I got a powerful amp, and I also use the Trip knobs to crank up a bit, until its right under clipping.

Trim* knobs. There's been a good amount of ppl complaining about this, I have this problem taken cared of by using the VCI-300 along with the Pioneer EFX-500 effects box. It gives it more gain from the RCA's.

sorry for my poor english, but i i dont understand what you are talking about?! :(

do you think it will be possible (if possible) to update the software to make the volume a lil higher?

thanks

the headphone volume is a hardware limitation. so no, it cannot be increased through the software. you should buy a headphone amp from a music shop to get more volume.

Um.....sorry I think i mis-read your post. Yes, you need a lil phone amp, this question has come up before already.

ok, thanks.. i now understand.
can you link me some "decent" stuff, small size (i just need it for that reason) and good deal?

thanks

sorry, me again.. maybe something (if this exhist), that does not need a power adapter...

I do not see it low, perhaps it is your phones. I do not know if this is only a hardware limitation but maybe there can be more gain added from the software.

I'm using sennheiser HD-280 Headphones for my deejay needs and it loud enough to the point i have rings in my ear after playing for 15mins at max volume (i don't do this all the time or I'll go deaf too soon). If you can find a set of over the ear headphones (ears go inside the cups of the driver ( like mines) then you'll hear EVERYTHING and loud, no sound escapes when its on properly.

I don't think I can find a battery powered headphone amp for you but I found something you can maybe tinker and build:

tangentsoft.net
hey, it's small sized right?

Hi guys,
the reason the VCI300's headphone amp is not super loud is because of power consumption limitations, if this is a problem for you, look for a pocket size headphone amp, there's a few types around, some are very good, very small & not too pricey.

Many headphones have different impedance so some will be louder than others...

For example my Sennheiser HD-280 and Sennheiser eh2200 both has an impedance of 64ohms, but the 280's are much louder (because they have a larger driver)... But for example most Sony's have an impedance of 24 or 45 ohms and from experience are not as loud as my 280's when used with my Korg Zero 4 mixer.. (many complained that mixers headphones were also too low, but never an issue for me using my Senns)

Now for example the Korg has an output impedance of 100ohm with max level of 80mW per ear cup @ 32ohms.. (once again all headphones have different impedance) Since the impedance of some of the headphones out there are so low, it would be like trying to plug a 2ohm car audio speaker into a standard dj amp at 8ohms. Doesn't work to well...

However all this does not mean a whole lot since we do not know the actual output impedance of the VCI-300.. This info is not listed in any of the literature that came with the unit, but I am to guess that the headphone output impedance of the VCI-300 is high like the Korg zero 4 seeing that the same issue has been brought up.

well... i found it not loud with both pioneer hdj and stanton dj pro 3000...
i think i will get an amp.. or change the phones... but this is not good as
for 700 euros i thougth the vci did not need anything to change..


thanks

Urgh, this is giving me second thoughts about picking up a vci300 this weekend. Is it loud enough to get by in a club? I was hoping to use this to play out, and I probably lean towards louder than average monitoring.

It entirely depends on your headphones, and subject to each individual user..

You would ultimately need to try it out to me sure.. But not all headphones will respond the same to the VCI or any mixer for that matter.

I currently experience if I turn my headphone volume anything past 1 or 2 oclock on the knob I can feel the pounding against the sides of my head which is way too loud.

If you need it that loud then whoever had the sound system installed should have their head examined.. Because proper sound canceling techniques were obviously not used for the booth install. For example one my favorite clubs that used to be in my area had a open booth on the dancefloor, the average db of the dancefloor and most of the booth was about 110 to 120 db on any given night... However the db right in front of the mixer was only about 90 to 100. Also they where able to concentrate the sound on the dancefloor so well that once you stepped off the dancefloor the entire bar area (the entire club was one big open room) was actually very quiet.

You can also increase the headphone level by increasing your gains and countering on the master or line faders for master output - Do Not Redline.

I just got my VCI300, and as suspected, the headphone volume level is too low. Even when I pump the gains up and lower the output. I know it's going to be too low in a club. I am using the sony mdrv700 headphones. They are just a little too low, but certainly too low.

I would much rather plug my vci300 in if power is an issue than rely on a headphone amp with a battery which my die on me.

tektite,
the "power consumption limitations" I was talking about, have been factored into the specifications of the VCI300 because it is a bus powered device.
The output from the headphone amp will not change when using a power adapter,
sorry for the confusion.

