Merits of using a home theater preamp/processor for headphones

[scootermafia]

I have a friend who was thinking of getting a WA6SE but due to budget constraints, he may stick with his original plan for his home theater - getting a high end processor such as the Sunfire TGP-5 balanced and using its preamped XLRs to drive his HD650s. He just got HD650s but has not picked out an amp yet.

Would this be a good idea, has anyone experimented with using a DAC/preamp in this manner? The Sunfire is originally a $3500 piece that is on closeout right now. He could of course use it with a future headphone amp using the un-preamped, direct XLR outputs or direct single ended outputs on the back. This makes me wonder if an older home theater preamp/processor would be a superior DAC to my tiny Moodlab Concept...just using it to decode an optical signal into 2-channel stereo.

 

[mdumeny]

I have the WA6 and just purchased a DAC (Keces DA-131Mk2) for my office, for use with HD650. Computer SPDIF from Asus D1 sound card as source for mostly lossless CD rips and some 24/192 downloads.

My dedicated home theater has a Lexicon 12 processor, with main sources of PS3, computer (M-Audio 1010LT) and Sony ES222 SACD - if I used my headphones in the home theater, I would use the outputs from the Lexicon and possibly an amp, but would not bother with a DAC. Not to slight the Keces DAC - the Lexicon is a MUCH more expensive alternative (about 2+ times the Sunfire).

I assume that the Sunfire is probably very capable as well, but I am not personally familiar with it.

Marcel

 

[scootermafia]

So have you used the Lexi 12 with your HD650s, or are you speculating? I'd be curious how the Lexi sounds with no amp, just run it off its RCAs with an adapter. Grats on having a really, really good processor.

 

[mdumeny]

I have not used the HD650s with the Lexicon yet, but will experiment at some point. Right now I'm pretty fully occupied with the new DAC, my first tube roll (the Sophia Princess - very nice) and just enjoying the new setup.

The DACs on the Lexicon are very good, so no, I'm not speculating when I say I would not use an external DAC. The speculation was where I said "possibly an amp" - not sure about that part of it.

If I get around to trying the cans with the Lexicon in the near future, I'll update my response.

Hope this helps.

Marcel