Headphone output (volume)

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NeilGabriel
NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
edited May 2008 in Electronics
I have a B&K Ref 20 and AVR 202. On each, the headphone volume output is extremely low. The volume setting has to be near zero to get decent volume. Of course, if you forget you last used the headphones and turn the amp on, then you almost blow up the speakers. Why is headphone output so low? I thought I did something with the receiver to get normal volume without cranking it...but whatever it was, I forgot!
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  • pietro944
    pietro944 Posts: 720
    edited May 2008
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    NeilGabriel wrote: »
    I have a B&K Ref 20 and AVR 202. On each, the headphone volume output is extremely low. The volume setting has to be near zero to get decent volume. Of course, if you forget you last used the headphones and turn the amp on, then you almost blow up the speakers. Why is headphone output so low? I thought I did something with the receiver to get normal volume without cranking it...but whatever it was, I forgot!

    I think that you're only looking in one direction.
    What headphone's are you using?
    They all have different impedance and one can be more difficult to drive than another.

    I have Grado sr-80's,AKG 701's,and UE
    Super-FI 1.5EB's.

    All present a difficult load to a home receiver....especially the Grado's.

    This is why I use a portable headphone
    amp for my portable cd listening,as well
    as the Zhalou 2.5 DAC and head amp for pc,cd and dvd listening.

    When I use my Pioneer Elite 74SVX for headphone listening,I have to turn up the volume,somewhat.
    This is because of the impedance load the headphones are presenting to the receiver.
    The Pioneer is pretty good,but,not nearly equal to using a dedicated Headphone amp.

    What phones are you using and what is their impedance?
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