@Zeb: Thanks for the reply. I did realize it would not change. I was just saying that if I were given the choice of a lower volume or having to plug the device in at every gig, I would have chosen the plug in option.

This is really a limitation with the hardware and has nothing to do with Serato, right?

I still love the device, it's just a shame to have to carry this headphone amp and batteries

I think it should be made when switched to AC power, output should be made louder.
I see too many people complaining about this.

+1

I do not think this can be changed by software, but only via hardware..Maybe a firmware update could do this?

Hahahaha www.samsclub.com

Anyone know if these guitar type amps work ok? Do they distort the signal?

What about running the monitor back through the computers internal sound card to amplify it?

I was just testing a setup I did with Traktor 3.4 and VCI-300 and running it through the VCI-300 soundcard as seems much louder. Eq's are punchier and louder too.
Seems it could be more powered from software.

I actually experience similar results testing the hardware with Virtual DJ...

so, it must be in Itch..You using Mini.translator?

Yes I am using the Mini.translator, it works pretty good, scratching is not perfect but tolerable, lights don't work (except for the ones under the platter), SHIFT does not work and the CUEING is a litte weird, I can not get it to only hear Deck 1 or Deck 2 when selecting the corresponding PFL button, I always hear a little of the other deck no matter what setting I try. Regardless the Deck you actually want to listen to is always louder than the other. Other than that I would say you are able to map pretty much all the functions you want.

I have a pretty good setting for Traktor now and can cue and use Shift like in Itch. All works same,but led's are not on like you said. Sound is better from Traktor and has FX. I still prefer the stability of Itch and is defintely a lot tighter and all.

just got the vci, i agree headphones are too low

FYI: tried one of those mini guitar amps, and it sounded like crap. Taking it back to GuitarCenter now. Fit like a charm though.

I think the output is way too low as well. I had a gig in a club, and couldn't hear shit. There are two options, get an amp of course. But also the option to bring the headphone output to the mixer and amp it up through there. Pretty stupid though.

For me it was better with the 1.0.3 vers.

In 1.0.4 beta 1, when you put the volume between CUE and MASTER, the master volume is not 100%, its

Hi

For me it was better with the 1.0.3 vers.

In 1.0.4 beta 1, when you put the volume between CUE and MASTER, the master volume is not 100%, its about 70%. You must always turn the CUE/MASTER fader on MASTER to listen how you are mixing..!

In 1.0.3, the MASTER Volume was about 90% on the middle of CUE/MASTER, it was better to MIX when you push off the CUE bottom without turning the CUE/MASTER fader.

For me it should be better if VESTAX had the idea to put on the VCI a MASTER bottom (like CUE1, CUE2) to cut the master CUE and to put it again for mixing.But its to late now...!

I agree

Sadly, this is a big reason why I havent picked up the 300+ITCH yet. I like the volumes loud especially in a club environment. Hopefully something will be done with newer models or I can't jump on the 300+ITCH wagon yet- sticking to SSL and the trandition TT setup.

I don't think it will change since the unit is bus powered? It would be nice if there was a bus powered mode and an external power mode (switchable) which gives you access to more output if available via external power source.

Actually, there are many bus powered devices wich have more than enough headphones power: a lot of usb sound cards, some synths and so on. Vestax just screwed up. Anyway, my VCI 300 is in delivery now.

i used the vci-300 at a club last night plenty loud in the headphone jack the headphones i used are sennheiser hd 280 pro

I myself also use HD-280 pro headphones also, it's loud enough for me. But after all this crap complaining of people on volume headphones, i set out to find me a good article to build one. And after coming across this step by step instruction on how to build your own
www.instructables.com
I MIGHT set out to void my own warranty (i got the green dot VCI-300 so im good in every way anyways) and put this little headphone amplifer right inside the VCI-300. ATM, for me, finals are this week, so I have no dedicated time to mess with anything dj related at all. I have a good soldering experience, since I do PS2, XBOX360 and Wii modchipping. But this right here is going to be a long project for the month.... building and testing, and ordering/buying parts.

I notice that everyone who has no issues with headphone volume, is using the Senn's...

I and many others happen to believe the HD-280s are the best sounding headphones one can buy.

If you play in a club you can plug Master to club mixer , to one channel & headphones to another channel , so , you don't need nothing extra .