Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Amp with a selector?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Amp with a selector?

post #1 of 11
2/13/13 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking for an amp with multiple outputs that lets you change which one is receiving the signal (so I can have 3 headphones plugged in and sound going to only one of them). Does such a thing exist?

Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

post #2 of 11
2/14/13 at 8:20am

Something like the Behringer AMP800 would work.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-AMP800-Four-Channel-Headphone/dp/B000KU87SM

Reply
post #3 of 11
2/14/13 at 8:39am

Most products with multiple outputs like that (see above) actually have multiple amps internally, to be intended to use with multiple headphones on multiple users simultaneously.  If you want to use your own amp, then this is pointless.

 

 

I think what you're looking for is just a switchbox.  Hook the output of your own amp to the switchbox input and your multiple headphones to the switchbox outputs.  These are more common for RCA inputs and outputs, so you may need some adapters, but that should be okay.  Or you could make one.

Reply
post #4 of 11
2/14/13 at 11:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by NA Blur View Post

Something like the Behringer AMP800 would work.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-AMP800-Four-Channel-Headphone/dp/B000KU87SM


This might be it, it says you can switch each headphone port from input A to input B, and I assume if I leave input B unplugged it'll act as a on/off.

 

Might as well ask a follow up question in the same topic: My sound card is an X-Fi XtremeMusic, would it be at all beneficial to use the S/PDIF connector and plug it into a DAC to then plug into this amp? Right now I'm just using the 3.5mm line out.

Reply
post #5 of 11
2/14/13 at 12:56pm

Most multi-channel amps are not really head-fi-audiophile, IMHO.  My first amp a decade ago was an Edcor 4-channel, it was nothing more than a cmoy really.

 

IMHO you're are better off with a good amp, and a passive A/B switch box.  Although I haven't found one with 1/4" TRS in/outs.  

 

http://www.instructables.com/id/AB-Switch-on-the-Cheap/

 

http://electronicsusa.com/mk1and2.html

 

 

I have always wanted to hack the rotary switch out of one of these and re-terminate with 1/4" TRS connectors.  No first hand experience though... sorry.

 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROTARY-A-B-C-D-MALE-PARALLEL-DATA-TRANSFER-SWITCH-/180733267498

Reply
post #6 of 11
2/14/13 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 

I'm not looking to break the bank, just something that performs a certain function for a reasonable price
 

Reply
post #7 of 11
2/15/13 at 4:28pm
Thread Starter 

Would something like this work?

 

http://www.amazon.com/TC-716-Stereo-Selector-BLACK-VERSION/dp/B0001F347K/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

I know it's not an amp, but I'm not sure I even need an amp sine my headphones are only 52 ohms and my sound card is 32 ohms

Reply
post #8 of 11
2/16/13 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 

I also found this: http://www.amazon.com/Rolls-3-Way-Passive-Stereo-Switcher/dp/B001KVSC6W/ref=sr_1_47?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1361030475&sr=1-47

 

not sure what the difference in quality would be between this and the other one

Reply
post #9 of 11
2/16/13 at 10:41am

yeah those "should" work.  As I suspected though they don't use 1/4-TRS, so you'll have to adapt things over.  Switch quality and signal path through the device though is going to be the key factor.  No switched device is going to be identical capacitance/indictance/resistance as the single wire it replaces.

 

Theres a bay area headfi meet tomorrow.  Usually one of the DIY guys will have a switch box of some sort.  I think AMB used to make his own switcher boxes to A/B/C different amps and sources in and out of the chain.  To this day it still kind of surprises me no one has brought a device to market that does this.  I'll keep an eye out for you tomorrow.


Edited by kramer5150 - 2/16/13 at 10:44am
Reply
post #10 of 11
2/16/13 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 

I ended up getting the Rolls 3-way switcher since it had 4 3.5mm connections which is just what I needed, I'll let you guys know how it works out
 

Reply
post #11 of 11
2/26/13 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 

Just came in and so far it works great, it seems to be well built and as far as I can tell there's no difference in quality. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quality switch

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)

Gear mentioned in this thread:

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Amp with a selector?