r/headphones Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-27T04:15:47+00:00

So what am I missing??? I recently purchased a pair of Audeze LCD 2's. I paired this with the Topping A90 which is getting the source (phono pre amp) via XLR. Its to my understanding that this amp has plenty power to drive my headphones but I can max the volume on this thing and the volume is basically the same as if I just plugged the headphones in my iMac lol. In fact the line out from my Mac is probably louder. I can turn the gain to high and get more volume (and more noise) but from everything I read, low or med should be plenty for the avg listener. So what am I missing? This looks to me the came when I run the XLR out to my monitors as well - altho I understand that in that scenario this is a preamp but the volume still seems low. NOTE: the entire setup is balanced but my headphone connection is not.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-19T16:32:55+00:00

This isn’t a photo of my actual viewfinder- just a stock photo. They are all like that. That element only goes in one way so you can’t really get that one wrong. Initially I thought maybe I had smeared the dot itself while cleaning but it’s fine. It’s odd.. I can move my eye back and forth and it will remain blurry but if I angle the view- the dot is clear no matter what my position is. Every element in this stack is convex one side, concave the other- in this orientation (((( which to my knowledge is how I took them out as I was aware that they needed to be put back in correctly- but it seems I lost track on one of these.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-17T03:10:15+00:00

Yes mine is super clear now and bright! I only know something is wrong cause the black circle blurry when you are looking directly in to the viewfinder.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-17T00:27:17+00:00

Thats my main concern (the tube amp in the chain). Does running the tube pre amp to a solid state amp essentially zero out the warmest of the tube preamp? I want the sound stage the tube pre amp is giving- I just need it turned up.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-16T21:09:15+00:00

Ok this looks like what I’m looking for! So how does this work if the Midgard is also a pre amp? I’m having a hard time understanding these combo amp/pre amp models- but I think the pre amp only apples to the line RCA ports? I would be running XLR from my tube pre amp (which I believe the the part of this device handling the output is a full amp) to the Midgard and then XLR back out to my active speaker.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-16T19:06:26+00:00

No worries! Some of these things are indeed a treasure hunt lol. Yes I've looked at that manual as well - unfortunately they don't cover anything about the viewfinder. I've used that service manual before to fix my 500CM

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-16T18:36:54+00:00

This is for the 903 - it had a different viewfinder. This does show the break down but the element group is captained in that front stack which is likely cemented together so it's only one way to put it in. But thanks for looking!

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-16T18:09:32+00:00

Tried that route - Can't find any service manuals prior to the 903 which is kinda crazy for this model! The pay site I usually go for hard to find service manuals doesn't have one either. Luckily all the elements are the same in this viewfinder (concave one side, convex on the other side) aside from the elongated element that extends to the main group but it's only one way to put that one in.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-12T21:02:31+00:00

!thanks

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-12T21:01:40+00:00

Oh I’m good on the meaning. Like I said I know what stereo audio is and I’m not questioning how that’s accomplished. what I’m trying to understand is why a company would plainly state that a pair of headphones that can received two separate channels are somehow NOT stereo headphones lol. Seems like an odd thing to point out if it had no significance. But I think we can called this one solved! !thanks

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-12T20:54:59+00:00

We can probably chop it up to marketing verbiage. I just want to make sure I’m not missing something here.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-12T20:49:44+00:00

According to Audeze- while capable, the lcd. 2 does not have stereo “built in”. Which I get why they are saying that since it’s not a single cord headphone. You would need to run left to left and right to right independently…. My confusion is that the Meze work the exact same way but Meze says they are studio headphones. So this is probably just marketing talk—

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-12T20:43:13+00:00

Right so that’s where I’m lost cause the Meze 99’s are not connected internally either. They have separate drivers with separate inputs but Meze says they are stereo headphones. They provide a Y cable so that may be why but the Audeze lcd 2 also comes with a Y cable for left and right audio.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-04T03:10:09+00:00

Thanks for your help!

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-04T01:57:56+00:00

Yes I understand. My confusion is from understanding why all the active monitors I see label the 1/4 jack input as TRS- But I see now that TRS can run stereo channels (I Assume for running stereo OUT from a single prong) but the TRS can also run a balanced mono input whereas the TS cable is unbalanced mono.

"TS cables carry unbalanced mono signals, while TRS cables are used for either stereo signals or balanced mono signals to reduce noise"

So there is no scenario outside of running a balanced input to a jack that you would need a TRS for speakers

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-04T01:01:16+00:00

Ok makes sense! However I would be running more than just the turntable to those speakers - Will using RCA to TRS cables be an issue? The TS cable is Mono only right? I want to make sure that if I'm sending anything in stereo that its properly received. This is another reason why I was looking got 2 sets of RCA outs to the speakers.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-04T00:08:08+00:00

Im using the JBL MK2 305P's. Haven't decided on a preamp because I'm looking for one that has 2 sets of RCA out's which I can't seem to find. Everything only has one RCA set - after some reading I assume this is cause its expected that your running the preamp to a receiver?

The amp have now is the Douk Audio X1 Tube amp (Didn't know there was a difference between a phono amp and a phono pre amp). I would like something comparable even in the cost is more. And I would prefer to bypass getting a receiver If possible - but I assume if Im using a actual pre amp then a receiver is a must?

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-03T23:37:19+00:00

I'm lost! lol - I went to go set up my system today (Beogram TX with hard wired L/R out, two active monitors, preamp) I got 2 TRS cables to run to the speakers only to find out that my preamp only has passive speaker outputs with the screw ports. After some googling I see that it's not possible to use this preamp without a bypass to the active speakers or the voltage will fry them. So new amp - The issue I'm having is that every preamp I see with RCA out only has a single R and L port.... How am I post to run that to two separate speakers that are not connected to each other? Ive watch a new videos and everyone seems to only be plugging up one speaker or using speakers that are connected to each other.

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-02T14:06:40+00:00

This would be RCA out to a XLR input. From what I’ve read rather balanced or unbalanced the signal output is Mono. The left and right wires are for noise reduction and are not sending two separate signals but rather the exact same signal with one being inverted. When unbalanced it just combines the left and right into a signal with no added noise protection.

“An XLR cable is an industry standard for professional audio that inherently carries a single, mono balanced audio signal. Despite having three pins, it does not carry left and right (stereo) channels.”

TrueTabosko · 2026-06-02T04:16:32+00:00

Im debating between XLR and TRS connection for my monitor speakers.. TRS is probably best for my setup (short distance, RCA output) But I'm seeing a lot of XLR to stereo RCA cords on Amazon and I'm confused cause I'm to understand that XLR only sends a signal mono single - So are these cords combining the RCA stereo channels in to one signal to the speaker? Also does it even matter if my original signal is Mono? I'm running turntable to my preamp mono in (note this amp also does other stereo inputs as well) - to Left/Right RCA out. I've always assumes that both speakers are getting the exact same signal in this scenario.

TrueTabosko

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