Distribution Amplifier

The Model HC 6 Headphone Console is a six channel headphone amplifier, consisting of six stereo amplifiers, two master stereo inputs and six individual stereo inputs. The two master stereo inputs feed a separate left and right bus to each of the six headphone amps. In addition, there are individual stereo inputs to each headphone amplifier that disconnect that particular amp from the master stereo bus and allows a separate mix to be used. From time to time, we are asked if the HC 6 may be configured for use as a balanced line distribution amplifier. The answer is, yes, with a special input jack arrangement. The trick is to wire a special input jack assembly. What is required is for the tip of the input jack to feed the tip of one of the input males and the ring of the other. And for the ring of the input jack to feed the ring of one and tip of the other. What this does is drive the two inputs with opposite polarities, such that the left input is driven positive while the right input is driven negative, and vice-versa. This causes all of the left headphone amps to drive the output lines positive while all the right headphone amps drive the other side of the line negative, and vice-versa. Which creates six balanced line drivers, all fed from the one common input line. So, with this special input jack, the HC 6 is now configured as a one-to-six distribution amplifier.

The Model HC 6 Headphone Console is designed to provide versatile headphone amplification for multiple users, making it ideal for studio environments, educational settings, or any application requiring multiple headphone outputs. Each of the six channels operates as an independent stereo amplifier, allowing for tailored audio mixing and output levels for each user.

The console features two master stereo inputs, which serve as the primary audio source. These inputs are routed to individual left and right buses that connect to each of the six headphone amplifiers. This setup enables the simultaneous distribution of a common audio signal to multiple headphones, while maintaining the ability to adjust the volume for each channel independently.

In addition to the master inputs, the HC 6 includes six individual stereo inputs. These inputs allow users to bypass the master bus and connect their own audio sources directly to their respective headphone amplifiers. This feature is particularly useful in scenarios where personalized audio mixing is needed, as it enables each user to select their own audio input without affecting the others.

For applications requiring balanced audio distribution, the HC 6 can be modified with a special input jack configuration. This configuration involves wiring the input jack such that the tip and ring connections are crossed between two input jacks. Specifically, the tip of the input jack connects to the tip of one input and the ring of another, while the ring of the input jack connects to the ring of one input and the tip of the other. This setup results in one channel being driven positive while the other is driven negative, effectively creating a balanced audio output.

With this balanced configuration, each of the six headphone amplifiers operates as a balanced line driver, allowing for improved noise rejection and signal integrity over longer cable runs. This makes the HC 6 not only a headphone amplifier but also a capable distribution amplifier, suitable for professional audio applications where high-quality audio signal distribution is essential. The flexibility of the HC 6, combined with its straightforward configuration options, makes it a valuable tool for audio professionals.The Model HC 6 Headphone Console is a six channel headphone amplifier, consisting of six stereo amplifiers, two master stereo inputs and six individual stereo inputs. The two master stereo inputs feed a separate left and right bus to each of the six headphone amps (see Figure 1).

In addition, there are individual stereo inputs to each headphone amplifier that disconnect that particular amp from the master stereo bus and allows a separate mix to be used. From time to time, we are asked if the HC 6 may be config-ured for use as a balanced line distribution amplifier.

The answer is, yes, with a special input jack arrangement. The trick is to wire a special input jack assembly per Figure 2. What is required is for the tip of the input jack to feed the tip of one of the input males and the RING of the other. And for the ring of the input jack to feed the ring of one and TIP of the other. What this does is drive the two inputs with opposite polarities, such that the left input is driven positive while the right input is driven negative, and vice-versa .

This causes all of the left headphone amps to drive the output lines positive while all the right headphone amps drive the other side of the line negative, and vice-versa. Which creates six balanced line drivers, all fed trom the one common input line. So, with this special input jack, the HC 6 is now configured as a one-to-six distribution amplier. 🔗 External reference