Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
Model
CBA
‐
1
Operation
Manual
G-ROD
audio
LLC
7151
W.
Rivulet
Drive
Tucson,
AZ
85743
USA
(520)
395
‐
8436
www.g
‐
rod.com
Designed
and
Manufactured
in
USA
©
2011
G-ROD
audio
LLC
WARNING!
This
device
adds
25dB
of
gain
to
the
audio
signal
–
Up
to
8
times
louder!
The
purpose
of
the
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
is
to
achieve
the
same
listening
levels
as
normal,
with
the
volume
controls
on
your
devices
set
lower,
reducing
noise
and
distortion
and
improving
sound
quality.
READ
BEFORE
CONNECTING
Before
using
the
G-ROD
MicroAmp
,
SET
THE
VOLUME
CONTROLS
TO
MINIMUM
on
the
audio
source
head
‐
phone
jack
and
on
the
stereo
amplifier.
When
con
‐
nected,
set
the
volume
on
the
MP3
player
to
1/3
to
1/2
volume
and
the
volume
control
on
the
stereo
all
the
way
down.
NOTE:
The
CBA
‐
1
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
is
a
preampli
‐
fier
only,
it
does
not
add
power
to
your
audio
system.
HEARING
LOSS
Your
ears
can
begin
to
suffer
permanent
hearing
loss
by
sustained
exposure
to
sounds
over
85dB
SPL
(Sound
Pressure
Level).
Be
smart
–
never
listen
to
music
at
sustained
volumes
over
100dB.
When
listening
at
louder
levels,
do
so
for
no
more
than
10
minute
at
a
time.
Give
your
ears
a
30
minute
break
before
doing
it
again.
Keep
your
ears
golden!
INTRODUCTION
What
is
a
G-ROD
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
?
The
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
is
a
voltage
amplifying
device
that
increases
the
voltage
level
from
low
‐
imped
‐
ance
headphone
jacks
to
provide
the
higher
voltage
levels
required
by
the
line
‐
level
inputs
of
stereo
amplifi
‐
ers.
It
is
an
impedance
matching
audio
preamplifier,
designed
to
match
the
low
output
impedance
(8
‐
32
Ohms)
of
headphone
jacks
to
the
high
input
impedance
(1000
Ohms)
of
the
line
inputs
on
stereo
amplifiers.
The
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
adds
25dB
of
gain
to
the
output
of
your
audio
device
(about
8
extra
steps
on
your
volume
control).
This
makes
it
possible
to
lower
the
volume
control
settings
on
your
input
and
output
devices
while
providing
increased
sound
volume
and
clarity.
The
G-ROD
MicroAmp
is
audiophile
quality,
with
speci
‐
fications
that
match
those
of
high
‐
end
audiophile
sys
‐
tem
preamplifiers.
It
does
not
use
any
form
of
signal
processing
to
alter
the
original
sound.
The
MicroAmp
voltage
amplifying
/
impedance
matching
design
reduces
noise
and
distortion
and
improves
the
overall
sound
quality.
The
MicroAmp
boosts
signal
levels
beyond
what
is
needed
to
attain
the
maximum
level
your
audio
system
is
capable
of.
OVERDRIVING
THE
VOLUME
OF
YOUR
SYSTEM
WILL
CAUSE
DISTORTION
AND
MAY
DAMAGE
YOUR
STEREO
AMPLFIER,
SPEAKERS,
OR
YOUR
HEAR
‐
ING.
SUPPLIED
ACCESSORIES
1
‐
ft.
right
angle
Micro
‐
USB
to
USB
Type
A
cable
1
‐
ft.
3.5mm
to
right
angle
3.5mm
stereo
audio
cable
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
USB
Power
–
USB
jack,
12V–to–5V
USB
car
power
adaptor,
Micro
‐
USB
cell
phone
charger.
Audio
Source
–
3.5mm
stereo
headphone
jack
from
MP3
player
or
other
audio
device,
laptop
and
notebook
computers,
and
portable
DVD
players.
Stereo
Amplifier
–
Car
stereo
systems
with
3.5mm
external
audio
(iPod)
input
jacks
(cars
from
2006
to
present),
after
‐
market
car
stereos
and
CD
changers
with
audio
input
jacks,
desktop
stereo
systems,
audio
‐
phile
stereo
systems,
home
entertainment
systems,
TVs.
HOOKING
UP
THE
MICROAMP
The
G-ROD
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
is
easy
to
connect
and
use
–
just
follow
the
simple
instructions
below:
1.
Turn
down
the
volume
control
on
your
MP3
player
(or
other
audio
source)
driving
the
MicroAmp
and
also
the
volume
control
on
your
stereo
amplifier.
2.
Using
an
appropriate
3.5mm
stereo
cable
(not
pro
‐
vided
by
G-ROD
),
connect
the
output
of
the
MicroAmp
to
the
line
input
jack
of
your
car
stereo,
home
stereo,
or
TV.
3.
