Headphone Amp setup

[Yjani]

This may sound like a bit of a silly question, but im looking to add a Headphone amp to my setup, Project Headbox or something similar. Anyway, i want to run the analogue preouts on my Essence STX to the Headphone Amp then from the Headphone Amp to my integrated Nad.

My question is if i have the system up and running, will the sound come out of the headphones only if i plug them into the headphone amp? ie, will the sound from the speakers cut if i plug headphones in if u can sort of understand that. Its a bit like front panel connectors on a PC, sound cuts out when u plug phones into them, and resumes to the speakers when u unplug them.

 

[tenshin111]

I think you need a different setup:

- soundcard --> amplifier
- a pair of line outs (tape outs) from your Nad to the headphone amp

You cannot connect it other way round (a headphone amp has only a headphone output).

But to be honest, I do not think you'll hear much of a difference between Project Headbox and the headphone out on your Nad amplifier (provided it has one ). Nad's are quality stuff (and I presume their headphone-outs are good as well) Project Headbox is a rather budget amplifier. For a significant improvement you could try Graham Slee's Novo or Solo units.

And to answer you question - if you connect it the way described above the sound won't cut after plugging in the headphones (Although you might need to select relevant sound source on your Nad amp to actually route audio to the headphone amp; if it has a tape loop however you should be able to hear both - the main outs on the speakers and the tape outs routed to the headphone out.)

Hope it is clear

 

[Yjani]

Thx for the reply, I do have 2 Tape outs on the Nad here, but reading some reviews and lots of researching i heard that a dedicated Headphone amp will produce far better gains over a Headphone Output on an integrated. I guess you get what u pay for, and maybe the the Project Box wont be so much of an upgrade. Looks like il look for something even better like as you say the Graham Slee line, or equivilent

Also, the Project Headbox DOES have Dual RCA inputs and Outputs on the back, aswell as the Headphone out on the front

 

[tenshin111]

Although this Project Headbox does have RCA outputs (quite unusual for a headphone amp) I would not use it in the configuration that you described. It's a bit...unnatural

This is taken from the Headbox manual:

Connect the TAPE OUT/RCA phono sockets from your amplifier to the In/RCA phono sockets of the headphone amplifier.​

BTW What headphones are you using? If they are....erm...average...you won't gain much from this upgrade. You see, the overall quality of audio is as good (or as bad) as the weakest chain in the link. Great headphone amp + cheap headphones won't result in much improvement I'm afraid

 

[Yjani]

Use a pair of Goldring N1000's, so some from of decent amplification is definately needed. Has to be good grade to make use of the mixture of FLAC and Apple Lossless files i listen too, but looks like il shell out an extra £100 for something better than the Project. The Graham Slee does look very tempting indeed

 

[C64]

Even the £15 FiiO E5 portable headphone amp drives my headphones better than my separates amp.

Once you try the headphone amp output all will become clear, pointless to try and somehow wire it up so you can use the nad.

 

[Yjani]

Really? Very surprising that something so small and lightweight would drive them better. Thats very interesting to know