Basx A-100 Headphone Options - Emotiva basX A-100 User Manual

BASX A-100 Headphone Options

The BASX A-100 has very special headphone circuitry, which will be of particular interest to
headphone aficionados and lovers of classic vintage equipment.
The headphone output on the BASX A-100 is powered by the main output amplifiers, after being
passed through a set of high-quality series resistors to reduce the output to a level appropriate
for headphones. This circuit topology is typical of the headphone outputs in highly prized vintage
audio equipment, and offers a slightly different listening experience from modern headphone
amplifiers. Because this classic output circuit design is powered by the advanced circuitry of the
A-100, with its extremely low noise and distortion, the end result is a smooth yet detailed sound
signature rarely available anywhere else - at any price.
The A-100 also offers another very special option for owners of low efficiency planar headphones.
In order to deliver optimum performance, many such headphones must be driven directly by
"speaker amplifiers", and finding a medium-powered amplifier of sufficient quality to realize
their full potential can be difficult. Because the sound quality and power output of the A-100
are ideal for use with these headphones, we've included an option to bypass the resistors on the
headphone output, and connect the front panel headphone output connector directly to the
speaker outputs - eliminating the need for messy adapter cables.
Because this is a special option, and must be used carefully, it can only be accessed by installing a
pair of internal jumpers inside the BASX A-100.
WARNING! WHEN JUMPERS ARE INSTALLED, THE FULL SPEAKER OUTPUT SIGNAL WILL BE
!
ROUTED TO THE FRONT PANEL HEADPHONE OUTPUT. This is equivalent to connecting your
headphones directly to the speaker outputs. While this is appropriate for driving low efficiency
planar headphones, and may even be used with ordinary low efficiency headphones, EXTREME
CAUTION should be used when adjusting the volume on the A-100 when these jumpers are in
place. EMOTIVA ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR HEADPHONES DAMAGED BY USING THIS OPTION!
ALWAYS DISCONNECT AC POWER CABLE FROM THE BASX A-100 BEFORE REMOVING COVER!
!
To configure the Direct High Power Headphone Mode on the BASX A-100, insert the included
jumpers over the header pins as shown in the diagram (we suggest using tweezers or needle
nosed pliers).
X
A
BAS
BASX
A-100
INSTALL
JUMPERS
OVER PINS
TOP
VIEW
Page 11
-100
FRONT
HEADPHONE
INTERFACE
BOARD