Headamp with remote control: what are the options?

[Captain Howdy]

I've been listening to headphones via stereo receiver for a long time, and the one thing I really like about this setup is the remote control which allows me to change the volume from across the room. I just started looking but so far it seems very few headamps have remote control features and the ones that do are really expensive. Can anyone give me advice on a) headamps with remote, and b) alternative setups, e.g. preamp q/ remote + headamp? Thanks.

 

[Alcophone]

Schiit Ragnarok 2 and Holo Audio Azure are two that come to mind.
But preamp with remote would offer more flexibility. Schiit Saga S or Freya S, for example, depending on whether you need single ended or balanced inputs and outputs.

Edit: The Benchmark HPA4 can be ordered with a remote as well, and apparently the Violectric HPA V281 can also be remote controlled.

If you want an all in one, Topping makes some like the DX7s, but at least that one doesn't have analog inputs, so I don't consider it a headphone amp (and I don't think it's that great, anyway).

 

[Captain Howdy]

So let me see if I understand this: I would plug my DAC and my CD player into the Schit Saga S, then connect the outs to a headamp such as the Magni. I'd plug my cans into the Magni and use the Saga's remote control to adjust the volume. Yes?

 

[Alcophone]

So let me see if I understand this: I would plug my DAC and my CD player into the Schit Saga S, then connect the outs to a headamp such as the Magni. I'd plug my cans into the Magni and use the Saga's remote control to adjust the volume. Yes?

Correct. The headphone amp would be at full volume, basically acting like a power amp. That usually would get the amp's volume knob out of the way as much as possible. But there's no reason not to experiment with setting the headphone amp to the highest volume bearable with your headphones instead of setting it to full blast. Then it's more similar to how you have a volume knob on a subwoofer to match the speakers, but would afterwards control speakers and the sub with the same volume knob.

 

[Mightygrey]

My Questyle Cma600i comes with a remote that I actually use much more than anticipated.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I asked Schit for advice and this is the reply I got: "If your receiver has line outputs then any of our headamps should plug into it no problem!" Does this make sense to you?

 

[Alcophone]

I asked Schit for advice and this is the reply I got: "If your receiver has line outputs then any of our headamps should plug into it no problem!" Does this make sense to you?

Hmmm, more so if they mean preouts (which is a volume attenuated line source). Their headphone amps will of course take a line source (essentially preout at max volume), but then you'd still have to control the volume with the headamp, not the receiver. What's your receiver?

 

[Captain Howdy]

About a 20 year-old Onkyo TX-8211. No preouts. What would happen if I plugged the tape out into the headamp? Wouldn't the receiver color the sound before it reached the headamp?

 

[Alcophone]

About a 20 year-old Onkyo TX-8211. No preouts. What would happen if I plugged the tape out into the headamp? Wouldn't the receiver color the sound before it reached the headamp?

The tape out should be a line out, i.e. it should be as loud as the source feeding the Onkyo, and the sound may be colored and/or have added noise. It could sound better, I do prefer Saga in active mode vs. passive, for instance.

Maybe you would like a Burson Play, though I don't know what you have to do to get a remote for it. It supports one, but none of the two listed options includes one.

Or the newer Playmate, but that is more expensive.

I've heard neither, so can't judge it, and I've had my share of issues with Burson products, so I won't get another one, but many love their products. When they work, they can be great.