[martel80]

That's very clear, thank you.

What about this though: I'd like to keep the cable that i already own that's currently going from the interface to the monitors (it's a TRS>XLR cable). The reason i want to keep it is because it's quite long, and i'll be able to save money getting a short adapter rather than a long RCA>XLR cable, since length is already covered with the cable i have already. Would it be stupid to just get an RCA>TS adapter that joins my TRS>XLR cable to the amp?

Does that make sense? I don't know if i've explained that properly.
Basically, i'm thinking i might save money if i get a RCA>TS adapter (or short cable) instead of the long RCA Male > XLR cable. What do you think?

Like this:

Or is there some kind of disadvantage to that?

You'd be better off just keeping it plugged as it is right now and use your Line Out from your Antelope to your Headphone amp Input.

Adapters are last resources type of devices. I wouldn't mess with that personally.

 

[Barncore]

You'd be better off just keeping it plugged as it is right now and use your Line Out from your Antelope to your Headphone amp Input.

Adapters are last resources type of devices. I wouldn't mess with that personally.

Oh! I didn't know the Line Out ports could do that!
So line out is just another monitoring signal?
What does Line Out typically get used for?

Edit: So i see there is Line Out 1+2+3+4, whereas the Monitor out is L+R. So would i use just Line Out 1, and then send it through a cable that splits 1xTS into 2xRCA? Or would i use both LineOut 1+2 as the left and right channels?
(sorry for all the questions)

 

[martel80]

Oh! I didn't know the Line Out ports could do that!
So line out is just another monitoring signal?
What does Line Out typically get used for?

Edit: So i see there is Line Out 1+2+3+4, whereas the Monitor out is L+R. So would i use just Line Out 1, and then send it through a cable that splits 1xTS into 2xRCA? Or would i use both LineOut 1+2 as the left and right channels?
(sorry for all the questions)

You'd use Line Out 1+2 to L30ii Input L+R. So you'll need 2 cables that go TS Male to RCA Male.

The rest would stay connected as is.

You'll be switching between your outputs ( monitors or Line Out ) on your antelope.

Function Button 1 (top-most)​

• Pressing Function Button 1 cycles through Monitor Volume, Line Out Volume, and Headphone Output (HP) 1 – 4 Volume. Use the rotary control to adjust volume.
• Press and hold Function Button 1 to access the Discrete 4 System Menu (explained below). Use the rotary control to select an entry in the menu. Press the rotary control to enter the selected sub-menu. Turn the rotary control left or right to adjust the setting.
• Press the rotary control to toggle Monitor Volume Mute On/Off.
• Press any of the function buttons to exit.

Line Output are used for a plethora of devices, from Tape to Console to Summing mixers to Outboard chain or single devices and the list goes on.

 

[Barncore]

You'd use Line Out 1+2 to L30ii Input L+R. So you'll need 2 cables that go TS Male to RCA Male.

The rest would stay connected as is.

You'll be switching between your outputs ( monitors or Line Out ) on your antelope.

Function Button 1 (top-most)​

• Pressing Function Button 1 cycles through Monitor Volume, Line Out Volume, and Headphone Output (HP) 1 – 4 Volume. Use the rotary control to adjust volume.
• Press and hold Function Button 1 to access the Discrete 4 System Menu (explained below). Use the rotary control to select an entry in the menu. Press the rotary control to enter the selected sub-menu. Turn the rotary control left or right to adjust the setting.
• Press the rotary control to toggle Monitor Volume Mute On/Off.
• Press any of the function buttons to exit.

Line Output are used for a plethora of devices, from Tape to Console to Summing mixers to Outboard chain or single devices and the list goes on.

Haha yes i know i know, I use that button every day.

Where i'm confused though, is that, isn't each LineOut channel a mono signal that's summed from stereo?
So how would the amp know to interpret that as left and right?

It would have to be a cable that goes from 1x TRS male to 2x RCA right?

 

[martel80]

Haha yes i know i know, I use that button every day.

Where i'm confused though, is that, isn't each LineOut channel a mono signal that's summed from stereo?
So how would the amp know to interpret that as left and right?

It would have to be a cable that goes from 1x TRS male to 2x RCA right?

