Hi,
My work system for work has been:
HiFiMeDiy Sabre USB DAC 2 w/ external PSU
LittleDot Mk. III valve amp
Sennheiser HD 595
2 x Fancy phono cables.
Banned because:
Not PAT tested, refusing to PAT test it themselves or accept external PAT testing.
Not required for work.
So, I need to replace everything but the headphones (I'm allowed those) and still have a decent sound.
Therefore I need:
A new DAC
A new amp
Would quite like:
Recommendation for a pair of closed back 'phones.
With the following requirements:
1) Discreet.
2) Not mains powered in any way, the only external power it will be allowed to use is USB power.
3) Easy on the ears (I had a pocket IC amp, it was too harsh, I couldn't listen to it for more than a few hours before my ears got tired, I little dot I could listen to continuously)
Any suggestions welcomed.
Many Thanks,
J1M.
My work system for work has been:
HiFiMeDiy Sabre USB DAC 2 w/ external PSU
LittleDot Mk. III valve amp
Sennheiser HD 595
2 x Fancy phono cables.
Banned because:
Not PAT tested, refusing to PAT test it themselves or accept external PAT testing.
Not required for work.
So, I need to replace everything but the headphones (I'm allowed those) and still have a decent sound.
Therefore I need:
A new DAC
A new amp
Would quite like:
Recommendation for a pair of closed back 'phones.
With the following requirements:
1) Discreet.
2) Not mains powered in any way, the only external power it will be allowed to use is USB power.
3) Easy on the ears (I had a pocket IC amp, it was too harsh, I couldn't listen to it for more than a few hours before my ears got tired, I little dot I could listen to continuously)
Any suggestions welcomed.
Many Thanks,
J1M.
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Er, I'm terribly sorry but I appear to have posted this to completely the wrong website by accident.
How do I delete a thread??
How do I delete a thread??
UCA202 sounds pretty decent on headphones with >60ohm impedance. All USB and measures pretty well according test by Nwavguy (O2 designer).
NwAvGuy: Behringer UCA202 Review
Doesn't cost much so might be worth a listen.
No one knows I am using a JLH class A headphone amp at work. 😉
NwAvGuy: Behringer UCA202 Review
Doesn't cost much so might be worth a listen.
No one knows I am using a JLH class A headphone amp at work. 😉
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For those of us who are not where you are, what is "PAT testing" and why in the world is it "required" for something to come into your office??
It's a euro-nanny state thing: PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions
~£443, quite pricey.
Also looking at Oppo HA-2. (£250)
Somebody has also mentioned the Behringer UCA202 (£23?!?!)
And just found the BEHRINGER UM2 U-Phoria Audiophile 2x2 USB Audio Interface (£33?!?!)
Lots to read, thanks, I'll leave this thread up if nobody minds.
J1M.
A lot of people sneer at Behringer as junk. It uses a Burr Brown 1 piece DAC so not much to screw up. Sounds very nice for a $30DAC/headphone amp.
Say what????
To quote from the above site:
"Is Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) compulsory?
No. The law simply requires an employer to ensure that their electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger. It does not say how this should be done or how often. Employers should take a risk-based approach, considering the type of equipment and what it is being used for. If it is used regularly and moved a lot e.g. a floor cleaner or a kettle, testing (along with visual checks) can be an important part of an effective maintenance regime giving employers confidence that they are doing what is necessary to help them meet their legal duties. HSE provides guidance on how to maintain equipment including the use of PAT."
Huh??
Does not seem to be any rational basis for excluding your tube gear - perhaps it needs to be enclosed so that the tubes can not be touched?? Or tube shields used.
Maybe that will satisfy whomever really is out to give you personally a hard time. Because that is what it sounds like, unless they've gone around and told all sorts of people that they have to take stuff out?
I'd sue the crap out of them...
To quote from the above site:
"Is Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) compulsory?
No. The law simply requires an employer to ensure that their electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger. It does not say how this should be done or how often. Employers should take a risk-based approach, considering the type of equipment and what it is being used for. If it is used regularly and moved a lot e.g. a floor cleaner or a kettle, testing (along with visual checks) can be an important part of an effective maintenance regime giving employers confidence that they are doing what is necessary to help them meet their legal duties. HSE provides guidance on how to maintain equipment including the use of PAT."
Huh??
Does not seem to be any rational basis for excluding your tube gear - perhaps it needs to be enclosed so that the tubes can not be touched?? Or tube shields used.
Maybe that will satisfy whomever really is out to give you personally a hard time. Because that is what it sounds like, unless they've gone around and told all sorts of people that they have to take stuff out?
I'd sue the crap out of them...
PAT testing is NOT required by law.
PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions
I recently spoke to a PAT testing company who said that the number of companies requiring equipment to be PAT tested was dropping dramatically.
It seemed to be a passing fad.
Andy
PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions
I recently spoke to a PAT testing company who said that the number of companies requiring equipment to be PAT tested was dropping dramatically.
It seemed to be a passing fad.
Andy
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so, I am guessing that Robo's company is saying "... it is our policy to require PAT testing, but we won't do it, and if you have it done we won't honor that testing..."??
nice... nice people to work for it seems...
nice... nice people to work for it seems...
It's getting a little long in the tooth but the FiiO E18 Kunlun has been part of the work kit for a while. Tops out at 96 kHz so no drivers required with Windows, has a line input and also works as a portable battery for USB devices. Its very low output impedance works much better than the headphone out on my ThinkPad.
RoboJ1M, it isn't any of my business, but shouldn't you be 'working' at work, after all, they pay you for working, not listening to music, right?
I was just working my way down all the replies and thinking exactly the same thing. What kind of employer would let you set up a valve amp based audio system at work......
(I can hear my old boss now... 'get some bleedin' work done, and less yakking')
It's a HUMAN RIGHT don't you know 🙄
+1, though the common practice of forcing employee's to listen to BBC Radio 1 should be banned as a violation of human rights.......
well, I suppose that might be proportional to the nature of the job and the extent and value of a given person's contribution??
But the issue as raised seemed to pertain only the fact that it used "valves"??
_-_-
But the issue as raised seemed to pertain only the fact that it used "valves"??
_-_-
Insurance cover paranoia.
Maintaining records of testing also costs money even if someone is paying for the test.
It also only tests mains safety. I fail to see how many valve amplifiers safely protect from the hot valves and ht
Maintaining records of testing also costs money even if someone is paying for the test.
It also only tests mains safety. I fail to see how many valve amplifiers safely protect from the hot valves and ht
Not sure if this is serious or tongue-in-cheek, but remember that some of us have desk jobs in crowded offices that can easily be accompanied by music 🙂
/U.
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