-1, nor a switch mode unit.
i am using a mascot lin/reg unit from rs.

i should say "was using", as i am now using the X-cans anyway.
cheers
Simon

[oldson]

i think the "more than half as quiet" was comparing srg11 to ultra linear, to be fair.
but , having now switched to my first tube amp, i would have to agree that there should not be any hiss.

i am very happy with my new x-can. and as Mike said it should improve further yet.
may even sell the impedence adapters now .

have not looked inside my x-10d yet, but am hopeful of Mike breathing new life into that too. but may have to wait until after xmas.

[Deleted]

i think the "more than half as quiet" was comparing srg11 to ultra linear, to be fair.

That is a funny way for Graham to be describing the differences.
I would have expected him to use approximate Decibel levels.
"Half as quiet" really is a very low number in dB terms and would be barely audible.

[mrarroyo]

Oct 11, 2011 18:36:06 GMT oldson said:

Oct 11, 2011 2:27:48 GMT mrarroyo said:

Simon & Ian & Alex: I have a Solo Ultra Linear on loan, it has about 165 hours of burn-in with a PSU1. I have listened to the unit with a pair of Grado RS1 and did not hear any noise, I then paused the cd-player and raised the volume to max with no noise heard. Wonder if it is my old/tired ears

Miguel
what imp' are the rs1?
could it be my psu?
i am not using a psu-1, nor a switch mode unit.
i am using a mascot lin/reg unit from rs.

i should say "was using", as i am now using the X-cans anyway.
cheers
Simon

Simon, the RS-1 are 32 ohm.

[Deleted]

Oct 11, 2011 9:32:01 GMT PinkFloyd said:

"Please note that the Ultra-Linear technology mimics valves so closely that there is also a similar amount of the valve artefact hiss". Although this will not be a problem for most listeners because it is no louder than or different to what you'd get from actual valves, if your preference is for the utmost background silence then we recommend the Solo SRGII which is more than half as quiet.""

I am really surprised that Graham actually wrote that shite (let alone PUBLISH it on the WWW) He must have listened to some exceptionally shite valve amps to come to the conclusion that they all "hiss"... I have never read such absolute nonsense.

Even MORE disturbing is the fact that he has produced a hissy solid state amp and has tried to punt it out as "sounding like a valve amp".... erm, no...... a good valve amp does NOT hiss (unless the valves are cream crackered) and if they DID "hiss" I am sure that not many people would buy them.

How many of you valve amp owners here have a valve amp that "hisses"? I have about ten of them and not ONE of them hiss, they are deadly silent. I have heard hundreds of them and the only ones that have hissed are ones with dodgy valves that need replacing.

"valve artefact hiss"...... eh? that's a new one on me!

Musical Fidelity X-CAN V8 (with added HISS).... this is our best amp yet, it hisses like crazy just the way a good valve amp should!

Project Sunrise.... our latest amp with that valve hiss that all you audiophiles love!

I will be complaining to MF and Project Sunrise because my amps came without hiss..... the only reason I bought them was for the valve hiss.... I am so disappointed, there is no hiss

An absolute crock of BS!!!!

My X-can V2 (with Mike mods) is completely and utterly silent at any and all volco settings.
I may complain to Mike that his mods have destroyed the "valve-ness" of my amp. ;D

[oldson]

Oct 11, 2011 23:00:22 GMT mrarroyo said:

Oct 11, 2011 18:36:06 GMT oldson said:

Miguel
what imp' are the rs1?
could it be my psu?
i am not using a psu-1, nor a switch mode unit.
i am using a mascot lin/reg unit from rs.

i should say "was using", as i am now using the X-cans anyway.
cheers
Simon

Simon, the RS-1 are 32 ohm.

maybe the d7000s are just more sensitive?

[mrarroyo]

The Denon's are 25 ohm, I have a highly modified D2000 and D5000 and will listen to the UL when fully burnt in to see if I can hear "noise".

