Line out to Receiver/what's the missing component....

[sweetspot]

And I mean...line out. Not the headphone jack. Well, here's what I've observed..and perhaps there's something I'm forgetting but, lemmie give this a shot. First off, I'm sure most of you are aware that in order to bypass the IHP's amplifier, DSP's and EQ when using the line out, the volume has to be turned all the way up to 40. (thus making it a true line out)

Well, Ive got my IHP hooked up to my Onkyo receiver via RCA cables because my onkyo has no digital ins/outs. I've hooked the RCA plugs into where the CD player normally is, otherwise I'd have to of chosen between Phono, Video 3 or 4...or somethig like that. couple video inputs already used.

Now with this configuration, I was assuming that the IHP's amp would be bypassed, thus using the Onkyos amp, but my observations seem to contradict this. I noticed that when I change the EQ settings, it's still active. If this is the case, then I'm either forgetting something in the chain to the receiver, or this set up in its self does not follow the standard bypassing procedures.

Could it be the input jacks I chose ? The circuitry route ? I'm open....

[sweetspot]

Come on you lazy bastards. Don't make me bump this biatch just to get an answer ! Gawsh...am I gonna have to post this over at head-fi now ? For shame.

[grahamb]

i've read here before the volume needs to be on 40 to make it a true line out....where does that come from?

[seadzz]

SS,

Is that sporty new avatara self portrait? It looks like you are displaying the spoils of a successful nights worth of muggings on the NYC subway system. "Hey Homes Look what I got!"

sdz

[Zidric]

Even though the EQ may be on, I don't know if it is actually being used with Line out. I mean if you say it bypasses the circuit, then would it matter if it says its on or not, if it's not going through it?

[HiredGun]

Originally Posted by seadzz

SS,

Is that sporty new avatara self portrate? It looks like you are displaying the spoils of a successful nights worth of muggings on the NYC subway system. "Hey Homes Look what I got!"

sdz

lol, you must look tough in order to survive in NYC.....unless you come from a good neighborhood.

[sweetspot]

You missed what I said Zid. I said that it's active, meaning that when changed, the sound properties change as well. So it's apparently not bypassing it after all, and I'm wondering why.

Yeah Sdz...no doubt. But what was most supprising about my encounter with my late night NYC subway riding victim, was who he was. I didn't really see his face, because I attacked from behind and after stealing his wallet and IHP, I booked...So when I got home, I opened the wallet to find a drivers license with the name "Steve Jobbs" on it ! :P :P

Ok, now seriously. Who knows what's going on with the line out situation ?

[seadzz]

SS,

you are correct in that it is not a true Line Out. It in reality is a powered output. My guess is the only difernece between the headphone out and the "line out" is the impedence.

JAG.

sdz

[zee]

Does anyone actually know what goes on with the line out? I just looked in the manual for the specs on the output, and it doesn't say. It gives the impedence for the headphone jack but not the line out. (btw - I'm just checking the impedence because that seems to be what everyone is talking about, whther thats the name of the game I don't know.) I'm curious because I've read the posts about using headphones in the line out, which I think would be really cool. Someone said they use sony v600s (I checked inthe store and they have 50 ohms impedence). does that mean any phones with this impedence will work. What about lower? (higher?)
I'm not really up with all the electonics of the situation, so if someone knows the deal and can fill me in that would bemost appreciated. I know theres some techno freaks outthere must know the answer to this question.

[molex]

I'm not sure what the deal is but I use my Koss 50's (impedance 60 ohms) and they sound exactly the same as when they're plugged into the headphone jack.

[sweetspot]

It isn't JUST impedance that one has to take into consideration. It has A LOT to do with the current supplied, and the current able to be handled on the circuit board. Therein lay the answer. It's still not really a clean cut answer, but believe it or not, whether or not the line out is "true" or not, has VERY LITTLE to do with whether or not the DSP stage or EQ stage is bypassed. A true line out can be measured by "the numbers". Unfortunately, Iriver has never disclosed the exact info needed to discern the facts.

P.S. You do NOT want the Sony V 600's OR the 900's. V6's ..sure go for it, they're great. I use them with nothing BUT the line out. An amp would make them perform even better. Bottom line without having to provide written technical proof: Using cans with a nice portable amp from the line out = Better performance all around. This has been proven over and over. Ears don't lie. People do.

The 50's are 60 ohms ? That's pretty high for those jammies. The 35's are 32 ohms.

[molex]

According to the koss website.
http://www.koss.com/koss/kossweb.nsf/02ProductDetailCall? ReadForm&Portabl e+Stereophones^KSC50
I should know all about this kinda stuff from control engineering, but Im was busy sweeing how many pints of beer I could down in the 15 minute lecture break (3) and later, how long I could hold my breath without passing out. (1 minute 10 I think it was, but I passed out shortly after )

[zee]

Thanks SS
I'm thinking this whole thing is a bit difficult to work out scientifically. Maybe an empirical solution is the go. As you're an admin, could you maybe post a topic where people can reply and indicate what phones they use for listening from the line out.
You say the V6's but not the V600's? Why is that? I had a go of the V600's in a shop and they sounded alright. I'm not really much of an audiophile, but I don't wnat to have a crap setup.
I have no idea what phones to get now, your help is greatly appreciated (and yours too Molex).

[obiwan]

SS - did you get any more info on this? I can only conclude that at no point in the volume spectrum does the iRiver line out represent a true line out. Where did you learn that volume 40 bypasses the signal processing circuitry?

I'm not a tech, but I found the following standards for line level signals on the 'net:

Professional Line Level: +4 dB 1.5v, 600 ohms

Consumer Line Level: -10 dB, (0.7v), 10K (10,000) ohms

Are either of these able to be produced, free of SP 'interference', from the iHP/H series players

[obiwan]

Sorry to bump this old bitch..but is anyone any wiser since way back when? Tried hooking my H140 into the CD input on my hi-fi amp and the result = lukewarm poo. So unhappy I just checked out the Karma prices on AMP (RCA outs in the cradle...nice).