New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Using a preamp as a headphone amp

post #1 of 6
9/18/09 at 10:10am
Thread Starter 
Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked & answered before, but my searches turned up thousands of hits which were misses.

I have a Cary SLP90 pre-amp and would like to know the best way to convert it to a headphone amp. Currently I'm using a RadioShack(r) dual RCA to 1/4" heaphone socket. This was intended as an interim solution until my MPX3 was repaired. Now it appears this has become a permanent solution.
Does anyone know the best way to convert the output RCAs to HP? Is a simple high-quality RCA--> phone jack the best way? Or is there some better way like better impedence matching or something else (I'm guessing here)
And if the converter cable is the best way to go, can anyone recommend a good one?

Thanks!

-A-
Reply
post #2 of 6
9/18/09 at 10:28am
A converter cable is certainly the most convenient. I'm using my rotel RC1090 as a headphone amp, taking the balanced outputs and using them. If you want a more elegant solution, you could have a box built with a 1/4" jack and rca jacks...I think anything you do will necessarily be custom, however. I'd recommend bluejeans cables for this kind of work.
Reply
post #3 of 6
9/18/09 at 10:31am
^ nice to see someone else that owns the RC-1090. I should try using it as a headamp. How is the sound?
Reply
post #4 of 6
9/18/09 at 10:35am
I'm happy enough with the balanced outs. Could use a bit more volume, but it's a pretty good sound. If you have balanced cables, it's certainly worth experimenting with
Reply
post #5 of 6
9/18/09 at 2:23pm
I wouldn't recommend using adapter cables.

The SLP90 has an output impedance of 800 ohms which is rather too high for headphones. Also, it's using 12AU7s on the output and they're just not going to have the juice to drive a 300 ohm load. A tube preamp like the SLP90 needs to see something more on the order of 10,000 ohms or greater.

To use it as a headphone amp, you'd need to pair it up with a buffer circuit suitable for driving headphones.

k
Reply
post #6 of 6
10/4/09 at 3:30pm
Would an impedance multiplier work? Audio Autoformer?

I am looking to do the same with my Pass Labs X2 preamp.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home