Headphone random conversation

[Charagma]

Been seeing many Fosi Audio video's lately. Anyone have experience on them? I am in specific looking at the "Valve" amplifier MC331. I have always felt there is just "Something" about Amps with Valves. The one video I watched (Added below for reference) at around 7:03 they have the unit open. I do not see any "Dump" capacitors. So as an added question to this, does the "Valves" replace the "Dump" capacitors, or do you still need to add the "Dump" after your output if needed?

So short history on this. One of my students will be doing his finals in November. He will be dabbling in EDM's (I do not understand why he studied music arrangement all these years and then go into EDM's, but his choice).

I do have an extra FL (Fruit loops Studio) Licence (I never got the hang of FL so kept to Cubase) and figured an FL license with maybe a small little Amplifier to get his career going. Professional equipment is too expensive and he will eventually have to get that for himself, but just something to get him started. Any other "Valve" amplifiers (Non-professional) as suggestions would also be great since all I could find in searches was Fosi audio.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMf0puWTHMM

 

[Colif]

as per google AI

The Fosi Audio MC331 is a hybrid tube amplifier that does not use a dump capacitor in the traditional sense. Instead, it utilizes a power supply with a filter capacitor, which is a common component in audio amplifiers to smooth out the power delivery.

The MC331 features a 24V/4.5A power supply. While not a "dump capacitor" in the automotive audio context, this capacitor plays a crucial role in providing stable power for the amplifier's operation[

This sort of question probably best asked on somewhere like

Head-Fi.org Forums

Head-Fi: All the latest headphone reviews and headphone news. Spirited discussion forums, Head-Fi gear galleries, a large review database, and audio measurements.

www.head-fi.org

they did review it after all

Fosi Audio MC331 Hybrid Tube Amplifier - Reviews

www.head-fi.org

or

Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

Audio reviews, science and engineering discussions.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[anort3]

Been seeing many Fosi Audio video's lately. Anyone have experience on them? I am in specific looking at the "Valve" amplifier MC331. I have always felt there is just "Something" about Amps with Valves. The one video I watched (Added below for reference) at around 7:03 they have the unit open. I do not see any "Dump" capacitors. So as an added question to this, does the "Valves" replace the "Dump" capacitors, or do you still need to add the "Dump" after your output if needed?

So short history on this. One of my students will be doing his finals in November. He will be dabbling in EDM's (I do not understand why he studied music arrangement all these years and then go into EDM's, but his choice).

I do have an extra FL (Fruit loops Studio) Licence (I never got the hang of FL so kept to Cubase) and figured an FL license with maybe a small little Amplifier to get his career going. Professional equipment is too expensive and he will eventually have to get that for himself, but just something to get him started. Any other "Valve" amplifiers (Non-professional) as suggestions would also be great since all I could find in searches was Fosi audio.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMf0puWTHMM

What will he be driving with it? In general tubes introduce distortion which can be pleasing with certain audio types like jazz and other vocal centric styles.. If he's focused on EDM and electronica he'd probably be better off with a good solid state amp before something with tubes. You don't really want any distortion with electronica.

 

[Charagma]

What will he be driving with it? In general tubes introduce distortion which can be pleasing with certain audio types like jazz and other vocal centric styles.. If he's focused on EDM and electronica he'd probably be better off with a good solid state amp before something with tubes. You don't really want any distortion with electronica.

No he will not driving with it. Will be for a start-up home studio

 

[anort3]

It's an amp? What speakers or headphones is he going to be driving with it? Or is he just going to be using the DAC section?

 

[Charagma]

It's an amp? What speakers or headphones is he going to be driving with it? Or is he just going to be using the DAC section?

Just going to be a present, from me to him with some software. Just wondering if it is worth the effort or not.

 

[anort3]

It's well rated but you'd need to factor in the speakers or headphones he's using to see if tubes are appropriate. And again for electronica and EDM you really don't want any distortion so just for the genre I wouldn't do it.

Now if he also likes more vocal focused stuff and other types of music as well then he may very well love it. If I got it as a gift I'd be very happy.

 

[Colif]

Tube amps colour the output so if he just using for enjoyment it is a nice gift, but I wouldn't use it for production purposes. It would leave a false impression and would be difficult to reproduce on non tube amps. Its not exactly neutral.

