Connect Topping A50 III to RME Fireface UFXII

[NeverBetter]

Hi...just wondering if I am thinking this through properly. I've decided to try a headphone amp finally. If it doesn't impress me and or if I don't notice a difference from the stock headphone outs on my RME Fireface UFXII, I can always take it back for a refund. But...how do I connect it?

Do I need a Y splitter to run OUT from a headphone jack on the front of the Fireface and INTO the TRS jacks on the back of the Topping?

Thank you

 

[staticV3]

Connect the Balanced Line Level output at the back of the UFXII to the A50III's Balanced Line Level Input.

 

[Sokel]

Hi...just wondering if I am thinking this through properly. I've decided to try a headphone amp finally. If it doesn't impress me and or if I don't notice a difference from the stock headphone outs on my RME Fireface UFXII, I can always take it back for a refund. But...how do I connect it?

Do I need a Y splitter to run OUT from a headphone jack on the front of the Fireface and INTO the TRS jacks on the back of the Topping?

Thank you

You just connect the RME's stereo back line outputs to HP amp's line inputs.

 

[DVDdoug]

There shouldn't be any difference (level matched) unless the RME's headphone out doesn't go loud enough for you. (And I have no idea if the Topping has higher, or lower, maximum output.)

 

[IngMishael]

Hi...just wondering if I am thinking this through properly. I've decided to try a headphone amp finally. If it doesn't impress me and or if I don't notice a difference from the stock headphone outs on my RME Fireface UFXII, I can always take it back for a refund. But...how do I connect it?

Do I need a Y splitter to run OUT from a headphone jack on the front of the Fireface and INTO the TRS jacks on the back of the Topping?

Thank you

The difference you should notice is gonna be mainly gain and getting louder

 

[IngMishael]

Hi...just wondering if I am thinking this through properly. I've decided to try a headphone amp finally. If it doesn't impress me and or if I don't notice a difference from the stock headphone outs on my RME Fireface UFXII, I can always take it back for a refund. But...how do I connect it?

Do I need a Y splitter to run OUT from a headphone jack on the front of the Fireface and INTO the TRS jacks on the back of the Topping?

Thank you

Also all you need are two TRS male end to end cables to link the TRS outs on the UFXII to the TRS inputs on the A50III

You don't need a Y Splitter

Edit: This cable pair will do - https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-HSS-005-REAN-Balanced-Interconnect/dp/B0DTXV6NQL

Just choose the option that says 1.5ft Pack of 2

 

[unpluggged]

Most important is to not forget to assign the Phones bus in TotalMix FX to the chosen output pair of the UFX III.

 

[NeverBetter]

Connect the Balanced Line Level output at the back of the UFXII to the A50III's Balanced Line Level Input.

No problem. Sounds easy enough. Thanks.

You just connect the RME's stereo back line outputs to HP amp's line inputs.

As above, thank you.

There shouldn't be any difference (level matched) unless the RME's headphone out doesn't go loud enough for you. (And I have no idea if the Topping has higher, or lower, maximum output.)

Shouldn't be any difference? You mean between the headphone outputs on the RME and the Topping? The RME headphone outs have a low mode and high gain mode. Trust me, cranked, the output capabilities on the RME headphone outs will rip your head off with volume. Absolutely not a problem.

The difference you should notice is gonna be mainly gain and getting louder

Ok. Interesting. As said...the RME headphone outs have massive volume capability...far beyond what the human ear could physically stand for too long. The reason I am considering a headphone amp like the Topping is because youtube jockeys have finally convinced me it will make a difference in mixing music. I kind of remain skeptical but am willing to try. I think they say it's not so much the volume but the phase clarity, transient response, general clarity and ability to more precisely match the ohm specs of headphones.

Also all you need are two TRS male end to end cables to link the TRS outs on the UFXII to the TRS inputs on the A50III

You don't need a Y Splitter

Edit: This cable pair will do - https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-HSS-005-REAN-Balanced-Interconnect/dp/B0DTXV6NQL

Just choose the option that says 1.5ft Pack of 2

Yep, no probs. Thanks.

Most important is to not forget to assign the Phones bus in TotalMix FX to the chosen output pair of the UFX III.

