Headphone Amplifiers

[scoughlan]

I was pleased to read the "Why do you need a headphone amp?" boxout in the current issue's Headphone Amplifier Test Express, as I've often wondered the same thing. But, please tell me: Assuming you already have a source connected to a stereo amplifier, and want to continue listening through speakers as well as headphones, then how do you link in a headphone amp to such a system? Oh, and in respect to the Lehmann Rhinelander review: What an earth is a "front-mounted metal selector"? Do you hit this when you listen to Metallica?!!?

 

[Anonymous]

Most stereo amps have a tape out phono connection, and the headphone amp usually gets connected to this.

The somewhat cumbersomely-monikered "front mounted metal selector" is a switch, made of metal, mounted on the front of the unit, which allows you to select either one of the two sources which you can connect to the headphone amp. Obviously if you connect it to the stereo amp via the tape loop, this feature will probably be redundant.

 

[matengawhat]

def worth buying one!