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October 22, 2018, 07:34 PM #1
Hooking Up A Balanced Headphone Amp
I'm looking to upgrade my headphone amp and was thinking about going balanced. How can I hook up a balanced headphone amp if I only have one set of balanced outputs on my preamp?
Speakers- Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk II, Amp - Pass Labs X150.5, Preamp - McIntosh C2600, Turntable - Music Hall MMF-9.3, Cartridge - Goldring Eroica LX, Phono PreAmp - Sutherland Insight, Digital Playback - Rotel RCD-1072, DAC - Bryston BDA-3, Headphones - Sennheiser HD-660S, and Drop + Dan Clark Audio Ether CX. Headphone Amp - Bryston BHA-1
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October 22, 2018, 08:55 PM #2
Re: Hooking Up A Balanced Headphone Amp
My headphone amp is the HeadAmp GS-X Mk2. It includes a loop output, which mirrors it's input straight through to its output. Other amps may have a similar feature. You could run the output of your pre-amp into the headphone amp, and then carry on with the loop output of the headphone amp on to your speaker amp.
There is a drawback to this approach -- unlike speaker amps, most headphone amps include a volume control. Since the volume of your pre-amp output is already volume controlled you don't want to attenuate the volume twice. To mitigate this approach, you can set the headphone amp's volume for unity gain and leave it at that setting, using only our preamp volume control.
Some pre-amps include a record out -- this is generally not volume attenuated and is a great way to connect your headphone amp into your system.
If you only want to listen to one source, you could run the source to the headamp input and carry on from the loop output to your preamp -- this would skip the volume control on your preamp but only connects one source to the headphone amp.
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October 31, 2018, 02:37 PM #3
Re: Hooking Up A Balanced Headphone Amp
Hello Jack,
The following thoughts are considering you have one system to listen to both speakers and headphones...
If you want to keep this all in one system, a thought is eventually upgrading your preamp to one that also has a nice headphone output (as opposed to a new separate headphone amp). This would streamline and upgrade the whole system while also upgrading the headphone output and eliminate your connection concerns. Companies such as Woo Audio, Apex Audio, Manley, PS Audio, McIntosh, Bryston, Cary/Dennis Had and a number of others are worth considering.
(If you are flush with money and have room in your equipment rack, the new Woo Audio WA33 is pretty special...)
On a separate note, I personally would not worry too much about getting a balanced headphone amp (as opposed to unbalanced). In my comparisons of balanced-to-unbalanced (using identical cables, amps and volume level matching), the difference between balanced and unbalanced is minimal-to-none. That comparison was using Sennheiser HD600's and HD580's. Bottom line, if you do want a separate headphone amp, get the best quality you can and upgrade the headphone cable. If this means the amp is balanced, then terrific. But don't disregard great amplifiers just because they are only single ended.Kevin
Main: VPI Aries 3/Grado Reference3, and Aurender N200 > PS Audio DS DAC. Luxman L-509Z integrated amp. Sonus Faber Elipsa SE speakers. PS Audio P10 power. Transparent Audio, Cardas and Audioquest cables.
Bar: EAT C-sharp/Hana MH, and exaSound s82 > Luxman L-595SE amp. GolderEar One.R speakers. Shunyata power, Audioquest cables.
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October 31, 2018, 05:05 PM #4
Re: Hooking Up A Balanced Headphone Amp
Speakers- Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk II, Amp - Pass Labs X150.5, Preamp - McIntosh C2600, Turntable - Music Hall MMF-9.3, Cartridge - Goldring Eroica LX, Phono PreAmp - Sutherland Insight, Digital Playback - Rotel RCD-1072, DAC - Bryston BDA-3, Headphones - Sennheiser HD-660S, and Drop + Dan Clark Audio Ether CX. Headphone Amp - Bryston BHA-1
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AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
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