Advice around my headphone amp connection...

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone,

I did look through all the posts in this section, but I could not find something that provides a suitable solution....

I currently have a DacMagic connected to a hybrid integrated amplifier (Valve Audio), to this I have connected a Pro-Ject Head Box II. The best solution I have found so far is to connect the DacMagic to the inputs of the head box and then the outputs of the head box to my amplifier. The Valve Audio amp does not have a headphone out....

I use a pair or Grado SR80i headphones.....

I found that if I used the tape out connectors on the amplifier, then I was not getting much sound through the head box.

So my questions are as follows:

• Is this the best solution?
• This is first time that I'm using a headphone amp, so does this set-up hamper its performance?
• Was there something I missed when using the tape out connectors?

I don't notice any major decrease in sound quality with this set-up when listening to music through my speakers, but I do realise that I've included an additional component between my source and the amp so hence the questions. I have used QED Performance Audio 2 interconnects between the DacMagic > Head Box > Valve Audio Amp.

I would appreciate any feedback...

Thanks

SM

 

[idc]

You are plugging an input into an output, hence the lack of sound. A headphone amp should be plugged into any input except phono where a phono card is used to boost the amplification of a turntable, in which case you get too much volume.

Does the Pro-ject have both input and output phono connections or just one set of out? What inputs does the amp have?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply Idc.... I should have been a bit clearer.

The head box has two sets of phono connections - one set for input and one set for output.

The amp has phono inputs for CD, Tape, Aux, AV and a Tape Out connection.....

For my current set-up the connection is DacMagic > Head box (input connection) > Head box (output connection) > CD input on the amp.

I tested the following set-up which provided insufficient volume to the head box - DacMagic > Amp - CD Input > Amp - Tape out > Head box. For this set-up I had to use the volume control on the amp in order to provide sufficient volume via the head box - this also means that sound is emitted from my speakers.

 

[idc]

I take it that your current connection works fine. It should do.

Using the tape out should also work as that is how I had an X-CAN connected to a Rega amp. I would mute the speakers, select tape and control the volume with the X-CAN.

Headphone amps with an input and output are designed to piggy back other amps and have a through signal. However, you are then presented with two volume controls.

 

[Anonymous]

thanks idc....

was not sure, but since it does work fine i guess there is no need to mess around with the set-up any further...