Billheiser
Headphoneus Supremus
When I ask if the amp is on, I mean is it producing tons of heat even when the headphones are not plugged in? Let's start with, does the device have to be on, or is it a passive pre amp? Okay, say the device must be on, without headphones plugged in, is the device pumping tons of heat and energy? I know the Schiit Asgard is class A which means it is running on full power all the time, but is it doing that even in pre amp mode? Get my meaning? I do not want a 30 watt pre amp.
On another note, does the pre amp color the sound at all? Or is it simple in and out with the signal?
- When it is on, it produces some heat, whether or not headphones are plugged in. The amount of heat depends on the design of the particular headphone amp.
- Yes, the device has to be turned on to operate.
- When the device is on, without headphones plugged in, it is not pumping tons of heat and energy. If you are not using it, turn it off and it will use no energy.
- I think you may be confusing the terms "preamp" and "amp". A headphone amp (such as the Asgard or Valhalla2) is referred to as a headphone amp, since they have enough power to drive headphones. Generally, a headphone amp is NOT a combination of preamp and a power amp. It's just that when you use it to drive speakers, speakers require more power than headphones, right? So your headphone amp at that point is considered your preamp - which then feeds your amplifier-powered speakers.
Your question about coloring the sound: Good electronic devices are designed to replicate the signal faithfully, with low distortion, full range frequency response, etc. There is no device that reaches theoretical perfect perfection. So all devices color the sound, to a small extent. Getting good and uncolored sound is the goal, and many different approaches are taken by designers/manufacturers to do that. Prices reflect their efforts and parts costs.