XM4
Headphone Amplifier
User’s Manual
©2007 Practical Devices Corporation. All rights reserved.
Thank you, and congratulations on your purchase of the XM4 Portable
Headphone Amplifier!
We’ve worked very hard to provide you with what may be one of
the most advanced, feature packed, and best sounding headphone
amplifiers on the market today. The XM4 is designed to be durable, flexible,
easy to use, practical, and above all, sound great. Each unit is carefully
manufactured, and then rigorously tested for performance, durability, and
sound quality.
If you have any questions that are not answered by this manual,
please feel free to send us an email. Enjoy the amp!
Yours truly,
James Forest
President & CEO
A Word About Protecting Your Hearing
:
The most
valuable piece of audio equipment you own are your ears. Smart people protect
their hearing. When using the XM4, or any headphones, get in the habit of
removing the headphones from your ears whenever you:
•
Turn the XM4 on;
•
Connect or disconnect any cables,
•
Do ANYTHING that may cause a sudden burst of loud sound.
Your only have one set of ears, and you can’t replace them. Never listen at
excessive volume. Always listen to music at reasonable volume, and most
importantly, use good common sense.
PLEASE
READ!
XM4 Block Diagram ....................4
Connecting Your XM4 .................5
Power Button Functions ..............6
Crossfeed Controls......................7
Disassembling the Unit................8
Replacing the Battery ..................9
Gain Boost Jumpers ..................10
Lithium Battery Charger.............11
External Power Supply ..............12
Testing the Battery ....................13
Frequently-Asked Questions .....14
Troubleshooting.........................15
Warranty and Guarantee ...........17
Technical Specifications ............18
3
Table of Contents
Output
Connect to
Headphones
Power Button
Press button:
1 time = Turn on power for 1 hour
3 times = Turn on power for 3 hours
6 times = Turn on power for 6 hours
7 times = Turn on power forever
2 times = Toggle flashlight mode
5 times = Toggle dimming of blue LED
Press and HOLD to turn unit off.
Press once to display battery voltage. For
example, if battery is at 8.5 volts, the amber
LED will flash 8, then 5 times.
Input
Connect to MP3 player
or other audio source.
Main Volume
Amber LED
Flashes battery voltage when Power Button
is pressed.
Flashes a one-flash warning when the battery
is low (below 6.5 volts). Flashes a two-flash
warning when the battery is very low (below
5.2 volts).
Blue LED
Indicates
power is on
Crossfeed Enable Switch
IN position: Crossfeed enabled.
OUT position: Crossfeed disabled.
Crossfeed Adjuster
Turn this potentiometer to
adjust the amount of
Crossfeed, from near-stereo
to 100% mono.
This only has an effect when
the Crossfeed Enable Switch
is in the IN position.
Power Connector
“Barrel” connector with 1.3mm
center pin. Center pin must be
positive.
Used to power and recharge
the XM4.
Battery Charger
Jumpers
Change these only if you
want to use a NiMH
battery. See Users
Manual Pages 12 and 13
XM4 Block Diagram
Gold-Plated Amp Chip Socket
Allows for future amp chip
upgrades and modifications for
those who like to experiment.
Gain Boost Jumpers
Jumpers installed: = +10db extra boost
Jumpers not installed: = +0db extra boost
Bass +6dB
4
Connecting Your XM4
1. Connect a suitable source to the input jack, as
pictured. Sources may be MP3 or CD players, iPods,
or any line-level devices.
2. Connect your headphones to the output jack.
Your headphones can have an impedance of 24 to 600 ohms.
5
6
The power button functions are activated by pressing repeatedly
within a three second window:
1 press:
Turn unit on. The XM4 turns off
automatically after one hour.
3 presses: Turn unit on for three hours.
6 presses: Turn unit on for six hours.
7 presses:
Turn unit on. The XM4 will not turn itself off.
Press and hold: Turn unit off.
