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Crazy idea for box that will allow you to use your power amp to drive headphones?

post #1 of 6
11/13/10 at 7:47am
Thread Starter 

How come there isn't a box/pre-amp that has all the necessary electronics to allow users to safety use any power amp they currently own to power headphones?  This box will have a knob for different impedance settings (16 Ohms to 600 Ohms) and a volume control.  It will be a simple box that has no sonic signature so you can take full benefits of your power amp's sonic signature, tube or solid state.  Am I dreaming or can this be done?

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post #2 of 6
11/13/10 at 8:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DjAmTraX View Post

It will be a simple box that has no sonic signature so you can take full benefits of your power amp's sonic signature, tube or solid state.  Am I dreaming or can this be done?


It has been done, many times.  Just google "headphone adapter" and see.  Some are DIY projects, some are commercially available, and some are effectively present in integrated amps, in that the output taps are routed to a headphone socket through resistors.  Some circuits are simply padded down, and some aim always to create an effective - and allegedly industry standard - 120-ohm output impedance at the amp.  No need for active electronics (because the purpose is entirely subtractive) and no need for a volume control (because an amp or preamp already has one.)  If your chosen amp has a good native signal-to-noise ratio, it's an excellent way to go.  I have always gotten great results with this method.  Power and headroom sound unlimited, which IMO is crucial to a relaxed listening experience.


Edited by InnerSpace - 11/13/10 at 8:06am
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post #3 of 6
11/13/10 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by InnerSpace View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by DjAmTraX View Post

It will be a simple box that has no sonic signature so you can take full benefits of your power amp's sonic signature, tube or solid state.  Am I dreaming or can this be done?


It has been done, many times.  Just google "headphone adapter" and see.  Some are DIY projects, some are commercially available, and some are effectively present in integrated amps, in that the output taps are routed to a headphone socket through resistors.  Some circuits are simply padded down, and some aim always to create an effective - and allegedly industry standard - 120-ohm output impedance at the amp.  No need for active electronics (because the purpose is entirely subtractive) and no need for a volume control (because an amp or preamp already has one.)  If your chosen amp has a good native signal-to-noise ratio, it's an excellent way to go.  I have always gotten great results with this method.  Power and headroom sound unlimited, which IMO is crucial to a relaxed listening experience.

GREAT!  Let me Google it.  Any links to ones you like most would be super.  I have a McIntosh Mc275 tube and and would love to use it to power my cans.  Thank you!
 

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post #4 of 6
11/13/10 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DjAmTraX View Post

Any links to ones you like most would be super.  I have a McIntosh Mc275 tube and and would love to use it to power my cans.  Thank you!
 


I like this one:

 

http://sound.westhost.com/project100.htm

 

You can omit the speaker switching if you don't need it, and you can build it (or have it built) into a box, or just hard-wire it at the speaker terminals if you prefer.  Depends whether it's a headphone-only system, or a speakers-plus-headphones set up.

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post #5 of 6
11/13/10 at 8:38am
Thread Starter 

found this too.  wish there was more info on it.

 

MINIWATT HPA - HEADPHONE ADAPTOr

 

hpa_s_1[1]-500x500.jpg

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post #6 of 6
11/13/10 at 8:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DjAmTraX View Post

found this too.  wish there was more info on it.

 

MINIWATT HPA - HEADPHONE ADAPTOr

 

hpa_s_1[1]-500x500.jpg


Yeah, I don't know what's in that either.  Probably not enough attenuation for your 275.  You could buy one and have some resistors swapped out, or show that picture and the other circuit to someone and ask him to build a custom job.  Looks great, right?

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