No, they are not stereo outputs because they're TRS, they're Balanced because they are TRS.

A TRS connection is not necessarily a stereo connection.

A TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) connection can indeed carry stereo audio, but it's not necessarily stereo by default. The reason lies in how the connection is wired and the devices it's connecting.

1. Mono Configuration: In a mono configuration, a TRS connector carries a single audio signal. This is commonly used for instruments like guitars or microphones, where only one audio channel is required.
2. Stereo Configuration: In a stereo configuration, a TRS connector carries two separate audio signals, typically left and right channels. This is common in headphones, audio interfaces, and other devices where stereo sound is desired.
3. Balanced Audio: TRS connectors are also used in balanced audio connections, where the tip carries the positive audio signal, the ring carries the inverted audio signal, and the sleeve acts as the ground. This configuration is often used in professional audio equipment for its ability to reduce noise and interference over long cable runs.

So, while a TRS connection can carry stereo audio, it can also carry mono audio or even be used for balanced audio, depending on how it's wired and the devices it's connecting.

Antelope's Line-out are all mono Balanced through TRS.

 

[Barncore]

No, they are not stereo outputs because they're TRS, they're Balanced because they are TRS.

A TRS connection is not necessarily a stereo connection.

A TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) connection can indeed carry stereo audio, but it's not necessarily stereo by default. The reason lies in how the connection is wired and the devices it's connecting.

1. Mono Configuration: In a mono configuration, a TRS connector carries a single audio signal. This is commonly used for instruments like guitars or microphones, where only one audio channel is required.
2. Stereo Configuration: In a stereo configuration, a TRS connector carries two separate audio signals, typically left and right channels. This is common in headphones, audio interfaces, and other devices where stereo sound is desired.
3. Balanced Audio: TRS connectors are also used in balanced audio connections, where the tip carries the positive audio signal, the ring carries the inverted audio signal, and the sleeve acts as the ground. This configuration is often used in professional audio equipment for its ability to reduce noise and interference over long cable runs.

So, while a TRS connection can carry stereo audio, it can also carry mono audio or even be used for balanced audio, depending on how it's wired and the devices it's connecting.

Antelope's Line-out are all mono Balanced through TRS.

Ah right. Well that's good to know. Thanks

Now to find out whether Line Out 1 is a left channel or a stereo channel summed to mono. I'll contact Antelope support. Cheers

 

[martel80]

Ah right. Well that's good to know. Thanks

Now to find out whether Line Out 1 is a left channel or a stereo channel summed to mono. I'll contact Antelope support. Cheers

They are mono balanced output.
1 is Left and 2 is right. 3 is left and 4 is right.
Just Link them in the console view.
You can connect your studio monitor in them and hear it for yourself.

Make sure to lower the output in the software before plugin them or it will be EXTREMELY LOUD;

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

Has anyone tried after market pads on the Ananda Nano? I know there's Dekoni. But seems they can be hit or miss with QC. I want to get leather earpads just for comfort but also durability. I know sound may take a hit so I'm either sticking to leather or hybrid pads. Maybe perforated too. AliExpress has some sheepskin earpads and they seem promising.

 

[Rakyan]

I'm using the Nanos with a FiiO K7 and 4.4mm balanced wire and I'm in love with.

Hehe i just ordered the Ananda Nano from Thoman, it arrives this week, will be using the same setup. I love my K7 using it with tripowin granvia 4.4 balanced cable. Veery curious how it will perform with the Nano! (currently using the fiio FT5) As a premise, what i read from the Nano, it will be totally the opposite of my FT5. The FT5 is not a technical monster by any means, but has a very mellow, dark, meaty, full bodied, easy to listen character with almost as good timbe like the HD6x0 series. Staging, imaging probably mediocre in this price tag.

 

[LordImperious]

Just an FYI Oratory1990 just released an eq for the Nano. Going to try it out now.

 

[HardstyleLoco96]

Just an FYI Oratory1990 just released an eq for the Nano. Going to try it out now.

Gave it a shot and as always. Best EQ so far. On point!

 

[LordImperious]

Gave it a shot and as always. Best EQ so far. On point!

Yup! I agree!

 

[Phidel]

Just an FYI Oratory1990 just released an eq for the Nano. Going to try it out now.

