Z1 Monitoring with headphones at DVinfo.net

Saxon Bashford · May 18th, 2007, 03:49 PM

Good day to you from London.

Even though the visual display in my Z1E flip-out screen shows a healthy recording level, as I'm monitoring with cans there is almost nothing to be heard through my (Sennheiser HD 450) headphones.

The same headphones used with my PDX10 give a strong result, which make me think it's the Z1; but am I missing any adjustment that can be made to monitor the recording levels?

With best wishes as ever,

Saxon

Graeme Fullick · May 18th, 2007, 04:05 PM

Saxon,

The Z1 does have a notoriously low headphone output. You will need to get low impedance headphones to get decent sound levels. I use etymotics in-ear plugs to monitor - and these work well. I believe that the BBC use Sehn HD25's on their Z1's - so this must also work well, although I cannot verify myself from personal experience.

Hope this helps.

Saxon Bashford · May 18th, 2007, 04:18 PM

Thank you, Graeme, I'll certainly check them out. If they're good enough for Auntie BBC, they'd certainly be good enough for me!

Boyd Ostroff · May 18th, 2007, 07:12 PM

Yes this has come up before. I'm using Sony MDR-V600 headphones and music recorded at normal levels becomes unpleasantly loud when you turn the volume up to about 3 clicks below the max.

See the following:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=84451
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=76602

Graeme Fullick · May 18th, 2007, 09:11 PM

Saxon,

Please note my post above should have read Senn HD25's. THey are a bit pricey, but very nice bits of gear.

Carlos E. Martinez · May 20th, 2007, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boyd Ostroff

Yes this has come up before. I'm using Sony MDR-V600 headphones and music recorded at normal levels becomes unpleasantly loud when you turn the volume up to about 3 clicks below the max.

I agree with Boyd here. The V600 plays much louder than a 7506 on the Z1, probaby because they are 40 ohm phones, compared to 70 ohms on the 7506.

The HD25 are 70 ohm too, so I would expect a similar low sensitivity.

If you can find a lower than 40 ohm impedance type, you may even get higher level, but you may get higher distortion too or even overload the output. I wouldn't go lower than 25 ohm.

There's an external headphone amp which I bought, called Boostaroo, that allows using less sensitive phones and plug up to three units. You can velcro it to the handle and leave it always on, which is always good to preserve the Z1 jack.

Harm Millaard · May 20th, 2007, 05:25 AM

I use the HD-25's and never had a problem with low sensitivity on the Z1. It definitely is lower than on a PD-150/170/VX-2000 but still more than acceptable.

Saxon Bashford · May 21st, 2007, 02:34 PM

Thank you for the recomendations and comments.

I will certainly look at investing in one of these models, and let you know how I get on.

Saxon

May 18th, 2007, 03:49 PM	#1
Saxon Bashford New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London Posts: 7	Z1 Monitoring with headphones Good day to you from London. Even though the visual display in my Z1E flip-out screen shows a healthy recording level, as I'm monitoring with cans there is almost nothing to be heard through my (Sennheiser HD 450) headphones. The same headphones used with my PDX10 give a strong result, which make me think it's the Z1; but am I missing any adjustment that can be made to monitor the recording levels? With best wishes as ever, Saxon

May 18th, 2007, 04:05 PM	#2
Graeme Fullick Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 337	Saxon, The Z1 does have a notoriously low headphone output. You will need to get low impedance headphones to get decent sound levels. I use etymotics in-ear plugs to monitor - and these work well. I believe that the BBC use Sehn HD25's on their Z1's - so this must also work well, although I cannot verify myself from personal experience. Hope this helps. __________________ Graeme Last edited by Graeme Fullick; May 18th, 2007 at 09:00 PM.

May 18th, 2007, 04:18 PM	#3
Saxon Bashford New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London Posts: 7	Z1 Monitoring with headphones Thank you, Graeme, I'll certainly check them out. If they're good enough for Auntie BBC, they'd certainly be good enough for me!

May 18th, 2007, 09:11 PM	#5
Graeme Fullick Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 337	Saxon, Please note my post above should have read Senn HD25's. THey are a bit pricey, but very nice bits of gear. __________________ Graeme

May 21st, 2007, 02:34 PM	#8
Saxon Bashford New Boot Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London Posts: 7	Monitoring Z1 with headphones Thank you for the recomendations and comments. I will certainly look at investing in one of these models, and let you know how I get on. Saxon

May 18th, 2007, 07:12 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Yes this has come up before. I'm using Sony MDR-V600 headphones and music recorded at normal levels becomes unpleasantly loud when you turn the volume up to about 3 clicks below the max. See the following: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=84451 http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=76602

May 20th, 2007, 05:25 AM	#7
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	I use the HD-25's and never had a problem with low sensitivity on the Z1. It definitely is lower than on a PD-150/170/VX-2000 but still more than acceptable.