Voyager Magic
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Headphone Audio
Forum Name: Portable Headphone User
Forum Description: Technical Q&A, hints and tips
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1312
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 9:04pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Voyager Magic
Posted By: jamescodway
Subject: Voyager Magic
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2012 at 9:08pm
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Dear all, I just felt compelled to share a small piece of magic conjured out of an ipod classic, a well run-in voyager running on a duracell battery, a SendStation ipod connector to 3.5mm socket and the missing link... a DIY cable to join it all up! I have no measuring equipment but I know this setup sounded fantastic  today. Attached to my well run in HD25-1s, with HD250 cable... punch, balance, lovely cymbal decay, vocals more present than normal, no harshness... lovely  The cable ingredients cost about £8 plus about an hour's labour (I'm still learning!) to put it together. If I had to do it again, I would make the cable a little shorter and make the connection more 'direct'. Thank you Mr S and our friends at Maplins (they were actually quite helpful). Some improvisation was required with insulating tape as the connectors are not really designed to take such a thick cable but it is pretty robust. Best James --- http://www.maplin.co.uk/metal-3.5mm-stereo-plug-1187 http://www.maplin.co.uk/3.5mm-right-angled-stereo-plug-223989 http://www.maplin.co.uk/van-damme-tour-grade-classic-xke-microphone-cable-blue-536257   ------------- Voyager - HD25 |
Replies:
Posted By: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 30 Jan 2012 at 10:29pm
Looks very compact James - 
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Posted By: Jog3004
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2012 at 8:33am
Hi James, well impressed, was tempted to try making a wire myself, but despite my wealth of qualification including two degrees with honours & a masters, my DIY skills just about cover changing a light bulb. I would recommend that you go in business with a well known cable company, think lake district, & you could then charge 100x it's cost.  regards James------------- James |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2012 at 9:18pm
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Neat work James! ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: kt66
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2012 at 10:50am
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James, I avoid Apple like the plague, so don't really know about their connections. Can you explain what the box on the top of the I-Pod does? are you listening to the analogue headphone output of the Apple? or have you created an analogue line output? |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2012 at 11:23am
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Go to eBay and you will find smaller line out docks for iPods. Make sure the unit you buy is made to work with the generation of iPod that you own. For example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FiiO-L9-L-Shaped-Line-Out-Dock-LOD-Cable-iPod-and-iPhone-NEW-FREE-SHIPPING-/260946374788?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc19db084#ht_2127wt_1015 ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Jog3004
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2012 at 3:41pm
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Hi, I bought a fiio line out dock from eBay at about £5.99 & I am very impressed by it. I tried a friends LOD that cost him £30 & frankly could not hear any difference. ------------- James |
Posted By: jamescodway
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2012 at 9:07pm
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This is the device in the photo above http://www.audioelevation.co.uk/CartV3/Details_options.asp?ProductID=295" rel="nofollow - http://www.audioelevation.co.uk/CartV3/Details_options.asp?ProductID=295 Compared to the Fiio, it does look expensive and it is a little on the large side. I would argue though for some features & benefits for the extra expense: 1. Charge ipod at the same time as playing 2. Connect the ipod to other devices using a different cable 3. DIY/repairable cable option. All 3 features are benefits for me. The cable I used for the connection in the pictures is the same that I have used in other applications and I think the cable performs very well indeed. I can hear a clear difference vs. a basic Atlas 3.5 to 3.5 cable. If I was a true 'believer' I'd say it added a bit of magic but that might be pushing my auditory responses a bit far  . I think the L shaped neutrik connector also makes a small difference both in terms of sound and resilience.If nothing else, I've learnt basic soldering competency... nowhere near building an amp as yet though!! Best James ------------- Voyager - HD25 |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2013 at 8:06pm
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I have a question regarding the Voyager. Can it be used as a preamp for connection to active monitors? I have non-computer devices (no USB) that I would like to enjoy with both my HD250II headphones and my active speakers so hopefully I would be able to connect either (or both at the same time with a splitter cable) to the line-out of the Voyager?? My 14.1GB Sony mp3 player (which plays WAV files) and my Playstation 2 don't use USB so the Bitzie DAC is a no-go. I'm hoping the Voyager will be up to the task...  ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |
Posted By: jamescodway
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 4:17pm
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Dear All, After 10 years, I am still enjoying the voyager and HD25 combination. It just works! Nowadays though it is fed by my iPhone and the apple lightning to 3.5mm adapter which is actually a pretty amazing DAC. I have a question... for some reason, the voyager will not stay powered by a portable USB power brick (I have tried 2 completely different units). All my other USB-powered devices seem fine with such an arrangement. Is there something I can do or is it just something in the power arrangements of the Voyager that prevent this way of powering it? Best James ------------- Voyager - HD25 |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 26 Nov 2022 at 7:10pm
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Yes, the portable USB power voltage will not deliver the full voltage for long, but other devices will be quite happy with that, I'm sure. The Voyager uses a charge pump to convert 5V into 9V (what it needs), and the limits are a bit tight before the charge pump stops working. Best thing to use is a common or garden E-cell primary battery which should give 50 hours continuous use. ------------- That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: jamescodway
Date Posted: 27 Nov 2022 at 4:18pm
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Thank you very much Graham for the clear explanation. What is amazing is how the Apple lightning to 3.5mm jack/DAC into the voyager clearly produces the most balanced and detailed sound with the HD25 vs. any other combination of DAC/amp I have (I have a few!). It is consistently engaging and satisfying in a way that no other headphone setup has achieved for me. After 12+ years, the voyager is going very strong! 👏👍🙏. Best James ------------- Voyager - HD25 |
Posted By: Bourneendboy
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2022 at 9:17pm
| I'm currently using the Apple adapter with my Solo and it sounds fantastic! |
Posted By: Bags
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2024 at 10:05pm
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I've just picked up a 2nd hand voyager for peanuts and I'm enjoying what I'm hearing playing lossless CD rips. It should certainly make holiday music listening a much more pleasant experience. It certainly makes a big difference to the performance of decent headphones.
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Posted By: shamu144
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2024 at 11:20pm
I didn´t know that the voyager would not remain powered long when connected to a powerbank, thank you Graham for the clarification. I can now safely return the powerbank I had just ordered  I have been using the Voyager on the go more often recently, and am worried the 9V battery will not last very long, as I don´t like the idea to dispose of batteries often... What I did not realize is that my headphones are actually extremely easy to drive (Klipsch R6 II, 110db/mw and 18 ohms) and they only consume about 1ma at normal listening volume. The 9v alkaline battery should last much more than the 50 hours specified. I would be very happy if like some other users, I can get a couple of months of usage before replacing the battery. Still, would anyone know or recommend a good rechargeable 9v battery with sufficient capacity and good electrical properties to power the Voyager ? Is any type of chemical components (Nimh, Li ion, etc...) more suitable for the voyager ? Thanks
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Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2024 at 7:05pm
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Most of the rechargeable PP3's I tried measure at under 9 volts but they seemed to work well. I settled on EBL Lithium ion batteries as they have held their 600 mAh charge well. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: shamu144
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2025 at 9:45am
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Hello, just a heads up to say that my first alkaline battery finally died on me, after about 1 and half month of use. Not bad at all !!! I have no idea how many hours this represents since the amount of listening I have been doing with the Voyager could fluctuate heavily from nothing on a particular day up to 5 or 6 hours another day. I would maybe venture that the end result was probably closer to 100 hours ! Funny how the death of the battery came not with a thunder but with a whisper :-) The sound just started distorting softly !
I will now look into the rechargeable lithium battery alternatives available to continue enjoying this stunning little amp. |