Graham Slee The Voyager Portable Headphone Amplifier

Well its finally here, nearly 2.5 years in the making, we are now totally certain it has been worth the wait. Featuring all of Graham Slee's knowledge and the know how to apply it, we have a mini (portable) headphone amplifier (battery, USB and plug top powered) that can take any line level source amplify and improve it to give real volume and kick to any headphones or earphones.

With a form the size of an IPod Classic (6th generation) but being thicker, the IPod can sit easily in the front recess of the Voyager, mating together to create a formidable partnership. A number of other "Pod" players also fit. A separately available 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable allows the 'headphone out' of the player to go into the 'line in' giving excellent results and superb volume and bass. However, when you buy a "port to 3.5mm" adapter, bypassing the amp circuits of the Pod player and there inferior digital volume control, this allows the Voyager to really impress. We compared it against newer and older model Solos and we liked greatly what we heard.

The Voyager is light weight, similar in feel to that of a "classic" pod player and comes fitted street-wear contour switch that is designed to improve the tonal range of street-wear headphones. For use with domestic and studio players that use Hi-Fi or studio headphones, the "flat" position is generally more appropriate.

The Voyager can be used in the office taking its input from line-out sources like the 3.5mm jack on many computers. While in use at the desktop, it can be powered by a spare USB cord having a mini AB plug. The Voyager is supplied with an AC adapter that can power it when used at home or in the office. In use so fare we have chargers our G6 IPod 80Gb 4 times for 1 charge of the 200mAh NIMH PP3 9v cell and Its still going.

Hi-Fi and studio quality stereo headphones can be used with the Voyager. When using high impedance headphones at home (typically 300 Ohm types and above), it is best used with high output line-level sources like a CD player, amplifier line/tape out, or the output of a phono preamplifier, if required to reach high volumes. A 3.5 to 6.3mm jack plug adapter may be required for some Hi-Fi or studio headphones. A stereo phono to 3.5mm jack plug, or DIN to 3,5mm jack plug cable may also be required depending on your home equipment.

The Voyager will not drive electrostatic headphones

The Voyager Portable Stereo Headphone Amplifier is a truly portable headphone amplifier. It is small and light enough to fit a shirt pocket! It also has a similar "footprint" to a regular pod player which will stack on top. It connects using a supplied jack-lead and even via a pod player's headphone out, sounds remarkably good, saving the need for an expensive dock connector. It may not have fetching looks, but it more than makes up for it with its sound.

Those who have heard the new Voyager portable headphone amp are amazed with its musical performance. It achieves a powerful bass line - it delivers sweet but uncoloured midrange melodies - the highs are crystal clear. Far beyond the norm, it presents a believable stereo image, and portrays music with the emotion with which it was laid-down. It sets a new standard in portable headphone amplification.

Features:

• Fully Portable Headphone Amplifier - Long Battery Life
• Powerful Sound
• Pod Player Size Match
• Lightweight - 180g
• Street 'Phones Contour-Boost Switch
• USB Powered for Office Desk Top
• AC Adapter for Home Amp Use
• Drives Hi-Fi and Studio Headphones

Features Explained

The powerful sound from the Voyager portable headphone amplifier gives an average (noticeable) 10dB boost in sound pressure level above that of most portable players. The Voyager portable headphone amplifier's fast wideband circuit assures all the sound quality of the source is delivered to the headphones, even when used with high performance sources up to studio standards.

It is fully portable, powered by its own replaceable standard issue 9 volt (MN1604; 6LR61) battery (supplied installed). If left playing into headphones from a continuously looping music source, the battery can last 50 hours or longer. Usually however, battery life will last a number of weeks if the power switch is set to its other positions when not in use, or when being powered by USB connection or by its AC adapter. It does not recharge the battery - a rechargeable 9 volt battery does not have the capacity of a disposable 9 volt battery.

A number of pod type players will sit comfortably on top of the Voyager.

The Voyager is light weight, similar to that of a "classic" pod player.

The street-wear contour switch is designed to improve the tonal range of street-wear headphones. For use from domestic and studio players using Hi-Fi or studio headphones, the "flat" position may be found more appropriate.

The Voyager can be used in the office taking its input from line-out sources like the 3,5mm jack on many computers. While in use at the desk top, it can be powered by a spare USB cord having a mini AB plug.

The Voyager is supplied with an AC adapter that can power it when used at home or in the office

Hi-Fi and studio quality stereo headphones can be used with the Voyager. When using high impedance headphones at home (typically 300 Ohm types and above), it is best used with high output line-level sources like a CD player, amplifier line/tape out, or the output of a phono preamplifier, if required to reach high volumes. A 3,5 to 6,3mm jack plug adapter may be required for some Hi-Fi or studio headphones. A stereo phono to 3,5mm jack plug, or DIN to 3,5mm jack plug cable may also be required depending on your home equipment. It will not drive electrostatic headphones. Headphones of 16 - 600 Ohms impedance can be used.

Inside view of the Voyager headphone amplifier reveals the use of conventional through-hole components with no surface-mount in sight. High-performance audio-grade components can be seen - an Alps potentiometer and Alps signal switches, Jalco jacks, a professional issue battery and clip, plus a number of audio-grade capacitors, sit on a single sided hand assembled solder masked fibreglass printed circuit board. Removing the lid (not recommended) requires care not to break the switches, and because of its single supply partially dc-coupled configuration, "chip-rolling" (DIY tuning) may cause unpredictable results.