I think the tubes used can also play a part in the sound you get. I don't own one, just going from what I have read/watched. Same applies to what headphones you use, but this is more a speaker amp than a headphone one. It has hiss if you use IEM on it.

I answered question but as usual I didn't ask why it was being asked. That has gotten me in trouble before.

 

[Charagma]

I answered question but as usual I didn't ask why it was being asked. That has gotten me in trouble before.

LMAO, figured it was "just a tad" off topic to what I asked but fortunately I am a big boy and do not sulk when I do not hear what I want to hear. LMAO. I am guilty of things like that myself. Think everyone does it. Sometimes easier to just skip read and reply. Most of the time you hit the nail "spot on" with skip reading.

I have however decided not to get it for him. A lot of things that was said on various sites, made me decide that something like that should be a personal choice. I personally would not use it, so giving it to someone as a present would actually be unfair towards him.

I read what you said about the power supply replacing the "Dumps", unfortunately all my AMP's has bulk coils as well as "Dump" capacitors and they are pretty much wired on 48/52v configurations. First thing I usually do when picking up an Amplifier is feeling weight (Heavy means it has proper coils) and then look through the vents for "Dump" capacitors. Personally, have never owned a Valve/Tube Amplifier but have seen them in use at a few places and that is where my question stemmed from.

In short, the two Amplifiers I have owned without "Dump" Capacitors gave me several problems, hence my scepticism. The major problem was the quality drop when the displays start acting like "Disco lights" each time a bass drum kicks in. In my Kenwood KA, I actually got the "Dumps" and power supply upgraded to avoid this. Also added some cooling fans when used for pro-longed periods. Must add my Kenwood is not part of my work equipment anymore but have it hooked up on my TV. Was one of my first "proper" Amplifiers I ever bought myself so apart from sentimental value, it still looks and plays great.

Sorry if the original post was a tad confusing but sounded "WAY" better in my head.

 

[Colif]

the only references I find to dump capacitors is in Audio are car audio. But they also known as Filter capacitors which opened up the search a bit.

In audio amplifiers, "dump" capacitors, often found in the power supply, act as temporary energy reservoirs. They help to smooth out voltage fluctuations and provide a surge of power during peak audio demands, preventing voltage sags and maintaining consistent performance. These capacitors are crucial for handling transient signals, like bass notes, where large power demands can cause the voltage from the power supply to dip

I suspect if I have one its in the linear power supply of my Aune S9C Pro and its probable my headphones don't cause enough power demands to notice. Probably what the 23900uf capacitor array is for - working it out as I go along. You can't look inside it to tell as it doesn't have any vents. It doesn't get that warm when its running. Never had it over 50% volume as my headphones really don't need it.

its a headphone amp so its max output is only 5 watts (enough for almost all headphones) whereas the Fosi isn't a headphone amp and can do 105watts.

Most new audio gear probably uses filers instead of dumps. Many of them have a capacitor in line to reduce ripple. That is probably how the Fosi does it.

 

[Charagma]

Think I see where the confusion comes in and actually starts from my side because the word "DUMP" is what I call it since I do not know the correct wording for them and also, I am talking about "HOME" equipment and not "CAR" equipment. They do similar functions but also not. Will try and explain. Might be wrong thread for this but it is just to clear up the confusion here.

Just to assist in this explanation Copilot gave me the following:

"Class D amplifiers are highly efficient, often exceeding 90%, resulting in lower heat generation and longer equipment life. On the other hand, Class AB amplifiers are renowned for superior sound quality and reliability, making them favored in live sound applications despite slightly lower efficiency."

Image for explanation purposes:

https://forums.pcgamer.com/media/capacitors-amp-jpg.3119/

(referencing to above Image) Ok so on the left (and right) we have the filter capacitors. They filter the "Noise" out of your gained frequencies. I have seen some amplifiers where they use "Dual" amplification circuits where you get less noise on output by paralleling the same circuit where after you send it to a smaller filter since your noise is a lot less.

