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There are currently three versions and two colors (black and white) to choose
from:
 | The standard ampless version is low impedance (about 10 ohm). This adapter
generates very small amount of volume loss while providing crossfeeding
directly to headphones, even for low impedance phones (such as ER4P, Grado 60,
Koss KSC35, 50, etc.). You can use it without or with an amp, as long as
you plug your headphones directly into this adapter. |
| The amp-only version must be used with an amp. This adapter must be
inserted between the input of an amp and the output of the source: the plug
goes to audio source's output and the jack connects to amp's input with an
interconnect cable. Note: the old version of this amp-only adapter is used
differently (see the note below). |
| The hi-impedance version of ampless XinFeed is like a comb of the 75
ohm adapter and XinFeed. It
might be better for hi-impedance phones (such as Sennheiser HD-580, 600, 650,
etc.). Of course, you can use this adapter with ER4P, to make it like ER4S
and meanwhile get crossfeed. There are reports that some portable
players and some headphones sound better with our 75
ohm adapter; so you may try this version to see if it gives you crossfeed and
improved sound at the same time. |
How to distingush these three versions? In the order of above list, the
two nipples are the highest to the lowest. See this picture:
This picture shows how to use the ampless XinFeed adapter:
The old amp-only version (used with an amp only, plug it into the input of your amp):
 
What's XinFeed?
When you listen to home stereo speakers, the L and R channels are kind of mixed
in the air before they reach your ears. If you are used to such a "mix" and now
you listen to headphones, your brain may still try to find that mix. As such a
mix no longer exists, your brain will be soon tired searching. A solution for
this is to artificially mix a little bit L and R channels in the headphone
amplifier - crossfeed (xfeed).
XinFeed is Xin's implementation of crossfeed. It is passive and efficient, and
it has the least tonal effect on the original sound. The best of it: you can
entirely bypass it when you want the purest, un-touched sound.
As when to enable XinFeed/CrossFeed, it depends on person, music type and
headphones. Some people like it, but some don't or cannot even tell the
difference. The effect is more audible with old recordings (usually have no mix
at all) such as Beatles. People are more likely to use xfeed with earbuds, canal
or close-air phones than with open-air headphones, because the latter is less
isolated and separated.
Try play this test signal and switch back and forth the XinFeed switch to hear
the effect:
http://www.fixup.net/tips/pktamp/xfeed.mp3
This test audio produces white noise to left, right and then center channel.
When it is playing L or R signal, try enable XinFeed, the sound position moves
slightly from very left or very right towards the center, which you'll feel is
more pleasant and less pressure. When you bypass XinFeed, the test sound pushes
to very left or very right, which is not so pleasant and puts some pressure on
your ears. When it is playing the center signal, you should not hear any
difference when you switch XinFeed back and forth. This test reveals very well
the idea of xfeed and how ideal XinFeed is compared to other xfeed
implementations. You won't hear any tonal changes with XinFeed; just some subtle
mix.
Go back to products page to buy it
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