Currently an amplifier of mine has a relay on the output which has a delayed turnon to prevent thumps. This works rather well except that the relay is in the signal path. I've seen a few alternative designs where by the relay instead of sitting in the signal simply shorts the signal to the ground untill the timer is reached and then it clicks open.

1. My question is can the Gilmore V2 withstand a short on the output for a few seconds? If not i wonder if it is possible to eliminate the thump by using a couple of ohm 5watt resistor in series to the relay so that the amp doesn't see a complete short. I assume say a 10ohm resistor would almost eliminate the thump if 300ohm cans are pluged in? Oh how about a small resistor on the output?

I was thinking of using some high quality welwyn resistors in the amp itself, except they cost about $3 each and i can't afford them.

2. Is there any specific place i should put high quality resistors? Where can i place a few resistors to get the best effect of the extra money spent over normal el-chepo metal film resistors?

3. I've read a lot about ground channel buffering and while i understand the physics of it I wonder why more amp designs don't do this? (this is just pure theory i have no intention of ground buffering if it is even possible) But if it is possible why doesn't the gilmore do it.