1 Topic by dainbramage (edited by dainbramage 2011-12-02 16:50:09)

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Topic: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

I got a good offer on a headphone amplifier with only RCA phono connectors.

On page 44 of the UFX manual it says:

"In case the
output should operate as Line
output, an adapter TRS plug to
RCA phono plugs, or TRS plug
to TS plugs is required."

---

My questions:

1. Would such adaptation result in any reduction in sound quality?

2. Would I notice a substantial difference in sound quality by getting a Beyerdynamic A1 headphone amplifier?

---

The reason I really have to know is I bought some very expensive headphones and I really want to use their full potential.

I guess what I'm trying to find out is: How good are the headphone amps built into the UFX compared to 900$ external ones?

I do not mean in terms of gain, but in clarity, transparency, depth, frequency spectrum etc.

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

Well nevermind, I ordered the headphone amplifier and will publish my experience when I have tested it.

  • From: Washington DC, USA
  • Registered: 2007-08-06
  • Posts: 442

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

dainbramage wrote:

Well nevermind, I ordered the headphone amplifier and will publish my experience when I have tested it.

Great.  I was watching this thread with interest as I have the same question.  The UFX heaphone amps work well for me, and are step above those on the FF800 (or perhaps the difference is more attributable to the better DA converters).  But, I don't know how they compare to dedicated, high end headphone amps.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts once you get the Beyerdynamic.

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

neirbod wrote:

Great.  I was watching this thread with interest as I have the same question.  The UFX heaphone amps work well for me, and are step above those on the FF800 (or perhaps the difference is more attributable to the better DA converters).  But, I don't know how they compare to dedicated, high end headphone amps.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts once you get the Beyerdynamic.

I find it strange that there are such small amounts of information on this subject.

It seems it might take a while for me to really test it. The headphone amp (A1) should be here probably Thursday, but the headphones (T1) seems to be out of stock and it might take a few weeks before I get them. I doubt I will hear a substantial difference on my old Sony MD-CD780 headphones.

Well, I will let you know.

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

So seems like the amp will arrive on Monday.

  • Registered: 2011-04-15
  • Posts: 19

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

I hope your HP amp works great. But if it doesn't, this one is very good and well worth considering.
http://www.aphex.com/454.htm

7 Reply by sheldonr (edited by sheldonr 2012-01-11 02:11:22)

  • Registered: 2011-11-07
  • Posts: 6

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

I am using the presonus HP4 with the fireface UFX and it works fine.  No loss of sound or signal.  We have 5 sets of headphones for the band.  I route headphones 9/10 to the HP4 and use outputs 11/12 for the 5th set of headphones.  Works flawlessly.

  • Ulrich
  • S/Mux specialist
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-31
  • Posts: 316

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

dainbramage wrote:

So seems like the amp will arrive on Monday.

Isn't it always the same with threads like this?

First, the topic starter is complaining about no resonance. He wants others to share their experience with him.

Then he announces own tests (Monday!!!).

And then: nothing...

Of course everybody would like to know how it compares. So why doesn't he share his experience? Stupid...

BTW: I own two Lehmann audio headphone amps, the big one and a smaller one. Both work very well and make the headphones really perform well, MUCH MUCH better then with the usual devices. But I don't own an UFX...

9 Reply by dainbramage (edited by dainbramage 2012-01-12 21:08:18)

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

Sorry about the delay. The amp arrived two weeks ago and frankly I do not hear much (if any) difference from it and the UFX using my old Sony MD-CD780 headphones. The Beyerdynamic T1 headphones have been delayed again and again and now they will not be available in my country until March (!) and so I ordered the cans directly from Beyerdynamic yesterday. I expect it to take a while due to customs and stuff but I promise I will let you know about how it sounds when they have arrived.

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

So the T1 headphones have finally arrived and my long promised test has been commenced.

I made sure the volume were nearly identical on the two amplifier-sources and I quickly switched the cable between one and the other for a period of about an hour to make sure.

The verdict: With the T1 high-end headphones, I do hear a substantial difference between the A1 amplifier and the UFX built-in amps. The sound through the A1 is a little clearer, more focused, there is a bit more mids and the bass has more impact than on the UFX. However as I did not hear a difference (A1 vs UFX) on the Sony headphones while noticing a huge difference from laptop vs UFX proves that the headphone amplifiers on the UFX are more than good enough, if not for audiophile listening then at least for casual listening as well as music production.

The difference was most notable on electronic music as well as very multilayered music.

  • Ulrich
  • S/Mux specialist
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-31
  • Posts: 316

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

Thanks for reporting!

  • Knut
  • Knut
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 1,618

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

The sound through the A1 is a little clearer, more focused, there is a bit more mids and the bass has more impact than on the UFX.

Sounds like the typical effect of analog distortion - which will be produced by every analog component in the signal path. The resulting harmonic tones ("overtones") give the impression of "better", "clearer", "rounder" recognition of special frequency parts, mostly bass and mids. It's basicly a very sophisticated effect of the human ear, which can locate and separate single frequency parts in a noisy mix ("party filter effect" -> capability to listen to somebody in a loud crowd). With more harmonics the recognition in a crowd or mix is easier.

Its a pleasent experience, most users prefer converters, which sound "clearer" and provide a "rounder bass" or "tighter heights". But in RME's puristic philosophy converters and preamps should not have a "sound" of their own. They neither add nor remove anything, but capture and play the signal just as it is to give engineers the free choice to alter the sound or not. This is also the reason why all the monitoring controls on Babyface and Firefaces are consequently digital.

best regards
Knut

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

Admin Knut wrote:

in RME's puristic philosophy converters and preamps should not have a "sound" of their own. They neither add nor remove anything, but capture and play the signal just as it is to give engineers the free choice to alter the sound or not. This is also the reason why all the monitoring controls on Babyface and Firefaces are consequently digital.

Interesting post. It may very well be that the A1 amp have a little colour in its sound signature. Many audiophiles recommend tube amps for the T1 headphones, indicating that T1 sounds better with a little colour due to its slight treble tilt. So my verdict may not be true with darker sounding headphones.

  • Registered: 2011-10-30
  • Posts: 63

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

As a side question: In Totalmix FX, I can choose between -10db, +4db as well as "High Gain" on the outputs going to the HP amp. Is there any difference (theoretically speaking as I do not hear any difference) in output besides the actual gain/volume?

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,781

Re: UFX: HP Amps, RCA adapters and quality

No further difference.


Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website