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Using An Amp As A Replacement For 'line Out'?

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Petter156

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Here´s a pretty quick question for the more technically knowledgeable...

The lack of a true line-out connection on Sony´s top-of-the-line RH10 recorder has been widely critisized, though some claim that setting the volume high enough on the unit produces a signal close to a signal a real line out would give.

Now I´m wondering if a could use an external amp between the RH10 I was thinking of buying and my current ZS-M35 boombox (esentially the thing I would useto get the sound out somewhere) to kind use as a kind of replacement for a true line out connection.

I really want to be able to enjoy HiMD in my room as well, and I´m wondering what kind of results this kind of setup would give?

Thanks.

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Have you tried using another unit with line out (eg. a portable CD player or other MD unit) with your boombox? If you have, and it sounded pleasing to you then it's likely the RH10's headphone output set at maximum and the EQ off would give you a similar result. That's really what the line out feature is in the later MD units - it's just that the convenient line out 'switch' expected in the menu has been removed in the RH10. Earlier MD units had separate dedicated line out circuitry which made more of a difference.

Also, presumably your boombox has a line in (or aux in) jack - in that case you wouldnt really need an external amp either, as the boombox itself would be the external amp through which you'd control the volume out. You could use an extra external amp to boost the input signal, but that seems like overkill to me - moreover there would be extra signal degradation since you'd be adding extra components into the audio path...

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Try it without an addtional preamp first. The output of the RH10 at near-max volume with a peak signal is very close to 1Vp-p, which is well within the range of what constitutes line level with consumer audio.

As KJ said, basically just disable the EQ and turn up the volume. My measurement of near - 1Vp-p was made with the volume set at 29/30. If you happen to listen to music that is extremely bit-pushed, you might notice distortion, in which case I'd simply turn down the RH10 until the distortion disappears and then turn up the volume control on your amp.

Also: running the player from its AC adapter might lower the chances of distortion at high levels. [i can't be sure of this because of the digital amp; units with analogue amps almost always work more smoothly when -not- run off batteries.]

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You want to get as flat an output signal as possible. It depends on your unit for how you'd turn the EQ off. I think on all the Hi-MD units (certainly on my NH600) you can set the Sound option in the menu to 'Normal' - presumably you'd have the same option on the RH10...

On bass-boost type machines you set Bass to 'Off' or Bass0 rather than Bass1 or Bass2 etc

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when you say EQ off what do you mean?

you mean normal EQ? or Custom with flat eq at 0 level? or custom with flat eq  at the most negative level you can?

(i hope you can understand what i mean)

I would mean "Sound" set to "Normal", i.e. EQ disabled.

Note that this should be the same as setting the custom EQ to all '0' [centre] positions.

Setting the custom EQ to 'all bottom' != [is not equal to] setting the EQ to flat, the same as setting all to the top isn't.

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Have you tried using another unit with line out (eg. a portable CD player or other MD unit) with your boombox? If you have, and it sounded pleasing to you then it's likely the RH10's headphone output set at maximum and the EQ off would give you a similar result.

No I haven´t tried this yet, but I´m just now listening to my E60 portable (volume turned nearly to full) through my (not all that good) PC speaker set-up and it sounds OK to me.

Also, presumably your boombox has a line in  (or aux in) jack

Yep, regular miniplug line-in.

in which case I'd simply turn down the RH10 until the distortion disappears and then turn up the volume control on your amp.

Well this is one thing I figure might be useful. If I could just connect the RH10 to an amp and use the amplifier to adjust the volume to a proper level - instead of always having to adjust the volume on the MD player back and forth (headphone use/use in room with near-full volume).

I guess it all depends on if I can get an amp cheaply enough.

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Well this is one thing I figure might be useful. If I could just connect the RH10 to an amp and use the amplifier to adjust the volume to a proper level - instead of always having to adjust the volume on the MD player back and forth (headphone use/use in room with near-full volume).

I guess it all depends on if I can get an amp cheaply enough.

What I meant my 'amp' in this usage is the amplifier that leads to your speakers. This includes a boombox, portable speakers, jacking in to a car stereo, &c.

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I would mean "Sound" set to "Normal", i.e. EQ disabled.

Note that this should be the same as setting the custom EQ to all '0' [centre] positions.

Setting the custom EQ to 'all bottom' != [is not equal to] setting the EQ to flat, the same as setting all to the top isn't.

thanks finally i understood biggrin.gif

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Right, well I´m talking about having an aditional amplifier pumping up the volume to an appropriate level before going through the boombox.

and dex (if I understand it correctly) actually means you probably do not need an external one, as a boombox actually functions as one... if you turn off the equalizer and turn up the volume on the RH10, the output will be sufficient to use with your boombox... the boombox itself can (by turning the volume up) amplify the incoming signal until it's...well, booming

so be glad, we're all suggesting the cheapest solution laugh.gif

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A simple headphone amp (cmoy, etc.) is enough to bring a reasonable RH10 volume (~20 of 30) to 'line' level. I use one when connecting it to my stereo. I do the same with my NH1, even though it has a line out mode I find it's just not quite the same level as you'd get from a CD player line level or whatnot. You can build one yourself or buy them completed off Ebay for $50 or less., search for cmoy.

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and dex (if I understand it correctly) actually means you probably do not need an external one, as a boombox actually functions as one... if you turn off the equalizer and turn up the volume on the RH10, the output will be sufficient to use with your boombox... the boombox itself can (by turning the volume up) amplify the incoming signal until it's...well, booming

so be glad, we're all suggesting the cheapest solution laugh.gif

Yes, got that,but.... I was thinking of using and amplifier as an interface boosting the volume between the RH10 and my ZS-M35. Eliminating the need to always adjust the volume on the boombox or the RH10. See?

Overkill? Probably, but I´m the king of conveniance.

We´ll see about this. It´s kind of a daydream at the moment.

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  • 1 month later...

Skimming through the site you provided it looks to be a slightly advanced project, so I´ll have to see if I have the time for this or if I would settle with buying a custom made one. After all, I don´t really need anything fancy - so the price shouldn´t be too bad.

All I´ve done so far, really - is soldering wires. I extended my powersuply´s ATX wires and it even worked after the procedure!

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