[mrarroyo]

I tried the Denon and could not hear any noise, I then paused the cd-player and increase the volume and at about 3 o'clock I started hearing a bit of "hiss". However many amps have said issue and I do not listen past 9 o'clock. What I did notice was a slight channel imbalance, the volume pot had to be at least to 8 o'clock so both channels were at the same level.

[mrarroyo]

The channel imbalance is with cans like the Denon (25 ohm) and Grado (32 ohm).

[oldson]

Oct 15, 2011 11:27:24 GMT mrarroyo said:

I tried the Denon and could not hear any noise, I then paused the cd-player and increase the volume and at about 3 o'clock I started hearing a bit of "hiss". However many amps have said issue and I do not listen past 9 o'clock. What I did notice was a slight channel imbalance, the volume pot had to be at least to 8 o'clock so both channels were at the same level.

Hi Miguel
maybe it is my psu causing the hiss.
but i had no hiss on my srg solo with same psu!!!
and the hiss disappears when using an impedence adapter.

thing is i cannot afford to buy a psu-1, just on the chance that it may cure the problem.

cheers

[PinkFloyd]

Oct 15, 2011 11:27:24 GMT mrarroyo said:

I tried the Denon and could not hear any noise, I then paused the cd-player and increase the volume and at about 3 o'clock I started hearing a bit of "hiss". However many amps have said issue and I do not listen past 9 o'clock. What I did notice was a slight channel imbalance, the volume pot had to be at least to 8 o'clock so both channels were at the same level.

That's a pretty low level you listen at Miguel... fine for rock / Jazz etc. but with some classical you really have to crank the wick up a bit.... there really shouldn't be any hiss (maybe a bit of a whine at max volco) but with low impedance 'phones you are more likely to notice any hiss that may be present.

I can't remember hearing any hiss on any of my older type solos, just the crosstalk thing between the input selector... what opamp is he using in the UL thing? I was told it was an NE5532? Probably the best choice of opamp if you want it to "hiss like a valve" but why not just go for a real valve amp if you want to listen to "hiss"

Sorry, but I just cannot take that "hiss" thing seriously (hissing like a valve blah blah) erm, he must of been listening to a valve amp that was defective or something... you know yourself, Miguel, that a good valve amp doesn't "hiss"

Anyhoo... I know zilch about the latest "UL" amp so cannot really comment on why it is hissing.

[oldson]

volume level makes no odds, here.
the hiss is at the same level through the entire vol range, doesnt change at all.
and is there with no source playing.
its gonna go on ebay soon anyway.

[mrarroyo]

Yes, I listen at very low levels, say 65-67 dB. Did you try grounding the amp to see if the noise is coming from the switching psu?

[mrarroyo]

I have the stock op-amp on the Solo UL.

[oldson]

Oct 20, 2011 10:45:41 GMT mrarroyo said:

Yes, I listen at very low levels, say 65-67 dB. Did you try grounding the amp to see if the noise is coming from the switching psu?

my psu is regulated linear

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2011 19:12:16 GMT oldson said:

Oct 20, 2011 10:45:41 GMT mrarroyo said:

Yes, I listen at very low levels, say 65-67 dB. Did you try grounding the amp to see if the noise is coming from the switching psu?

my psu is regulated linear

It is not unknown for voltage regulator I.C.s to oscillate at as high a frequency as 3MHZ,due to faulty bypassing, usually.
It is highly unlikely this is the case, but it's not impossible.
Alex

[petergriffin]

Hello all,

I actually registered because of this thread: I recently aquired an X-can V8p (With the X-PSU V8), and it hisses with my Denon AH-D7000.
The hiss is not loud enough to bother me with the 7000's, it's just barely audible when listening at night, but with a pair of Beyerdynamic T5P's it is a lot louder , making it a completely unlistenable combination. With the Denon AH-D2000 it is completely silent (They are considerably less sensitive than their bigger brother).