The unit will respond to button presses by flashing the
blue LED once for each hour it will stay on.
Additional power button functions:
2 presses:
Toggle flashlight mode.
5 presses:
Toggle LED dimming.
Power button
Power Button Functions
CrossFeed Controls
The XM4’s Crossfeed circuit simulates the sound stage of
loudspeakers, through your headphones.
•
Press the Switch IN to activate Crossfeed.
•
Leave the button OUT for full stereo operation,
bypassing the Crossfeed circuit entirely.
Use a small screwdriver (Philips or Straightblade) to adjust
the Crossfeed Potentiometer:
•
All the way clockwise to produce a mono signal;
•
All the way counter-clockwise to produce a near-
stereo image.
Crossfeed Adjuster Crossfeed Enable Switch
Why would you want Crossfeed?
Most music is mixed to be
listened to on loudspeakers. The studio technicians mixing the recording
assume there will be alot of crosstalk, since with speakers the listener's left ear
clearly hears the right speaker's output, and vice versa. Thus, most music is mixed
with a very wide stereo soundstage.
With headphones, however, the left ear only hears the left channel, and the right ear
only hears the right channel, with nearly zero crosstalk. This can, for many recordings,
cause the soundstage to appear to be "in the center of your head". Further, some
recordings (early Beatles recordings are infamous for this) have each instrument and
vocal track panned 100% to either left or right, which can almost immediately cause
listener fatigue. Crossfeed corrects this by bleeding some of the left channel into the
right, and vice-versa.
7
To re-assemble the unit:
1. Slide the unit back together
(make sure the circuit board
slides smoothly on the case's
guide rails)
2. Re-install the two screws. Do
not overtighten.
3. Re-install the battery and rear
panel.
Disassembling the Unit
Remove
two screws,
and push
circuitboard
from rear.
8
Help! I think I stripped the screws
when I tightened them! No, you
didn’t. You can gently pinch the case’s
screw receptacles with a pair of pliers,
as shown, to tighten things up.
If you need to change the Gain Boost Jumpers or Battery
Charger Jumper, you will need to disassemble the unit.
Here's how:
Note: there is a
notch in the case.
Make sure the case
is oriented so the
notch lines up with
the pushbutton, as
shown.
1. Turn the unit off, and remove the external
power adapter if connected.
2. Remove the rear panel using a Phillips
screwdriver. Remove the battery.
3. Remove the two screws on the front panel
(use the included 5/64” allen key). Note: you
do NOT need to remove the volume knob!
4. From the rear, push the circuitboard out the
front of the case.
Replacing the Battery
Replace the battery by removing the rear panel, using a Philips
screwdriver.
•
Connect the battery clip to the new battery
•
Insert the battery clip-first into the XM4
•
The battery should not protrude out of the rear of the unit (if it
does protrude, you won’t be able to completely screw down the
rear panel. Check that the battery cable hasn’t prevented the
battery from being pushed in completely).
If the battery cable has become entangled, you may need to
disassemble the unit as shown on page 8.
9
With the volume knob at full, your XM4 will
deliver +13dB of gain. Additionally, you can
install the Gain Boost jumpers, which will give
you an extra +10dB of gain, for a total of
+23dB.
In order to get the best possible noise floor,
you should not install the Gain Boost jumpers
unless: a) the volume of your headphones is
too quiet, and, b) you have already tried turning up the volume of your
Gain Boost Jumpers
10
Usually, the Gain Boost jumpers are only needed when using
headphones which have an impedance greater than around 150
To install or remove the Gain Boost jumpers:
1. Disassemble the unit (see page 8)
2. To install the jumpers, place a jumper of each pair of riser pins.
(Hint: if you are removing the jumpers, place each jumper over
one pin only, so you don't lose them).
3. Re-assemble the unit.
Jumpers are installed.
Gain boost is +10dB
Jumpers are removed.
Gain boost is disabled.
Jumpers are removed, but
are placed over a single
pin so they don’t get lost.
