Powering headphones

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audio[LAB]
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Powering headphones

Post by audio[LAB] » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:03 am

I set up my studio a few months ago and am having trouble understanding exactly how the pros set up headphone power and distribution. I have an amek matchless console. I use the auxilaries on the board to do the foldback mixes for the artists in the live room. not sure how I was supposed to power headphones, I bought 3 single channel behringer mixers and used the headphone output from that. It works but it sounds horrible. the signal is always clipping even with the gain all the way down. So my question is: how do I hook up at least 2 individual headphone mixes using a power amp? I know I would need to buy like a pro co hjp headphone distribution box. From what I understand these aren't powered right? I guess the part where i'm confused is how to get more than one stereo signal. Do I have to use a separate power amp per aux or is there an amp out there that has several inputs and outputs specifically designed for this application?

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RodC
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Post by RodC » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:08 am

I have a makie hmx 56, one of the best investments I have made.

http://www.mackie.com/products/hmx56/

Furman makes some modular expandable units, but they are a bit more expensive.
'Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones'

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UnlikeKurt
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Post by UnlikeKurt » Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:48 pm


TapeOpLarry
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Post by TapeOpLarry » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:12 pm

Man, spend the money on something flexible. Do it. if the players are fighting the headphones they don't play well. That Mackie one is pretty good for a small studio, really versatile. The Furman HDS/HRM 16 is the fucking best. We have that and am digging the ease of use. Just mult and patch everything into it, label it and forget about it.
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