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Unecpected and not understood tweek - help?

I recently purchased the inexpensive Musical Fidelity V-CAN headphone amp. The V-CAN has an input impedance of 25K, and is connected to the Tape-Out of my Krell KAV-400xi with an impedance of 47K. The interconnect is the Kimber Silver Streak. To my point, with the V-Can connected, it seems to pull down the gain a bit, but, the system sounds smoother, erasing some of the aggressive edge the Krell had. What gives? Is this my imagination or is something really going on here? Thanks!
rpg
rpg OP
126 posts
 
Al, thanks. I guess potential flaws with the Krell tape-out and the impedance of IC's and V-CAN ended up as a good thing. In the end, I now have a headphone amp and a better sounding system to boot!
Rpg
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
If the front end source is a CDP, and basically the tape out jacks of the amp are connected in parallel with the CDP output, would that be causing the difference in sound Rpg is hearing? The output of the CDP is being affected.
Hi Jim,

Yes, that's a possibility if there is no active circuitry or significant resistance between the Krell's cd input and its tape outputs. That is the case with at least some designs (I believe that my Mark Levinson ML-1 has nothing between its inputs and tape outs other than wires and switches), but I suspect that most designs are not like that.

Rpg -- Enjoy!

Best regards,
-- Al
rpg OP
126 posts
 
Jea48,
Yes, the source is a CDP and occasionally a Tuner. Regardless of my input source, primarily CDP, the positive affects of having the V-CAN connected can be heard. Mind you, it's not Earth Shattering, but it does calm down a bit the trademark Krell sound, it's less hyperactive and a bit warmer. Even if I didn't listen to headphones, the inexpensive (and sounding inexpensive) Musical Fidelity connected to my tape-out turned out to be an affective tweak.
Rpg
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