Gain boost is disabled.
Gain Boost
Jumpers
Lithium Battery Charger
Lithium Battery FastCharge™ System
If your XM4 came equipped with the optional Lithium rechargeable
system, just plug the charger into the powerjack on the rear of the
XM4.
•
The battery will fully charge within two hours. When charging is finished,
the LED on the charger will turn from red to green.
•
The battery will charge even if the XM4 is turned on.
•
You can leave the charger connected indefinitely.
•
You can expect up to 40 hours of use per charge.
•
Your Charger is a “World” charger—it will work with AC Mains voltages
from 105 to 240 VAC, at 50 or 60Hz. If you are using the charger
outside of North America, you may need a plug adapter (available from
your local electronics store).
11
External Power Supply
(Note: If your XM4 came equipped with the Lithium rechargeable system, then this
page does not apply to you.)
External Power Supply
If your XM4 did NOT come with the Lithium system, then it shipped from the factory
with an Industrial Alkaline 9v battery. You can use an external power supply to save
battery life while you are at home. The external power supply must be:
•
6 to 15V DC (if you want to use the supply to recharge a NiMH or NiCd battery, then
the supply must be Regulated 12V DC ± 5%)
•
Have a barrel-type connector, with a 1.3mm center pin.
The center pin must be positive polarity:
•
The milliamp (mA) rating on the supply does not matter; any mA rating can be used.
•
A suitable power supply is RadioShack PN#273-1773 (make sure you ask for
Adaptaplug "H" PN#273-1711, which is included with the adapter).
NiMH or NiCd Rechargeable Battery
A rechargeable NiMH or NiCd battery can be used instead of the alkaline, and you can
use the XM4's integrated battery trickle charger to recharge it. RadioShack #23-529
battery will work, or any of the following types of rechargeable batteries can be used:
- Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH), 8.4v or 9v
- Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad), 8.4v or 9v
Using a 7.2v battery is not recommended, as overcharging
may result if the external power is applied for too long.
To use the trickle charger and a NiMH or NiCd battery:
1) Obtain an external power supply described above
2) Install the NiMH or NiCd battery in the XM4
3) Set the Charge Jumpers in the XM4 as shown on bottom-center of Page 13.
•
Charging a NiMH or NiCd battery will take approximately 15 hours
•
Battery life depends on the “mAHr” rating of your battery. For example, a
“250mAHr” battery can be expected to last approximately 25 hours.
Use of an external power supply which is higher than the voltages shown above
may cause battery overcharging, damage to the battery and/or the XM4, battery
electrolyte leakage, or possibly even battery explosion. If in doubt, measure your
power adapter with a voltmeter, or enquire at your local electronics store.
12
Barrel-type plug:
XM4 uses:
“1.3mm
center
pin”
13
Alkaline Battery Configuration:
Both jumpers are removed. Use
this configuration if you are using
an Alkaline battery. This is the
Factory default for XM4’s
shipped with an alkaline battery.
Trickle Charger
Configuration. For NiMH
and NiCd rechargeable
batteries. Install the outer
one jumper, as shown:
Lithium Battery Fastcharge.
Both jumpers are installed.
This is the Factory default for
XM4’s shipped with the Lithium
option.
Charge Jumper Configuration
Only change the charge jumpers from their factory defaults if you want to install a NiMH
or NiCd rechargeable battery. (For advanced users only!)
Testing the Battery
The XM4 also acts as a battery tester.
When the XM4 is turned on, the amber LED will display the battery voltage
by flashing. For example, if the voltage is 8.5 volts, the LED will flash 8
times, then 5 times.
To see the battery voltage if the unit is already on, press the power button
The XM4 will warn you if the power falls below certain thresholds:
•
At around 6.5 volts, the amber LED will begin to flash.
•
Below around 5.2 volts, the amber LED will double-
flash, indicating the battery is very low.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can I use a line-level input to the XM4, such as from a CD/
DVD player or VCR?
