RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I’m hoping someone here can suggest a headphone amp for me that has two switchable, single ended analogue inputs and one line level (not variable) output for my main rig. I initially thought it would be easy to find but I can’t find any. Headphones are currently B&0 H6 which I think are 32 ohms. It doesn’t have to be amazing but I would like the option to upgrade the cans at some point so a bit of versatility might help. Budget could be anywhere from 200-500 so not crazy and I’m open to 2nd hand if anyone knows of one that’s out of production. Happy to buy chi-fi and I’m even open to doing it myself, as long as it doesn’t require an electrical engineering degree (or the ability to read a circuit diagram ) Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Sort of sounds like you just want a RCA switch for the most part. Headphone amps that have an output generally its for use as a Preamp, not a straight up pass through. So the volume knob will effect it. You seem to want a headphone amp, switchable inputs, and a fixed line level ouput (basically a passthrough, acting as switch), where the volume only controls the headphone section. First thought is that might be hard to find... Schiit Magnius for example. Has RCA in, XLR in (even if you use adapters, thats two ins) and same again as outputs (RCA and XLR). But the volume controls all, as thats how people use it mostly. Single Amp/Preamp box for headphones and their powered speakers/active monitors etc. Whats your full set up? Surely a basic switch and a neat little headphone amp as two separate devices could work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Bengineer said: Sort of sounds like you just want a RCA switch for the most part. Headphone amps that have an output generally its for use as a Preamp, not a straight up pass through. So the volume knob will effect it. You seem to want a headphone amp, switchable inputs, and a fixed line level ouput (basically a passthrough, acting as switch), where the volume only controls the headphone section. First thought is that might be hard to find... Schiit Magnius for example. Has RCA in, XLR in (even if you use adapters, thats two ins) and same again as outputs (RCA and XLR). But the volume controls all, as thats how people use it mostly. Single Amp/Preamp box for headphones and their powered speakers/active monitors etc. Whats your full set up? Surely a basic switch and a neat little headphone amp as two separate devices could work? Thanks, I get what you mean. Setup will be an integrated amp with 3 SE and 1 bal in and speaker outs, no pre or record outputs, a streamer into a Klein 3 dac which has 1 SE and 1 bal out and a turntable. The idea is to run bal from the Klein to the amp and SE from the Klein to the head amp while at the same time running the TT into the head amp then passing through to the int amp. Confusing. No? The problem is the lack of outs on the int amp and the fact that I want to be able to listen to records through the cans, otherwise I’d just get a dac with a headphone amp and be done I’d be grateful for any other suggestions. The amp is arriving next week and I dont have the dac yet either so it’s not urgent but solving this will contribute to whether the amp will suit me long term Edited September 11, 2020 by RankStranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 One solution might be the diyaudio amp camp pre+ which has 2 in 1 out and a headphone but it’s variable out (obviously because its a pre). I’ve asked over there if it might work and I’m waiting for some feedback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Phono with two outs? One to a headphone amp, other to the integrated. Headphone amp just has two inputs, one from TT and one from Klien? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 8 minutes ago, Bengineer said: Phono with two outs? One to a headphone amp, other to the integrated. Headphone amp just has two inputs, one from TT and one from Klien? That would work but it would involve me buying both a phono with two outs (I use the one built in to the deck but it’s defeatable) and a head amp and I don’t know of any with two outputs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzii Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 @cheekyboy I use a Graham Slee and it has two inputs, no DAC, one output https://www.wyndhamaudio.com.au/products/gsp-audio-solo-ultra-linear-deiamond-edition-headphone-amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 7 minutes ago, scuzzii said: @cheekyboy I use a Graham Slee and it has two inputs, no DAC, one output https://www.wyndhamaudio.com.au/products/gsp-audio-solo-ultra-linear-deiamond-edition-headphone-amp Looks cool but unless I’m missing something, the only output is the headphone one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spammoj Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Would a RCA switch like a Schiit sys work? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzii Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 12 minutes ago, RankStranger said: Looks cool but unless I’m missing something, the only output is the headphone one? ahh - sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 8 minutes ago, scuzzii said: ahh - sorry about that. No need to apologise. Thanks for the suggestion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 12 minutes ago, spamnoj said: Would a RCA switch like a Schiit sys work? If it had a headphone out, it sort of would. I’m trying to keep the box count to a minimum so adding two extra things is the last resort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) Maybe it is something I need to make myself. Like a 2 in 2 out matrix switcher with one of the outputs going to a diy headphone amp with vol control all in one chassis Edited September 11, 2020 by RankStranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm1111 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Would you consider tube amps? I know there are some around with two singled ended inputs, and a pass through, to allow them to sit between source and pre amp or integrated. Most slid state amps I am aware of have a variable output rather than a pass through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 1 minute ago, markm1111 said: Would you consider tube amps? I know there are some around with two singled ended inputs, and a pass through, to allow them to sit between source and pre amp or integrated. Most slid state amps I am aware of have a variable output rather than a pass through. Absolutely. If there was one in the price range. Are you thinking of any in particular? