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dixter
99
Dec 18, 2014
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How many here are going to convert the K7xx to balanced... should be interesting, can't wait to power these with the OPPO HA-1 in balance mode... :-0
Dec 18, 2014
A community member
Dec 18, 2014
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dixterI'm considering this, but from what I understand it can be somewhat difficult with the AKG K7-series cans. Especially since the metal rods connecting the left/right sides are actually the conductors the side opposite the cable entry. There are several threads over at head-fi.org discussing this.
Dec 18, 2014
Wooki3
11
Dec 18, 2014
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Can you post links to the threads discussing balancing the k7xx?
Dec 18, 2014
dixter
99
Dec 19, 2014
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Wooki3http://www.head-fi.org/t/483861/guide-balanced-akg-k702-with-detachable-4-pin-mini-xlr-cable/15
you can also go to the AKG website and there they have instructions on how to take the headphone apart.... should be pretty easy from the instructions on both sites...
I'm switching mine to balanced with Moon Audio components....
Dec 19, 2014
wild_one
236
Dec 19, 2014
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dixterLooks like Moon Audio doesn't have all the parts needed. i.e. a mini-XLR 4 pin male receptacle like the Switchcraft TB4M.
Dec 19, 2014
dixter
99
Dec 19, 2014
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wild_onegoto post 22 in the head-fi link... the headphone part is from Redco... the moon audio parts are for creating a cable that will have interchangeable connectors... single ended (both sizes) and the 4 pin XLR ... that way the phones will work on anything.. you just create the short adapters and on one end is the mini XLR... so you will be changing out the mini xlr connector on the head phone... on the cable you will have the mating mini xlr connector to connect to the head phone.. on the other end of the cable another mini xlr connector that connects to three different adapters... the adapters will have the mating mini xlr and then on the other end you will have a mini single end, 3.5 single end and a 4 pin XLR... so you will have three different adapters when complete with the head phone cable...
Dec 19, 2014
wild_one
236
Dec 19, 2014
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dixterFor the HP, all you need from the male side are the pins. I'm not sure if the pins are the same for a cable or panel type mini-XLR, but I'd rather be sure than spend more than I need to ( ~$6 for the Switchcraft vs $15 from Moon Audio).
Dec 19, 2014
EniGmA1987
607
Dec 19, 2014
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dixterI see the people in that thread wondering why "dual 3-pin connectors instead of just the single 4-pin XLR", well that would be because a single 4 pin is not *really* fully balanced. A balanced signal has 3 conductors, signal positive, signal negative, and ground. That is why the dual 3-pin XLR system exists. Using a single 4-pin is like an almost halfway approach between the two, siding more towards unbalanced. It would be better to convert everything to 5-pin mini XLR and then you at least have all the wires you need for a fully balanced system, even if you are at that point sharing a ground still. When you use a 4-pin you have two hot wires, and two ground wires, but back in your amp ground is ground and they are connected there anyway. You don't get that negative signal (phase inverted) with a 4-pin mini XLR because you cant possibly have it, there is no conductor for it. Signal travels through one wire and back down the other, you cant send signal on both from one direction, that wont give you a circuit. So in ending, converting to a 4-pin mini XLR and using two "separate" ground wires is still not properly balanced and wont do hardly anything for the sound.
EDIT: I just realized, there *is* a way to be balanced with a 4-pin mini XLR. Im not sure if anyone does it though, it doesn't look like it from what I have seen (and it wouldn't be for headphone use anyway). You *could* use two conductors for L+ and L-, and two conductors for R+ and R-, and then you would use the cables shield itself as the ground return for both channels back to the send. Definitely not the best way at all to do this, but I just wanted to put it out there because I just realized it technically is possible to be balanced and using only a 4-pin mini XLR.
Dec 19, 2014
dixter
99
Dec 19, 2014
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EniGmA1987Several amp suppliers use 4 pin XLR output for balanced.. an example is the OPPO HA-1
In balanced mode the amp puts out much more power and handles dynamics at the headphone much better than single ended solutions...
Dec 19, 2014
A community member
Dec 19, 2014
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Wooki3Here's one link. It doesn't incorporate a dual-entry mod, continuing to use the rods for signal transfer.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/483861/guide-balanced-akg-k702-with-detachable-4-pin-mini-xlr-cable
Dec 19, 2014
Maor
4
Dec 19, 2014
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EniGmA1987You're incorrect. Have you ever seen a "balanced speaker"? That's because headphones, like speakers, are simple coils moving air. The reason you see headphones with 4-pin connectors is to have dual mono - the drivers are completely separated electrically. Ground and shielding has nothing to do with it. Balanced connections are related ONLY to the electronics side. This is the way for the source, which sends a signal twice (positive and negative), to "tell" the destination, which is the correct signal and what are the interferences on the line. To have balanced headphones you need active circuitry at the headphones end to do this. You can have balanced amps which drive dual mono headphones, and you can dual mono amps which doesn't have balanced inputs. They are unrelated (although, if you buy a balanced amp, you probably get it as dual mono).
Dec 19, 2014
EniGmA1987
607
Dec 19, 2014
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MaorYes I know, that is what I was getting at. Using a 4-pin "balanced" output to the headphones is not balanced, it is simply two unbalanced signals on separate circuits. Two sends, two returns. Balanced would require that extra phase inverted signal line.
Dec 19, 2014
dixter
99
Dec 20, 2014
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EniGmA1987you are getting the electronics and the drivers mixed up.... if you take apart any balanced terminated headphone you will note that its just two drivers wired seperate so they receive the balanced output of the balanced amp... will not matter to you if you don't have a true balanced amp anyway...
Dec 20, 2014
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