And yes...thanks for this especially coz that's a very specific tip for RME/ Totalmix. I was wondering about that for sure. So in Totalmix can I add a 3rd "Phones" channel along side the existing 2 Phones channels in the bottom right section of Totalmix? Or will I control the connection to the Topping from ch 5&6 in the Hardware Outputs section of Totalmix? (which is default bottom left of the Totalmix window). I assume I come out of 5&6 at unity/ 0/ zero...and then use the Topping to set volume?

 

[Zetti]

Sorry to interject but I am doing something similar and maybe can use this opportunity to educate myself regarding Totalmix. Right now I am using the optical out of my RME Babyface to the digital input of Topping DX3+, to use its headphone amp (it's a long story)

What I did in Totalmix was to route the software playback to the AS1/2 hardware out (how the optical out is named), and assing it to Main. I set the main volume to zero and do volume control in the DX3. It worked.

So this "assign the Phones bus in TotalMix FX" got me confused. Is there another way set totalmix?

 

[NeverBetter]

Sorry to interject but I am doing something similar and maybe can use this opportunity to educate myself regarding Totalmix. Right now I am using the optical out of my RME Babyface to the digital input of Topping DX3+, to use its headphone amp (it's a long story)

What I did in Totalmix was to route the software playback to the AS1/2 hardware out (how the optical out is named), and assing it to Main. I set the main volume to zero and do volume control in the DX3. It worked.

So this "assign the Phones bus in TotalMix FX" got me confused. Is there another way set totalmix?

I think unpluggged might just mean that you need to remember where you have your physical cables coming out of the RME and into the headphone amp. Or he means that it is possible to assign (let's say ch5&6 output from RME) to one of the default "Phones" channels in Totalmix. I'm not sure if it is possible to create a 3rd "Phones" channel, as such, in Totalmix. By default...with my RME Fireface UFXII...there are TWO headphone jacks on the front...hence 2 headphone or "Phones" channels in Totalmix. If you want to actually use one of those 2 headphone channels in Totalmix It is possible, I assume, to assign ch5&6 to that "Phones" channel...so the channel knows not to take its source from either of the 2 headphone jacks on the front panel...but from ch5&6 Hardware Out.

There's probably multiple ways you can go about all this but that's an example. Technically, I believe it would be perfectly possible to have 2 sets of headphones plugged into the 2 front panel headphone jacks...AND have a 3rd headphone operating via the Topping (headphone amp) RME Hardware out ch5&6 connection which you set on channel 5&6 in the Hardware Outputs section of Totalmix. If you follow me.

Actually, looking at Totalmix now it seems that you can create a Phones 3 and Phones 4 channel using the assign button in the bottom right. So if you are using the 2 headphone jacks on the front panel of the RME for 2 sets of cans you can add a 3rd headphone channel making sure to assign its source from (let's say) ch5&6...or whichever ch you used to connect the RME to the Topping.

 

[unpluggged]

I think unpluggged might just mean that you need to remember where you have your physical cables coming out of the RME and into the headphone amp. Or he means that it is possible to assign (let's say ch5&6 output from RME) to one of the default "Phones" channels in Totalmix.

I mean that you need to assign one of your "Phones" outputs in TotalMix to the physical outputs where you connect the amp (instead of the default 9/10 or 11/12). While I see you can assign "Phones 3" and "Phones 4" in TotalMix, I am not sure you would be able to toggle between them and the Main Outs using a button on the interface itself and control their volume with the encoder (at least my UCX II does not allow it), if it's important to you.

Otherwise you make your routing in TotalMix as usual from a playback channel pair (could be the main playback channels or a separate pair) to the outputs where the amp is connected.

 

[NeverBetter]

I mean that you need to assign one of your "Phones" outputs in TotalMix to the physical outputs where you connect the amp (instead of the default 9/10 or 11/12). While I see you can assign "Phones 3" and "Phones 4" in TotalMix, I am not sure you would be able to toggle between them and the Main Outs using a button on the interface itself and control their volume with the encoder (at least my UCX II does not allow it), if it's important to you.

Otherwise you make your routing in TotalMix as usual from a playback channel pair (could be the main playback channels or a separate pair) to the outputs where the amp is connected.