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm1111 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 17 minutes ago, RankStranger said: Absolutely. If there was one in the price range. Are you thinking of any in particular? I am racking my brain, I read about a couple recently. I'll go away and see if I can find them again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 I found one! https://www.minidisc.com.au/luxman-p-200-headphone-amplifier Luxman p200 2 inputs, 1 throughput, nothing else. unfortunately it’s way too dear at $2000 ($999 for an ex loan stock one) Anyone got one they want to give away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm1111 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Try this one out. Single ended and balanced input, single ended pass through. I ahven't heard one, but they do get good reviews on headfi https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-liquid-carbon-x-amp#overview Price is right too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, markm1111 said: Try this one out. Single ended and balanced input, single ended pass through. I ahven't heard one, but they do get good reviews on headfi https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-alex-cavalli-liquid-carbon-x-amp#overview Price is right too Looks good. Thanks, I’ll check it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm1111 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, RankStranger said: Looks good. Thanks, I’ll check it out There are a few other suitable headphones on drop as well, take a look around. And if Alex Cavalli does this style for drop, his own ones might be similar too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munce31 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Its much easier to find multiple XLR input head amps like the Benchmark HPA4. I believe that has 3 XLR inputs. Not many single-ended head amps out there. Most have XLR input. Even rarer to find multiple input, especially in single-ended guise. As the other's have suggested, some sort of RCA switch would do the trick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Looks like the topping a90 will do it too with two selectable inputs (1 bal/1 SE) and the ability to set the output to fixed. Too expensive new but may start to come up 2nd hand in budget. thanks for the input, guys. Looks like there’s at least a couple of options on the table Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 18 hours ago, markm1111 said: I am racking my brain, I read about a couple recently. I'll go away and see if I can find them again. There was one sold on the forum this week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted September 12, 2020 Share Posted September 12, 2020 On 11/09/2020 at 2:35 PM, RankStranger said: I’m hoping someone here can suggest a headphone amp for me that has two switchable, single ended analogue inputs and one line level (not variable) output for my main rig. I initially thought it would be easy to find but I can’t find any. Headphones are currently B&0 H6 which I think are 32 ohms. It doesn’t have to be amazing but I would like the option to upgrade the cans at some point so a bit of versatility might help. Budget could be anywhere from 200-500 so not crazy and I’m open to 2nd hand if anyone knows of one that’s out of production. Happy to buy chi-fi and I’m even open to doing it myself, as long as it doesn’t require an electrical engineering degree (or the ability to read a circuit diagram ) Thanks in advance! doesnt your main rig have a tape out or something ? thats all most folk use ? otherwise luxman ? 3 inputs.... 2 bal, one line level (not sure if there is an older model or s/h going in budget...) http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=7 eg seems to be a p200 thats a refurb at audio active and its got two inputs but double your minimum price... @Tassie Devil wondering if you know of any options as seem to have explored a few headphone amps ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RankStranger Posted September 12, 2020 Author Share Posted September 12, 2020 (edited) 9 minutes ago, betty boop said: doesnt your main rig have a tape out or something ? thats all most folk use ? otherwise luxman ? 3 inputs.... 2 bal, one line level (not sure if there is an older model or s/h going in budget...) http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=7 @Tassie Devil wondering if you know of any options as seem to have explored a few headphone amps ... Looks lovely but way above budget. My new-to-me amp (Kinki EX-M1) arriving next week has no tape or pre outs. I don’t need anything that high-end anyway. My headphones aren’t that hard to drive or probably good enough to warrant it. The cavalli one for $300ish shipped is probably the most likely option but I’ll see how I go living with the amp for a bit first and keep an eye on the classifieds in the meantime Edited September 12, 2020 by RankStranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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