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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: bdasilva on April 27, 2011, 07:29:33 PM
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Have we talked about this? You plug this into your computer (via usb) and plug in a decent set of headphones (I use Sennheiser 280hd) And you get better dynamic range and it sounds like you are listening to monitors in a room. So you can mix on your cans.
http://www.focusrite.com/products/audio_interfaces/vrm_box/
Also it looks like a SPDIF standalone monitor..
Turned down by Joe Purdy tonight so I bought one of these instead... I'll let you know what I think.
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neat!
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So is anyone using one of these?
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Well, I just snagged one of these off eBay for $50. Hope it'll prove an nice addition to my actual near-field monitors and help save burning CD's to check a mix on different systems. It should at least be beneficial for times when running the near-fields would disturb my hubby.
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please do report back, I am very interested.
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please do report back, I am very interested.
Likewise. If it really does what it says on the tin, it could be very useful.
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One thing I've noticed is that it is 48kHz only.
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Well, I just snagged one of these off eBay for $50.
Good find! I can't find one for less than ~$80. More than happy to pay that if you report back positively.
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Well, I just snagged one of these off eBay for $50.
Good find! I can't find one for less than ~$80. More than happy to pay that if you report back positively.
It arrived and I've got it set up. Haven't had a chance to test it out yet but will report back with thoughts on it.
I would have been willing to purchase one new but got lucky with an individuals eBay auction by throwing out a bid just before the auction closed.
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Focusrite posted this information regarding the headphones they used for designing the VRM Box...
"Which headphones was VRM designed to work with?
We used the Sennheiser HD 280/HD 650, Beyerdynamic DT 100, Beyerdynamic 770 and the PROline 650s to test VRM with, though during development the concept was tested on a wide variety of headphones of different designs (e.g. open and closed) and of varying cost and quality.
Obviously the better the headphones in terms of frequency response, the more the individual speaker's qualities will be discernible. However, the VRM system was not designed with one specific model of headphones in mind.
When considering headphone impedance, the general principle is that higher impedance headphones typically have a flatter frequency response, however they require more power from the headphone amplifier to provide the same output level as headphones with a lower impedance. Having said this, the VRM Box's headphone amplifier should be powerful enough to drive higher impedance headphones at a high enough level for most purposes."
I've seen where Focusrite has supplied VRM Boxes out to reviewers along with KRK 8400 or 6400 headphones (both 36 ohm) so they obviously feel those are a good match too.
Now here are my initial thoughts after briefly using it for about a week...
I'm still evaluating my VRM box but my initial feelings are positive for those who are interested in the device. I found my Sony MDR 7506's (63 ohm) to be a good match with the device.
I also tried high impedance versions of AKG K240, Beyer DT100 and an old set of Sennheiser 424's and found the VRM box doesn't really drive these hard enough for mix evaluation applications.
I wouldn't consider using the VRM box to replace my actual near-field monitors but it is fine as a stand alone headphone amp for times when I can't run speakers. I do believe that it will serve well as a supplement to help with mix compatibility/translation for trying out mixes on different virtual systems. Now I've found myself using it as a basic headphone amp bypassing its speaker/room emulations for general headphone listening. I do, however, plan to use it regularly as a final step to assist with mix translation after first creating a mix on my trusty near-field monitors. I used to own a set of Yamaha NS-10M's and hated them, the VRM Box does give an accurate representation of how I remember them sounding. I can't personally compare the accuracy of the other speaker models since I've never used them but several manufactures do endorse the emulations by lending the use of their name with the speakers.
Paging bdasilva!!! Since you are using one of these too, would you share your thoughts on the VRM Box for anyone else considering them especially since you are using this with Sennheiser HD280's.
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Thanks for the update! I use 7506s too, so that info is particularly useful. Cheers!
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Thanks for the good info.
I'm thinking about picking one of these up for the following purpose: I run an M-S only rig, and do the matrixing in post. Now, I usually get home after the show and I'm really excited to listen again and try everything out. But it's late, the wife and kids are asleep and I can use my big speakers. I bet this thing would give me a good idea of how the various M & S combinations would sound on speakers.
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Interesting. Does it have SPDIF out and do it's emulation thing though it? 24/48?
Don't want to derail, but does Focusrite or anyone else offer similar functionality in a VST plugin?
You there Brian?
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Interesting. Does it have SPDIF out and do it's emulation thing though it? 24/48?
Don't want to derail, but does Focusrite or anyone else offer similar functionality in a VST plugin?
What I use as a VST plugin at the end of the chain:
http://www.toneboosters.com/tb-isone/
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Interesting. Does it have SPDIF out and do it's emulation thing though it? 24/48?
Don't want to derail, but does Focusrite or anyone else offer similar functionality in a VST plugin?
You there Brian?
It has SPDIF Input but no Output.
These are the specs.
Specifications
Headphone Outputs (Outputs 1-2)
· Output impedance: < 10 Ω
· Power output into 150Ω: 15mW
· Power output into 50Ω: 30mW
· THD+N: -100dB (0.001%) (-1dBFS input, 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter, 150Ω load)
· Signal to Noise Ratio: > 105dB
S/PDIF Digital Input
· Automatic Sample Rate conversion
· Supported sample rates: continuous from 32kHz to 192kHz
· THD+N: < -110dB any sample rate
Crosstalk (Channel Isolation)
· Any output to output: > 100dB
DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
· D/A Dynamic Range: 120dB (A-weighted)
· Measured D/A Dynamic Range: 108dB (A-weighted)
· Clock Source: Internal Clock only Clock jitter < 250 picoseconds
· Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz & 48kHz
· Input channels to computer: S/PDIF (stereo)
· Output channels from computer: Headphones (stereo)
Connectors and Controls
· Stereo S/PDIF input on RCA
· Stereo Headphone Output on 1⁄4” TRS
· Headphone Output Level control (analogue)
· 4-pin USB2.0 compatible socket
Indicators
· 1 Green LED Indicator:
- Flashing: Unit not installed correctly on host
- Off: VRM effects turned off
- On: VRM effects turned on
Power
· Bus power from USB bus
Operating System Requirements
Windows
XP (service pack 3), Vista, 7 (32 and 64-bit)
Mac
OS X 10.5 Leopard (Intel only), OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
For customers running computers with Intel's Core i-series chipsets, please check here.
To use our OS Checker, please click here
Weight and Dimensions
Dimensions
Unboxed: 68mm x 25mm x 68mm (W x H x D)
Boxed: 155mm x 210mm x 75mm (W x H x D)
Weights
NetWeight: 123g
Gross Weight: 380g