Samson Q5 Owner's Manual

HEADPHONE

AMPLIFIER

SAMSON

®

Q5

Introduction 3
System Features 4

Guided Tour 5

Front Panel 5
Rear Panel 6

Setting Up and Using the Q5 7
Using the Q5 with a Patchbay 9
Linking Multiple Q5s 10
Reference Chart A:

Headphone Impedance and
Sensitivity Ratings 11

Reference Chart B:
Impedance vs. Wattage 12

Specifications 13

Introduction

Congratulations on purchasing the Samson Q5 Headphone Amplifier!
Although this unit is designed for easy operation, we suggest you take
some time out first to go through these pages so you can fully under­stand how we’ve implemented a number of unique features.

The Q5 is a compact, high-quality device that allows you to monitor any
stereo or monophonic source signal (balanced or unbalanced) over as
many as five separate headphones. Providing unusually high power
levels and superb audio fidelity, the Q5 is compatible with virtually all
popular headphone models. Front panel controls include a master input
level control and stereo/mono switch, and each headphone output has
its own individual level control. Special output jacks on the rear panel
allow any number of Q5 units to be linked together with no loss of signal.
The Q5 can be used in a wide variety of applications, including record­ing studios, teaching labs, broadcast environments, and for live perfor­mance.

In this manual, you’ll find a more detailed description of the features of
the Q5, as well as a guided tour through the front and rear panels, step­by-step instructions for using the Q5, a reference chart that gives imped­ance and sensitivity ratings for a number of popular headphone models,
and full specifications. You’ll also find a warrantee card enclosed—
please don’t forget to fill it out and mail it so that you can receive online
technical support and so we can send you updated information about
other Samson products in the future.

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System Features

The Samson Q5 Headphone Amplifier utilizes state-of-the-art
technology. Here are some of its main features:

• Special

voltage doubler circuitry allows the Q5 to deliver unusually
high output levels while maintaining excellent audio fidelity regard­less of the number or type of headphones connected.

• Individual level controls for each headphone output allow cus­tomized gain settings for each user, no matter what type of head­phone is used. This enables each user to connect the headphone
model of his or her choice, with no audible effect on other users.

• Electronically balanced input connectors (these also accept unbal­anced input signal) that enable the Q5 to be used with a wide
variety of audio equipment, from professional-level mixing consoles
to home hi-fi devices.

• Need more than five headphones? No problem—a unique
electronically balanced Stereo Link output allows any number of
Q5s to be linked together with no loss of audio fidelity or output
level.

• A master input level control that allows optimum input level to be
set, maximizing signal-to-noise ratio in all applications.

• A master mono/stereo button allows instant switching between the
two modes and also allows an incoming stereo mix to instantly be
checked for mono compatibility.

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