Thanks unpluggged, that's basically what I thought you meant. Toggling between Phones and Main Outs etc I just use the mute buttons in TotalMix to mute what I don't want to hear. Can you leave Phones 1 and 2 as they are (for 2 sets of headphones OTHER than the headphones you want to run through the Topping) and control ch5&6 (or wherever your Topping is connected) in the Hardware Outputs as the Topping headphone? Muting that channel when you don't want it. That way you can hear Main Outs, 2x headphones in Phones 1 and 2 AND the Topping headphone via the Topping controls.

It gets all a little finicky to discuss laid out in sentences etc.

My purposes are for mixing music so for me, I'd like 2 or even 3 headphones ready to pick up and put on at any moment. And of course to be able to switch to speaker Mains. Anyway, I think it'll all work out fine.

 

[unpluggged]

Can you leave Phones 1 and 2 as they are (for 2 sets of headphones OTHER than the headphones you want to run through the Topping) and control ch5&6 (or wherever your Topping is connected) in the Hardware Outputs as the Topping headphone?

Yes, why not? Each output has its own submix in TotalMix FX, so it has individual routing, output volume fader, processing (including room EQ that you can use to equalize your headphones), crossfeed, loopback, and so on.

 

[NeverBetter]

Connected no problem. Thanks everyone. How come the A50iii has 2 headphone jacks there? You can run 2 simultaneous headphones out?

 

[staticV3]

How come the A50iii has 2 headphone jacks there? You can run 2 simultaneous headphones out?

Using two headphones simultaneously is not the intended function, though it may still work (no guarantees).

Instead, there's one 1/4" jack for regular headphones and earbuds, and one 4.4mm balanced jack for headphones that support it.

On the A50III, the balanced headphone output enables more output power.

The difference is most notable with high impedance headphones:

16Ω: 16% louder
32Ω: 22% louder
150Ω: 52% louder
300Ω:52% louder

 

[NeverBetter]

Using two headphones simultaneously is not the intended function, though it may still work (no guarantees).

Instead, there's one 1/4" jack for regular headphones and earbuds, and one 4.4mm balanced jack for headphones that support it.

On the A50III, the balanced headphone output enables more output power.

The difference is most notable with high impedance headphones:

16Ω: 16% louder
32Ω: 22% louder
150Ω: 52% louder
300Ω:52% louder

Well thanks a lot. It sure would have been nice for Topping to have included some kind of adapter for that 4.4mm jack. Something like a 6.35mm female to 4.4mm male would have been well received. I'm running some Hifiman headphones (which I think are balanced) and they end in either 6.35mm or 3.5mm. Finding an adapter to plug into the Topping A50iii 4.4mm jack hasn't exactly been easy. Do you know of one?

 

[staticV3]

It sure would have been nice for Topping to have included some kind of adapter for that 4.4mm jack. Something like a 6.35mm female to 4.4mm male would have been well received.

Careful:
You cannot just plug a regular 6.35 or 3.5mm headphone into a 4.4mm balanced port using an adapter. That can kill the Amp.

Balanced headphone outputs (2.5mm, 4.4mm, 4pin XLR), can only be used with special, balanced headphones and the right cable with native 2.5/4.4/4pin XLR plug.

 

[NeverBetter]

Thanks. Does anyone know if the Hifiman Arya Organics and the Hifiman Ananda Nanos are balanced headphones or their cables are? I think they are but I'm not 100% sure. And can anyone recommend a suitable...oh you're saying there is no such adapter and that the cable must have a native pin ending in 4.4 to plug into the A50iii 4.4 jack? In that case I'll just use the 6.5.

 

[staticV3]

Does anyone know if the Hifiman Arya Organics and the Hifiman Ananda Nanos are balanced headphones

Both are Bal capable.

And can anyone recommend a suitable...oh you're saying there is no such adapter and that the cable must have a native pin ending in 4.4 to plug into the A50iii 4.4 jack?

Native 2.5, 4.4, or 4pin XLR.

You can adapt from one Bal port to another, that's safe.

You just can't adapt a single-ended headphone onto a Bal headphone Amp output.

 

[NeverBetter]

Thank you very much. It will be easier to just use the 6.5mm jack.