I have already replaced the tubes, the old ones had gone microphonic, but that does not seem to make any difference. Is this normal? Or is somethin wrong with my X-can V8p? The tubes that came with it (both inside and a spare set) are not the original ones, they are Electro Harmonix 9622, I have also tried a set of 6N1P I still had lying around, but that made the hiss even louder. I Realise that the 6N1P is technically not the same tube, but the difference in the noise level makes me wonder if there are "quieter"tubes than my current Electro Harmonix'?

[Deleted]

The T5P changes sound on a higher output resistance amp (will be come more bassy/sounding less controled)
The D7000 can be connected with higher Ohmic amplifier outputs and doesn't react much.

making a higher resistance say adding 68 Ohms will lower the background noise, but also the maximum SPL in both cases by 7 to 8dB.

[xerxes]

My amp was a bit hissy with my Jays V-Jays, which have a very low 14 Ohm impedance. Also, I was only able to use the first quarter turn of the volume knob before it was way too loud. Whereas with my 300 Ohm impedance Sennheiser HD650s it was silent and I could use more of the volume range.

I made up an adapter, with a 3.5mm socket at one end and a 6.5mm plug at the other for use with the V-Jays. Inside the 6.5mm plug I also put a couple of 160 Ohm resistors, I would have used 200 Ohm, but I had some 160 Ohm to hand. Anyway, it did the trick, I'm able to use more of the volume knobs range and no hiss.

This is something I tried after reading, but not fully understanding, something about impedance matching. Perhaps someone that does understand it could explain why it works.

[Deleted]

It has nothing to do with impedance matching, but everything with voltage division.
Impedance matching is only important for Video, Radio Frequencies and fast (digital) links.
basically anything above 100 kHz.

Using too big resistors can/may affect the sound in a negative way with certain headphones (HD555 being one of those).
This is because the voltage division (and thus attenuation) becomes frequency dependent and is determined by the impedance plot of the headphone.
V-Jays is 24Ohm nominal b.t.w.
The frequency plot states the 70Hz region will be increased by 4 dB with 160 Ohm resistors.

here is some info output impedance:
www.mediafire.com/?82kf0r5kdckdcer
The 598 is used as an example in that file and is the same as HD555 in the impedance aspect.

[petergriffin]

Thanks for the input guys,

An impedance adapter is not really necessary: I own multiple headphone amplifiers which ARE silent even with low impedance/high sensitivity headphones, and I don't mind the audible hiss with just one or two headphones.
I aquired the X-can V8p though a trade-in and love its looks and sound quality , I was (am?) just a bit worried somethin may be wrong with it because of the hiss.
Any additional experiences with the V8p and high sensitivity headphones are still much appreciated!

[xerxes]

It has nothing to do with impedance matching, but everything with voltage division.

I'll take your word for it.

The frequency plot states the 70Hz region will be increased by 4 dB with 160 Ohm resistors.

I didn't notice any detrimental effects to the sound, just the lack of noise and the increase in useable volume range. A little increase around 70Hz might not be a bad thing anyway, a slight upper bass boost; not that the V-Jays are lacking here.

V-Jays is 24Ohm nominal b.t.w.

I stand corrected. It's still lower than most which seem to be 32Ohm and up.

[petergriffin]

I just tried a set of JJ E88CC's and the hiss is again louder than with the Electro Harmonix 6922's, not by a large margin: The hiss is now also audible in the D2000 (barely noticeable), and considerably easyer to pick up in the D7000.
Would it be worthwhile to pick up a set of Genalex Golden Lions , or Perhaps a set TAD6922's to see if they hiss even less (both are advertised along the lines of: "the new production tubes with the tightest tolerances) Or should I just stick with the (Cheap) Electro Harmonix?
They sound great and the only headphone I own that hisses too loud with them is the Beyerdynamic T5P.