I have a unique situation and as I'm more mechanically inclined that electrically, I could use some help from the resident experts. I have the Corsair HS60 Haptic headset. For bass frequencies, they use a Taction Technology tactile transducer instead of an audio driver. Thus, it seems they have an analog or digital crossover to divide the audio frequencies between the tactile transducer and the traditional audio driver.
For my application, these are the only headset/headphones that are desired and currently commericially available. Taction Techonology used to sell the Kannon headsets which have a 3.5mm/1/8" TRS plug. While I also own a pair of the Kannons, as they have been discontinued for a while, they are expensive, somewhat fragile, and hard to find used.
What I would like to do is convert several Corsair HS60 headsets, which only accept digital audio via USB, to analog headsets (stereo audio + microphone). I recall in car audio enthusiasts would tap into audio components PCBs before or after the DAC (I don't recall which). Thus, I am wondering if it is possible to bypass the DAC on the HS60 headset so it can be converted to analog?
One complicating factor is the dual drivers (tactile + audio transducers) and whether the crossover is digital or analog.
It seems the current HS60 audio path is one of the following options (Left/right audio only, excluding the headset microphone):
1) USB>Digital Crossover>DAC>Analog amplifiers
2) USB>DAC>Analog Crossovers>Analog amplifiers
I suppose there is remote possibility that the amplifiers could also be digital, but I doubt it as digital audio amplifiers are very rare, especially in headphones.
Is it relatively easy to identify the DAC/analog crossover on a PCB? If it is, then it seems that it should be possible with good soldering skills to convert this headset from USB audio to analog. Another complicating factor is the amplifiers likely drawer power from the USB port, so a 5VDC power source would likely be needed.
Attached are some photos of the PCBs (there is one in each ear cup) for the experts who understand the components. These are old photos, so if I need take the HS60 apart for better photos, let me know.
I'm curious if just from looking at the PCBs whether it is obvious if the crossovers are digital or analog and if the analog signal after the DAC can be tapped into to convert the headset microphone audio and Left/Right channels to analog.
For my application, these are the only headset/headphones that are desired and currently commericially available. Taction Techonology used to sell the Kannon headsets which have a 3.5mm/1/8" TRS plug. While I also own a pair of the Kannons, as they have been discontinued for a while, they are expensive, somewhat fragile, and hard to find used.
What I would like to do is convert several Corsair HS60 headsets, which only accept digital audio via USB, to analog headsets (stereo audio + microphone). I recall in car audio enthusiasts would tap into audio components PCBs before or after the DAC (I don't recall which). Thus, I am wondering if it is possible to bypass the DAC on the HS60 headset so it can be converted to analog?
One complicating factor is the dual drivers (tactile + audio transducers) and whether the crossover is digital or analog.
It seems the current HS60 audio path is one of the following options (Left/right audio only, excluding the headset microphone):
1) USB>Digital Crossover>DAC>Analog amplifiers
2) USB>DAC>Analog Crossovers>Analog amplifiers
I suppose there is remote possibility that the amplifiers could also be digital, but I doubt it as digital audio amplifiers are very rare, especially in headphones.
Is it relatively easy to identify the DAC/analog crossover on a PCB? If it is, then it seems that it should be possible with good soldering skills to convert this headset from USB audio to analog. Another complicating factor is the amplifiers likely drawer power from the USB port, so a 5VDC power source would likely be needed.
Attached are some photos of the PCBs (there is one in each ear cup) for the experts who understand the components. These are old photos, so if I need take the HS60 apart for better photos, let me know.
I'm curious if just from looking at the PCBs whether it is obvious if the crossovers are digital or analog and if the analog signal after the DAC can be tapped into to convert the headset microphone audio and Left/Right channels to analog.
There's a bit chip there which looks like a codec, if you can read the part number it'll be a help. Once you have this, there is a high possibility the circuit will be very similar to the reference design for this chip: most are!
Hi MatM, yes there are two chips which appear to provide ADC and/or DAC. For those interested, one is Atmel ATSMD21 E16B-F and the other is CMEDIA CM6543. Thank-you for pointing me in the correct direction!
As I had to use a macro lens to identify the chips, it became apparent tapping into the traces would be very difficult considering how fine they are. An alternative and probably more practical approach may be to just harvest the linear tactile transducers and repurpose them in a DIY headphone with a crossover and bi-amplification.
Never seen those before! I take it that you really like them?
The crossover has to be active and likely DSP. Hacking the existing circuit isn't going to be easy. Your idea of just rewiring everything and doing an external crossover and two amps seems the way to go. Note that there might be some built in EQ, so you would need to duplicate that. If you could find the schematic for the headphones, then the task would be much easier and you would at least know the signal flow.
Why do you want to convert these away from USB?
The crossover has to be active and likely DSP. Hacking the existing circuit isn't going to be easy. Your idea of just rewiring everything and doing an external crossover and two amps seems the way to go. Note that there might be some built in EQ, so you would need to duplicate that. If you could find the schematic for the headphones, then the task would be much easier and you would at least know the signal flow.
Why do you want to convert these away from USB?
The SQ is not the greatest, but the tactile transducers are great. Yes, I decided hacking was not worth the effort and two amps will be simpler. I already have active crossover capability if needed.
Why? Because you can only listen via a computer as the audio is a digital signal, not analog. My application is wireless listening so USB will not work as I don't want to lug a computer while listening and performing other tasks.
Why? Because you can only listen via a computer as the audio is a digital signal, not analog. My application is wireless listening so USB will not work as I don't want to lug a computer while listening and performing other tasks.
Short answer: no.
Slightly longer: those are NOT "a couple earphone capsules driven by a small amplifier" but there is mucho tasty processing going on, of which you don´t know the software or algorithms.
Plus it apparently it has a proprietary "bass shaker" built-in, with its own power amp, crossover, signal processing, etc
Slightly longer: those are NOT "a couple earphone capsules driven by a small amplifier" but there is mucho tasty processing going on, of which you don´t know the software or algorithms.
Plus it apparently it has a proprietary "bass shaker" built-in, with its own power amp, crossover, signal processing, etc
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