Yes, the XM4 will accept a line-level input.
Can I use the XM4 to drive speakers?
Usually, no. The XM4 was designed as a headphone
amp, and will usually not do a good job of driving
speakers, even small ones (most speakers have
impedances of around eight ohms). What you are
looking for is a power amplifier, not a headphone
amplifier
For more FAQs, see our website:
http://www.practicaldevices.com/faq.htm
14
Troubleshooting
Here are some common problems, and their solutions:
Amp does not turn on or respond to pushing the power button:
- Disconnect the battery, hold down the power button
for 10 seconds, then reconnect the battery.
Headphone volume is too quiet, even with the volume knob at full:
- Increase volume of source (MP3 player). If it is still
too quiet, then install the Gain Boost jumpers (see
page 10)
Output is in one ear only; the other channel is dead:
- Check that all cables are completely plugged in all
the way
- Check that your cable is a stereo cable, not a mono
cable.
15
16
Notes
Warranty and Guarantee
Practical Devices stands behind its products with a full
no-risk warranty and money-back satisfaction guarantee.
Practical Devices offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of
our products. If, for any reason whatsoever, you are unsatisfied with
your purchase, you may return it for your money back, including
your original shipping cost. (The fine print: Unit must be returned
within 30 days of sale; Unit must be returned in the same
undamaged, good working order as it was received; Practical
Devices will refund you the original cost, plus the cost of the original
shipping. Customer must pay for return shipping cost).
Further, we warranty, for a period of one year, that our products are
free from any defects in workmanship. Should you have any
problems, we promise to make it right.
(The fine print: warranty is in
effect for a period of one year. Problems must be reported to
sales@practicaldevices.com This warranty covers any defects in
workmanship. It does not cover abuse, physical damage, or the like).
Should you need any service, please email us at
sales@practicaldevices.com
17
18
Specifications
Description: Portable Audio Headphone Amplifier
Weight: 140 grams (4.9 oz)
Power Source: - 9-volt alkaline, NiMH, NiCd battery, or,
- 8.4-volt NiMH or NiCD battery, and/or,
- External Power Supply.
- Option Lithium Rechargeable System
External Power Supply: 1.3mm Barrel connector power jack,
center pin positive.
If using built-in NiMH battery charger:
12VDC ± 5%
If not using battery charger:
6-15VDC
Optional Lithium charger can also be
used.
Battery Charge Time Lithium Charge System: 2 hours
Trickle charge NiMH: 15 hours
Battery Life (typical): Alkaline: 50 hours
Lithium: 40 hours
Maximum Gain: +23.1 dB (Gain Boost jumpers in)
+12.7 dB (Gain Boost jumpers out)
Frequency Response (20-20,000Hz,
typical):
+0.1dB, -0.4dB
-3dB Point (typical): 21 kHz at top end;
9 Hz at low end
Total Harmonic Distortion
(typical)
0.002%
Intermodulation Distortion
(typical)
0.007%
Signal to Noise ratio
(20-20,000Hz, typical):
100 dB
Dynamic Range
(20-20,000Hz, typical):
100dB
Crossfeed
User-adjustable from mono to
stereo using potentiometer;
User can bypass using
pushbutton.
Auto Power-OFF User selects between 1, 3, or 6
hour poweroff interval, or unit
can be set to stay on indefinitely
Status Indicators Two LEDS (one blue, one
amber)
Integrated Voltmeter accuracy
(typical)
±100mV
Mechanicals Anodized aluminum case;
Glossy laser-anodized faceplate;
Polished aluminum volume knob;
FR-4 dual-layer Printed Circuit
Board with 1 oz. copper
Other Features
Flashlight Mode: Turns on both
LEDs to full brightness;
Dimming mode: Allows user to
optionally dim the blue LED.
Bass Boost +6dB @ 100Hz
19
Specifications
(Continued)
XM4_v35 ©2007
www.practicaldevices.com
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