[quote user="raym87"]
HI......reading up on headphone amps has left me a little confused regarding the way they are connected. It appears that most are connected in a tape loop in the main amp
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Correct
[quote user="raym87"]
wouldnt it be better to have the input connected directly to the source (say a CD player)
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Ideally, yes. The shorter the signal path the better. Although this will mean a lot of faffing around plugging and unplugging interconnects, unless...
[quote user="raym87"]have the input connected directly to the source (say a CD player) and the loop out connected to the main amp input?. Connected this way the main amp will not need to be on while using headphones.[/quote]
I can't see any reason why this wouldn't work. However, don't try it until someone a bit more knowledgeable than me has also commented. It does strike me however that you'll need the headphone amp on even when you're not using it, and that the signal path to the amp is now longer. I guess it might depend if your priority is optimum sound through the headphones or optimum sound through the amp.
As I say, don't just take my word that this will actually work. It's quite possible that I'm overlooking something and that you might damage something. Comments anyone?