Headphone switcher

For anything about cans, and the amplifiers that drive them
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floppybootstomp
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#1 Headphone switcher

Post by floppybootstomp »

I put one of these together >> Link to use with my two EL84 push/pull monoblocks @ 10W each.

It works ok but when I turn the volume up I get distortion and the top end hurts my ears, it's kinda shrill.

I used the resistor values (all 3W +/- 5%) for the 20W output and wondered if using resistor values suited to 10W would help matters. I wondered what values for R1 & R3 might be suitable for 10W?

Have tried two sets of headphones, Pjilps Pro-Luxe PX-921's and some new-ish Sennheisser wireless HDR-160's, both of which display same characteristics as mentioned.
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floppybootstomp
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#2

Post by floppybootstomp »

Nobody? Could anybody offer a view whether changing resistor values might make a difference to the sound?

I thought of maybe making R1 & R3 150R & 68R respectively might make it better suited to a 10 watt output.

Here's a few pix of the thing, the piece of vero is held in place with a couple of velcro squares and the box came from Maplins:

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Mike H
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#3

Post by Mike H »

floppybootstomp wrote:Nobody?
Only just got here! :D

Ah I think what's going on here is that that design assumes a transistor amp will be used ~ your valve amp's need 8 Ohms dummy loads to work properly.

So you need 8 Ohms between 'AMP L' (or whichever) and 'GND'.

I've found 10R and 47R in parallel are close enough. The 10R needs to be quite a few Watts rating, mine were 25W aluminium clad. Just in case. The 47R can be 6W or somesuch.

Unless you can find 8.2R 25W, but I haven't seen any for years.

HTH
 
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#4

Post by floppybootstomp »

Thanks Mike. Now you mention it, I do recall having read that elsewhere here in the past but it clean slipped my mind... Time to order up some WW's
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#5

Post by Mike H »

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pre65
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#6

Post by pre65 »

I have a few 15R Berco resistors. If Tony wants 4 (2 in parallel = 7.5ohms) just PM me with your address.


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al newall
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#7

Post by al newall »

Yes.
I mentioned this to Rod Elliott some time ago, and he said the design wasn't really intended for tube amps. Doesn't say that on his site though.
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#8

Post by Mike H »

Mmm, only needs a couple of sentences adding to say what to do in that case. :?:
pre65 wrote:I have a few 15R Berco resistors. If Tony wants 4 (2 in parallel = 7.5ohms) just PM me with your address.
Yep that'll work.
 
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#9

Post by Mike H »

floppybootstomp wrote:Now you mention it, I do recall having read that elsewhere here in the past but it clean slipped my mind...
Easy done I totally sympathise :D
 
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#10

Post by pre65 »

Resistors have been posted Tony. :)
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#11

Post by floppybootstomp »

You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman, I am in your debt.

Thanks :D
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#12

Post by pre65 »

floppybootstomp wrote:You sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.

Thanks :D
Tony has not met me yet. :lol:
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#13

Post by Mike H »

And the 'debt' bit I'm not sure about :D
 
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#14

Post by floppybootstomp »

That sorted it, pair of 7.2 ohm dummy loads, thanks Phil.

I am still occasionally surprised and warmed by human generosity.

This is probably a good thing ;)
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#15

Post by floppybootstomp »

There was a big slow down somehwere, caused me to make double post so I have deleted it.

If you give it a short, sharp, shock.... hey
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