Where I can found it to download?

 

[Barncore]

They are mono balanced output.
1 is Left and 2 is right. 3 is left and 4 is right.
Just Link them in the console view.
You can connect your studio monitor in them and hear it for yourself.

Make sure to lower the output in the software before plugin them or it will be EXTREMELY LOUD;

It worked.

Received the L30 ii amp + cable, and my headphones sound way better now. Can conclude now that they were not getting enough juice through the Antelope interface, and it was indeed hampering the sound.

I compared both amps side by side (same DAC, same headphones), level-matched them as best i could, and the Topping was better in every way. Topping had more weight and energy, the bass vibrates my ears now. Overall it feels more "alive". The transients are clearer and cleaner and have more sharp definition, whereas on the Antelope it's a bit more dull. There's more bass on the Topping, but it's also tighter and leaner and more "solid" while also having more dynamic energy, on the Antelope it's a bit more woofy and flat. It's like a veil is lifted off when listening to the Topping, it's just more high-res. I noticed a graininess in the Antelope's high-mids when compared to the topping. The soundstage also seems slightly different but i'm not sure how exactly.

Anyway i'm a happy customer. That was my first dedicated HP amp purchase, and i got the improved sound i was hoping for.

Now i don't know whether i need to sell the Ananda Stealth for the Nano. Cos now the Stealths do sound great after all. Hmmmm.

Now i'm wondering if the sound would improve if i bought a dedicated DAC too? The one in my Antelope interface is probably fine, Antelope are known for having great converters. But i'm not sure if Antelope put their best components in the HP section of this interface. They would have to cut costs somewhere and i'm guessing the preamps and monitor converters are a higher priority for this interface.
So I might get the Topping E30 II Lite (i need something USB powered, all the power sockets in my studio are already in use!). Would that improve the sound? Or are the differences between DAC sounds pretty small?

 

[martel80]

It worked.

Received the L30 ii amp + cable, and my headphones sound way better now. Can conclude now that they were not getting enough juice through the Antelope interface, and it was indeed hampering the sound.

I compared both amps side by side (same DAC, same headphones), level-matched them as best i could, and the Topping was better in every way. Topping had more weight and energy, the bass vibrates my ears now. Overall it feels more "alive". The transients are clearer and cleaner and have more sharp definition, whereas on the Antelope it's a bit more dull. There's more bass on the Topping, but it's also tighter and leaner and more "solid" while also having more dynamic energy, on the Antelope it's a bit more woofy and flat. It's like a veil is lifted off when listening to the Topping, it's just more high-res. I noticed a graininess in the Antelope's high-mids when compared to the topping. The soundstage also seems slightly different but i'm not sure how exactly.

Anyway i'm a happy customer. That was my first dedicated HP amp purchase, and i got the improved sound i was hoping for.

Now i don't know whether i need to sell the Ananda Stealth for the Nano. Cos now the Stealths do sound great after all. Hmmmm.

Now i'm wondering if the sound would improve if i bought a dedicated DAC too? The one in my Antelope interface is probably fine, Antelope are known for having great converters. But i'm not sure if Antelope put their best components in the HP section of this interface. They would have to cut costs somewhere and i'm guessing the preamps and monitor converters are a higher priority for this interface.
So I might get the Topping E30 II Lite (i need something USB powered, all the power sockets in my studio are already in use!). Would that improve the sound? Or are the differences between DAC sounds pretty small?

The difference between amps are definitely a lot bigger than the difference between DACs but they’re still a significant difference.

I think it all work together as one entity after all, so matching can be important when a specific flavour is desired.

A good experience I could share would be when i was using the Motu when I started and then way later on I bought the audient’s from the small model Until the ID44s. They had a very rich and warm tone. Nothing I could probably measure but it was definitely there. I later had a Burl DAC and again, there was this sort of cotton feel on top of the highest frequencies .

Just recently got my RME ADI-2 and it feel like I’m back at the Motu point. Everything is extra clean and very small issues are very bothering.

On the other hand, I now have a lot of issues pin pointing which frequency has to be corrected. It feel like a brand new system since I sold my UAD Apollo Twin X which I’d describe as in the middle of an ultra clean DAC and a vintage-ish Burl.

I think it’s worth investigating.