Using
the
3.5mm
stereo
cable
included
with
your
MicroAmp
,
connect
the
input
of
the
MicroAmp
to
the
headphone
jack
of
your
MP3
player
(or
other
audio
source).
4.
Using
the
Micro
‐
USB
power
cable
included
with
your
MicroAmp
,
connect
the
small
end
of
the
cable
to
the
Micro
‐
USB
jack
on
the
MicroAmp
and
the
large
end
of
the
cable
to
a
standard
USB
power
jack.
For
car
stereo
applications,
the
USB
power
jack
will
be
on
a
12V–to–5V
USB
car
power
adapter.
For
home
stereo
and
TV
applications,
the
USB
power
jack
will
be
on
a
wall
‐
powered
5V
USB
power
adapter.
For
personal
computer
(PC)
applications,
the
USB
power
jack
will
be
a
standard
USB
connector
on
the
PC.
5.
Turn
on
the
MP3
player
(or
other
audio
source).
MAKE
SURE
THE
VOLUME
CONTROL
IS
TURNED
DOWN.
Then
turn
on
the
stereo
amplifier.
MAKE
SURE
THE
VOLUME
CONTROL
IS
TURNED
DOWN.
OPERATING
THE
MICROAMP
The
G-ROD
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
is
very
easy
to
oper
‐
ate
–
simply
use
the
volume
controls
on
the
MP3
player
(or
other
audio
source)
and
the
stereo
amplifier
as
described
below.
To
avoid
overdriving
the
MicroAmp
,
set
the
volume
control
on
the
MP3
player
(or
other
audio
source)
to
about
one
third
to
one
half
volume,
and
slowly
adjust
the
volume
control
on
your
stereo
amplifier,
starting
at
fully
off,
until
you
get
an
acceptable
volume
level.
Experiment
with
the
volume
control
settings
on
the
MP3
player
and
the
stereo
amplifier
to
get
a
balance
between
the
settings.
You
should
not
need
to
turn
the
volume
control
on
the
MP3
player
up
very
high.
Once
you
have
a
feel
for
the
way
the
volume
controls
inter
‐
act,
choose
a
balanced
setting
and
enjoy.
If
you
notice
distortion
in
the
sound,
turn
down
the
vol
‐
ume
control
on
the
MP3
player
until
the
distortion
goes
away,
and
use
the
volume
control
on
the
stereo
ampli
‐
fier
to
get
the
volume
level
you
desire.
HOW
IT
WORKS
The
headphone
jack
outputs
on
portable
audio
devices
such
as
MP3
players
are
designed
to
drive
headphones
that
are
relatively
low
impedance,
typically
8
to
32
ohms.
The
headphone
jack
output
must
supply
signifi
‐
cant
current
to
drive
the
speakers
in
the
headphones,
but
the
voltage
levels
available
from
these
headphone
jacks
is
limited
and
typically
too
low
to
drive
stereo
amplifier
line
‐
level
inputs
without
turning
up
the
vol
‐
ume
to
maximum
on
the
MP3
player.
Having
to
turn
the
volume
to
maximum
on
the
MP3
player
forces
the
headphone
amplifier
of
the
MP3
player
into
an
operat
‐
ing
mode
with
very
high
noise
and
distortion,
making
the
sound
very
unpleasant.
The
G-ROD
Audio
Cable
MicroAmp
amplifies
the
volt
‐
age
level
from
the
MP3
headphone
jack,
providing
a
much
larger
voltage
level
to
drive
the
line
‐
level
inputs
of
the
stereo
amplifier.
This
allows
the
MP3
player
vol
‐
ume
control
to
be
turned
down
so
the
headphone
amplifier
is
not
overdriven
and
results
in
much
lower
nose
and
distortion
and
a
cleaner
much
more
enjoy
‐
able
sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Distortion
<
0.01%
Signal
to
noise
ratio
>
100dB
Gain
25
dB
Nominal
Audio
Input
31
mV
(
‐
28dBu)
Output
0.775V
(0dBu)
Maximum
Audio
Input
116
mV
(
‐
16dBu)
Output
2.9V
(11.5dBu)
Input
power
5VDC
Micro
‐
USB
Power
consumption
50mW
Dimensions:
2.3”
x
1”
x
0.5”
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO
SOUND
Cause
–
No
USB
power
Solution
–
Check
USB
power
source
with
another
device
Cause
–
Connections
reversed
Solutions
–
Verify
proper
in/out
audio
cables
DISTORTION
Cause
–
Overdriving
the
Input
Solution
–
Turn
down
source
volume
HUM,
BUZZ,
CLICKING
SOUNDS
Cause
–
Ground
loops
Solution
–
Unplug
charger
from
input
device
or
use
an
isolated
power
supply
for
charging
input
device
G-ROD
CUSTOMER
SUPPORT
support@g
‐
rod.com
(520)
395
‐
8436
Micro-USB POWER IN
3.5mm
FROM MP3
3.5mm TO
STEREO AMP
AUDIO
IN
AUDIO
OUT
