2. amps-preamps
  3. 1256846613

What's the best approach to add Headphone Amp?

I have a wonderful 2 Ch system consisting of Audio Research CD7, Ref 3, VM220 Monoblocs and Wilson Sophias.
I'd like to add a great headphone amp as well for the times the rest of the house is asleep. My CD7 has both balanced and single ended outputs, with the balanced output connecting to the Ref 3. Should I use the tape out from the Ref 3 preamp to connect to the headphone amp, or is it preferable to use the RCA output from the CD7 while the preamp is off? Does anyone actually have experience with this scenario? Using the Ref 3 provides input switching, but also adds a lot of additional circuitry when compred with a straight run from the CD player to the headphone amp.....Suggestions appreciated.
jdolgin
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
To my understanding to reach the best performance running directly from the source to the headphone amplifier you should find one with balanced input and balanced bypass so you use fully balanced signal path among your components, but running as you've stated AT THE SAME TIME... isn't a problem.
Grace Design M902 that had been already mentioned is one of the best contenders. You might even want to use it as a preamp vs. the one you currently have.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I use a balanced headphone amp plugged into the 2nd balanced output of the preamp...the 1st balanced output goes to my balanced amp for the speakers. When I use the headphone amp, I do not power up the amp for the speakers. When I use the amp for the speakers, the headphone amp is off. I can use both at the same time, but never do.
roole
13 posts
 
Could be silly question, but anyway. Should the amplifier have speaker off button in order to listen to music through headphones? Otherwise, the sound will be heard both, through headphones and through speakers. Or Am I wrong? Never had headphones amp. Sorry for hijacking the thread.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Roole,
Yes speakers can interact with especially open air headphones but technically nothing wrong.
DJs use monitor headphones simultaneously with speakers at the party
A mute switch is very convenient otherwise you don't need to keep your power amplifier on.
hifitime
715 posts
 
I would ask Audio Research first before using the CD'7's RCA outputs. The balanced and RCA's might be tied together.That would change the impedance of the CD7's
output,possibly degrading the sound plus causing other possible problems.I would try the tape RCA outputs from the preamp first since they are made to be used at the same time.
Otherwise,the using preamps tape outputs with the power amps powered down seems like the best option until you find out if the CD'7s outputs are tied together.
More to discover