HeadRoom Total BitHead

Take a Total BitHead, plug it into the USB port on your computer, then plug the best headphones you’ve got into the Total BitHead, and BAM, knock-your-socks-off sound. Later, pack it up in a HeadRoom bag with your favorite portable player, and you’ve got one of the most aurally delightful portable audio systems on the planet. Think about it: a great back end for your computer and a sweet analog headphone amp to use with your portable player for only $159. Your ears will thank you.

How it Works

The Total BitHead has a bit of a split personality: it is a battery powered miniature headphone amp for use with portable players, and it is a USB powered external sound card and headphone amp for computers. The headphone amp circuit is just like the Total AirHead, so you can go to the Total AirHead page for information about that. But the computer stuff is way different, so we’ll talk about that here...

USB Connectivity

When you plug the Total BitHead into a computer's USB port, the computer goes through an initial process of seeing, recognizing, and connecting to the Total BitHead. First, power comes up the cable and fires up Total BitHead communications with the computer. Then the computer looks at the Total BitHead, and if it doesn’t recognize it, the computer will download the driver stored on the Total BitHead and quickly install it. Then the computer will begin to use the Total BitHead as an audio playback device. No batteries are required; simply leave the power switch off and the Total BitHead filters, re-regulates, and runs of the computers USB power bus. If, however, you are of an audiophile mind, turn the batteries on and the Total BitHead’s digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and power amp section will run off the internal batteries for ultra-clean performance and lower power drain on your computer. Match that up with a great pair of headphones, and music and movies on your computer will never have sounded so good.

Line-Input Connectivity

When not hooked up to a computer, the Total BitHead can be used as a headphone amplifier by connecting it to the headphone or line out of your portable music player with the included 9-inch mini to mini cable. The four AAA batteries will power the BitHead in this way for about 30-35 hours.

Switches & Controls

Controlling your Total BitHead as it controls your headphones is really a piece of cake. Two parallel headphone jacks in the corners let you and a friend plug in. (Headphones with similar impedances/efficiencies will generally play at about the same volume). The switch on the left is the on-off switch, then the power-on LED, volume control, clipping/battery low indicator, and crossfeed switch.

Its luscious molded rubber door might seem an extravagance until you remember you’ll never have to worry about losing or breaking it. (Dontcha' hate those cheap plastic doors?) Simply lift the cover from the rear and it releases from its soft nubby detent to reveal the gain switch and four AAA battery compartment. By the way, the Total BitHead can NOT accept any AC power supply. It can only operate from batteries or by slaving power via the USB connection to your computer.

Gain Switch

The TAH low/high gain power switch is pre-set at the factory to the "low" setting. Please move it to 'high gain' for more volume and/or amplifer power as necessary. Inside the oval hole of the battery door catch you'll notice a two-position switch that allows you to select between amplifier low and high gain settings. Use of the switch is simple: Use the low gain setting (the position where the volume is lower) unless it won’t get loud enough for you. The main reason for this switch is that it allow users to better match the amplifier's performance with varying headphone efficiencies and impedances. Speaking of amplifier performance, as the word “Total” in its name implies, this unit uses a very high grade of electronic componentry -- far higher parts-quality than normal consumer-grade electronics equipment.

Attaching the BitHead

We also enclose an assortment of Velcro hook "dots" , called Vel-Coins, which you can stick on the Total BitHead’s feet and the back of an iPod or other Mp3 player and easily mate them back-to-back. Then you can use the aforementioned rubber door as a sexy non-slip foot for your desk-top portable player system.

DIMENSIONS:

The Total BitHead measures approximately 3" wide X 4.5" long X .75" thick and weighs about 7.5 ounces with four AAA batteries inside. Black case only; 'Clear' TBH case is sold-out/discontinued and no longer available!

Please check our official HeadRoom 'B-Stock' webpage for our last TBH unit in a CLEAR casing!