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Frequently Asked Questions

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Will the UHA-3 work with my headphones/earphones?

Why not just use the headphone output on my computer/laptop?

How much improvement in sound quality will the UHA-3 provide over the headphone output of my portable MP3 player?

Can I use the UHA-3 as a preamplifier to an A/V receiver or amplifier?

Isn't USB power too noisy to supply the sensitive audio circuitry of a headphone amplifier?

What is the dynamic range of the UHA-3?

Which gain setting should I use?

What sample rates are supported with USB streaming?

Am I required to install software/drivers on my computer to enable USB streaming?

Will USB streaming audio work with my operating system?

Can I use the iPod Dock Connector to USB Cable to stream digital audio from the iPod to the UHA-3?

How long does the UHA-3 last on a battery charge?

How long does it take to charge the battery?

Is it OK to only partially charge/discharge the battery?

How many charge/discharge cycles will I get from the battery?


Will the UHA-3 work with my headphones/earphones?

The UHA-3 is designed to drive a wide range of headphones and earphones. It can handle headphone impedances from 16 Ohms to 300 Ohms. It can also drive a high-impedance line level input (10 kOhms, for example), such as the input to a home stereo receiver.

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Why not just use the headphone output on my computer/laptop?

Two reasons. First, these outputs tend to be noisy, especially with high-sensitivity headphones or earphones. The sensitive audio circuitry in the computer can pick up noise from hard drives, fans, etc. With the UHA-3, the digital-to-analog conversion is performed outside of the computer, thus eliminating these sources of interference. Second, the analog headphone amplifier circuitry in a typical computer or laptop tends to be underpowered. The UHA-3 can provide a higher-current, higher-voltage signal into a wide range of loads, resulting in a cleaner and clearer sound.

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How much improvement in sound quality will the UHA-3 provide over the headphone output of my portable MP3 player?

The answer is: it depends. On some setups, the improvement is subtle. On other setups, the difference can be quite drastic. The UHA-3 provides a high-impedance load to the headphone output of your MP3 player. For the most part, your MP3 player can drive a cleaner signal to this high-impedance load than it can to a headphone load. The more difficult job of driving the headphones is left to the UHA-3. Keep in mind that the sound quality from any headphone amplifier is only as good as the source material. In other words, don't expect much improvement with low-bitrate MP3s.

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Can I use the UHA-3 as a preamplifier to an A/V receiver or amplifier?

Yes. The UHA-3 can provide a 13 dBu signal into a high-impedance load, such as the line input to a receiver or amplifier. The UHA-3's USB streaming capability is a great way to provide a low-noise interface between your computer and a stereo system.

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Isn't USB power too noisy to supply the sensitive audio circuitry of a headphone amplifier?

The audio circuitry in the UHA-3 does not use the USB 5V supply directly. High-frequency switching regulators provide a means of isolating sensitive circuitry from noise which might be on the USB power.

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What is the dynamic range of the UHA-3?

When using the analog line input in low-gain mode, the dynamic range is greater than 120 dB A-weighted. Because the USB 1.1 audio streaming protocol is limited to 16-bit, the dynamic range when using the USB input is limited to about 96 dB A-weighted.

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Which gain setting should I use?

The low-gain setting can be used in most cases, resulting in a lower output noise floor. Use the high-gain setting only if you are unable to get enough output signal level in the low-gain setting.

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What sample rates are supported with USB streaming?

Sample rates of 32kHz, 44.1kHz, and 48kHz are supported. Sample rate is automatically detected by the UHA-3. Word length is 16 bits for all sample rates.

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Am I required to install software/drivers on my computer to enable USB streaming?

No, the USB interface chip in the UHA-3 uses the generic USB audio drivers which are built into Windows and Mac OS. There is no additional software or driver to install. All that is required is to select the UHA-3 as the audio output device in your operating system. See the User Guide for additional information.

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Will USB streaming audio work with my operating system?

The USB interface chip in the UHA-3 is supported by Microsoft Windows 98SE, 98ME, 2000, XP, Mac OS 9.1 or later, and Mac OS 10.0 or later. It may be possible to use the UHA-3 with other operating systems not listed here, but compatibility is not guaranteed.

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Can I use the iPod Dock Connector to USB Cable to stream digital audio from the iPod to the UHA-3?

No. The only way to stream digital audio to the UHA-3 is to connect it to a USB host, which generally means a computer. To use with an iPod, connect the headphone output of the iPod to the analog input of the UHA-3.

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How long does the UHA-3 last on a battery charge?

Typical runtime is about 18 hours, but this depends somewhat on listening level and headphone impedance.

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How long does it take to charge the battery?

On a typical high-power USB connection, the battery will charge from completely dead in about 3 hours.

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Is it OK to only partially charge/discharge the battery?

Yes. In fact, Lithium-ion batteries tend to last longer when operated near full charge. In other words, you can leave the UHA-3 connected to USB continuously without degrading battery performance. When the battery voltage dips below a programmed threshold, the battery will automatically be recharged.

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How many charge/discharge cycles will I get from the battery?

The Lithium-ion battery in the UHA-3 is rated for a lifetime of several hundred complete charge/discharge cycles. If you do not discharge the battery completely, this number will be higher. After several years of use, the battery may not hold as much charge as it did when it was new. If desired, it can be replaced with a battery of the same size and capacity. See the User Guide for details.

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