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145
Jul 6, 2017
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> ideal for powering the HD 6XX out of a high-powered balanced amplifier to achieve the headphones’ full potential.
Can anyone explain what this means? What part of the 6XX's full potential is not achieved with the stock cable?
Jul 6, 2017
Heefty
1387
Jul 6, 2017
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emojiFor some reason the term "balanced" has been applied to amplifiers that employ a differential amplification scheme to the drivers on the headphones.
Think of it as pushing a cart compared to pushing a cart while someone else pulls it from the other end. It's easier for both of the people involved. In terms of electronics its a higher output power than a single ended amplifier and lower susceptibility to EMI noise inserting itself into the cable.
In the stock cables the returns are shorted in the connector (there's only 3 poles on the connector) so you can't set up a "puller" on each channel independently. You need at least 4 contact points on the connector for "balanced" operation.
In short: "Balanced" amps will clean up the high end of the audio spectrum and make it more clear and you can't do that with the stock cable without reworking the connector.
Jul 6, 2017
LordThronas
20
Jul 6, 2017
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emojiBasicly xlr 4 can put out more power than a standard Jack and balanced means that with the xlr4 each speaker has it's own nuetral making for better separation.
Jul 6, 2017
MountainPass
223
Jul 6, 2017
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emojiIf you choose the 4-pin XLR plug, you can use this cable to convert the HD 6XX to a balanced headphone. If you choose the 1/4" plug, you will not get this advantage, and the stock cable is already achieving the headphones' "full potential" as an unbalanced headphone.
Note that there are many disagreements about the real advantages of running your headphones in balanced mode, and you also need a balanced amp to get the full advantage (which you still may or may not perceive, depending on your particular setup).
Jul 6, 2017
LordThronas
20
Jul 6, 2017
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MountainPassGotta yolo it and get the balanced dac as well a sound chip per channel
Jul 6, 2017
emoji
145
Jul 8, 2017
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emoji@Heefty @LordThronas @MountainPass Thanks all for the explanation. Very helpful, as I didn't understand the purpose of a 4-pin XLR connector or the relationship that has to "balanced" amplification. Makes much more sense now.
My amp has a ¼-in connector and I probably won't be able to upgrade in the near future, so I will have to count out the XLR connector for now. And it sounds like there is no benefit to the ¼-in version of this product, other than the external feel of the cable.
Jul 8, 2017
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