SEX amp 2.1 4/8/16 or 32 ohms?

Todd R · 3427

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Offline Todd R

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on: July 22, 2011, 05:30:11 PM
Hi,
Just saw the new amp that's coming out. Pretty sure I'll be getting one, but was curious about the output wiring options of 4/8/16 or 32 ohms.
That wouldn't really concern the headphones, it would be more of an option for the speakers you want to use, correct?



Offline mrarroyo

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Reply #1 on: July 23, 2011, 03:02:17 AM
Could the speaker outs be used to drive the AKG K1000 or the HiFiMAN HE-6 cans? Thanks.



Offline Grainger49

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Reply #2 on: July 23, 2011, 05:40:52 AM
The speaker outputs are the same tap as the headphone output.  The headphone jack uses a series dropping resistor.  I'm thinking there might be a problem using a different transformer tap for the headphones than the speakers, might be OK. 

Regardless, it is safe changing or eliminating the series resistor at the headphone jack.



Offline Todd R

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Reply #3 on: July 23, 2011, 05:47:56 AM
So if you have 600 ohm headphones and a 32 ohm pair, what taps would you use so both pair sound good?



Offline Doc B.

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Reply #4 on: July 23, 2011, 06:12:31 AM
You can only wire up one impedance setting at a time. We will have little under-chassis upgrade boards with switches that will allow setting output impedance without having to disconnect anything, but that will still produce only one output impedance at a time. Yes, in general the various taps are for loads that are a the close match, so 4,8 and 16 are primarily for speakers and the oddball phones ( I think there are some IEMs) that are down in that range. For headphones from 32 ohms on up to 600 ohms the 32 ohm tap makes the most sense. I don't know if the K1000s would be driven adequately, but I would try the 32 ohm tap to find out.

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.


Offline Todd R

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Reply #5 on: July 23, 2011, 09:50:18 AM
Thanks Doc,
Apart from it's other capabilities, would you consider the new SEX amp an upgrade over the Crack/Speedball when using something in the Sennheiser 580/600/650 family?



Offline Doc B.

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Reply #6 on: July 23, 2011, 10:06:56 AM
Here's what I think about the best headphone match to the various amps:

http://www.bottlehead.com/et/whichheadphoneamp.htm

Dan "Doc B." Schmalle
President For Life
Bottlehead Corp.