In the middle we have what I (Personal term) call "Dump" Capacitors. You might have noticed at some concerts or shows (When a "BAD" (Lack of a better term) amplifier is used, that some instruments play louder than others E.g you have the bass pumping, but you can hardly hear a voice, or the voice is overpowering and your bass sounds distorted. Specifically, on "Sub-Bass" (20 - 60Hz). Reason for this is the voltage drawn on the system when the "SUB" kicks in and it is not the guy on the sound desk that do not know how to control his mixer and also not a badly made EDM but actually a equipment failure. When the "SUB" kicks, it draws power from your amplification circuit, resulting in loss of frequencies, usually on your higher end of the scale. Not because of a "bad" amp or a "sloppy" filter system, but because the sudden voltage drop is so much that it draws the power from your amplification circuit. If you are running a 52v amplifier this dump can drop to almost 38v. Thats why your higher end Amplifiers has multiple transformers and usually 1 per channel to avoid a too harsh voltage drop. Having a system running on almost half its originally needed power, it produces half its potential. I normally see it on the display backlights when the "Dumps" are not sufficient to carry the load. There are several ways to fix this but ultimately, we add "Dump" Capacitors to fix this problem ("The bigger the better" is not always correct here). These Capacitors charge and when the "SUB" or "Bass" comes in, the sudden draw gets drawn from the "Capacitors" and not from your circuit (Yes similar to Car Audio) This now give you the ability to run your system at Full capacity (Long periods at a time) without loss of quality or frequencies.

The adding of a larger Power supply made sense when you said it, but after thinking about it, instead of resolving the problem, you merely upped the voltage to have a higher final voltage drop, but the strain on your amplification system is still present. Means you have not fixed the origin of the problem, merely bypassed it. Obviously, this is how you blow "mosfet's" or "IC's" etc. They get extremely hot and with the dump you are basically pushing and pulling them in both direction the whole time. Somewhere along the line they snap.

The "Dump" capacitors I am referring to is for two reasons. 1. Reliability and 2. constant maximum performance.

I know my little Kenwood has them and obviously my bigger PA amplifiers has them, even my Beringer sound board has them. So from my side of the coin it seems as if I was busy comparing apples with pears. In my defence this is because I have never owned any other type of equipment hence the query about "WHERE ARE THEY?". My baby stage amplifier is 1000 watts and that is just to handle parts of the system so when I see something very pretty an awesome, I usually turn around and walk away when reading words or big prints that says "120Watt".........I own tweeters needing more than that.

Obviously still want to own a proper Valve/Tube AMP someday when I retire. The idea (mental image) and physical image just does it for me. From what I heard about the audio quality of them; I will probably give it a miss eventually. I am too used to near-perfect audio.

Hope this clears up any confusion. Sorry about that.

 

[Colif]

think I let anort answer. I don't know anything about speaker set ups. Yet.

 

[neogunhero]

I'm trying to hold onto my HyperX Cloud Alpha's as long as possible. Maybe not the best headphones ever made, but they're the best I've ever used, and so far they have lasted me over 5 years.

I replaced the earcups with cooling gel earcups and that was a major upgrade. The original earcups had that fake leather crap and it started to peel, and the plush inside started to go a bit flat. The cooling gel earcups are a bit stiffer but I prefer that, and because of how large they are, it seems to press the headphones against my head a bit more in a good way, like getting a good seal when wearing them.

I've also replaced the cable as the last one was starting to fray and warp. I love the detachable mic and cables, you can easily replace them whenever. However, with the cable, it seems very hard to find one that also supports mic-in for some reason. A lot on Amazon specifically say the cable does not support mic input for whatever reason, and HyperX doesn't make their own OEM replacements anymore. I never use my mic so that doesn't matter at all, but kind of sucks for those who do. I think they exist, just not as common as the no mic ones.

Right now I'm looking at ordering a cover for the headband. Same thing with the original earcups, they're made of that crappy faux-leather stuff that flakes and makes a huge mess over time. On Amazon I'm seeing this which should be effective, plus add a bit of additional cushion which is nice.

I love this headset and want to make it last as much as possible. The metal frame, detachable mic and cables are the main reasons why I want to keep it around, it's much more high quality than a lot of other gaming headphones I've used. Sound quality is hard to judge when I don't use other headphones to compare it to, but to me it sounds crystal clear with a good amount of high and low end to satisfy most people. It's very balanced I believe, not too heavy on bass or treble, while also not sounding flat.