Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

D

Daniel Nickleski

Sophomore
Jan 11, 2011
251
0
16
Chicago
www.soundworkspro.com
Does anyone know of a battery powered headphone amp with 1/4in BALANCED in that is rarely cheap? I can find them all over with a TRS that is either stereo or unbalanced, but can't seem to find a balanced one. We use them for monitoring press feeds and have used a shire model in the past, but are looking for something a bit cheaper (under $100) range.
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

What about the used market for some of the older Shure wired packs? Most of them have 2 XLR ins, but you could easily build/buy adaptors for the use.

You could also build your own very cheaply. Probably around 20-40$ each for your use plus labor.

How to Build the CMoy Pocket Amplifier is one simple design.

Pretty easy to modify the design for balanced inputs.
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Jens Bacher said:
1/4 balanced means line level. Why don't you just solder a headphone listen adaptor like this one: CANFORD B-GAUGE JACKFIELD LISTEN ADAPTER
Click to expand...

The average line output does not have the capability to drive a low-impedance, high power load like headphones, at least not to any reasonable level. (I'm talking 50-ish ohms and hundreds of milliwatts here).
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Mike Brown said:
You could also build your own very cheaply. Probably around 20-40$ each for your use plus labor.

How to Build the CMoy Pocket Amplifier is one simple design.

Pretty easy to modify the design for balanced inputs.
Click to expand...

there's a slew of prebuilt cMoy pocket amps on ebay for 30-40 bucks. you might have to modify it to take a TRS balanced input, but it'd be a good start. and cheap. plus most of them are built into altoids boxes, so they're pretty stylin'
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Silas Pradetto said:
The average line output does not have the capability to drive a low-impedance, high power load like headphones, at least not to any reasonable level. (I'm talking 50-ish ohms and hundreds of milliwatts here).
Click to expand...
Don't be so sure. I run headphones (in-ear type - 32ohm) out of mixers' outputs all the time with no problems. Plenty of level. Try it for yourself.
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Well it actually does work, which is why Canford audio sells the adaptor... Of couse you should not use an AKG 240DF with 88 dB SPL/mW, but rather something with a sensitivity inthe mid 90's or higher.
 
Last edited:
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Mike Brown said:
What about the used market for some of the older Shure wired packs? Most of them have 2 XLR ins, but you could easily build/buy adaptors for the use. You could also build your own very cheaply. Probably around 20-40$ each for your use plus labor.
Click to expand...

When I've seen used Shure units, they typically blow the $100 price point-it's still a desirable product, along with the DFR11.

I think Shure should reintroduce updated versions and put them on the market again.

Best regards,

John
 
Re: Battery Powered Headphone Amp with 1/4in Balanced in

Daniel Nickleski said:
Does anyone know of a battery powered headphone amp with 1/4in BALANCED in that is rarely cheap? I can find them all over with a TRS that is either stereo or unbalanced, but can't seem to find a balanced one. We use them for monitoring press feeds and have used a shire model in the past, but are looking for something a bit cheaper (under $100) range.
Click to expand...
How about using what you have with an adapter cable. That cable is one I always have with my gear.

I found this cheap Rolls unit but you would still need an adapter cable. Rolls Corporation Rolls PM55 Battery Powered Personal Monitor Amp Headphone Amplifiers at Markertek.com
 
Top Bottom