Multiple outputs from preamp

[dmw650]

What is the best way to get multiple outputs from your source/preamp? My preamp only has one output but I would ideally like to send a signal to 3 places (speaker amp, headphone amp, second zone). I currently don't have a headphone amp but will likely pick one up shortly. It would seem better to use the preamp out rather than the headphone jack. Is that correct?

Recommendations??

 

[ProtegeManiac]

What sources are you using, and what speaker amp? Some headphone amps have their own preamp outputs, and depending on what speaker amp and preamp you're using, either may have some kind of bypass output that you can use for the headphone amp. Or you can get a DAC-HPamp, which can take a digital signal from all your digital sources (assuming you don't have any TTs), and these have their own preamp outputs.

 

[dmw650]

Tried to fix the silly typo in the subject but it won't let me. Oh Well.

The headphone amps I am considering mostly have just one input and one output. Even if it had a preamp out I am not sure how that helps since the pre-amp is switching the sources and I don't want the headphone amp coloring the signal for other outputs.

Maybe I confused the question. Let me try to simplify

Current setup:
mult sources -> preamp -> amp -> speakers

I would like to add two additional amps
- Headphone amp
- 2nd zone with it's own independent amp

So it looks like this
Mult source -> preamp -> main amp -> speakers
.................................-> 2nd zone amp -> speakers
.................................-> headphone amp -> AKG Q701

This is a total of three outputs from the same pre-amp source. The easy answer is to create a 3-way adapter that splits the signal. But they only make Y adapters (2-way split). I am concerned doubling up the Y's would degrade the signal.


David

 

[dmw650]

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Actually I had a clear picture of what you were trying to do, but the reality is that

 

1) You can't use a single volume control in the entire system because all headphone amps have their own potentiometers unlike dedicated power amps for speakers (well, depending on what headphone you're using, you can use that), not to mention that preamps typically have at most one stereo output (two at most)

 

2) The reason why I needed to know more details - like what sources exactly, what model preamp and speaker amps in both zones, etc - is because I need to look up all the outputs on those in order to be able to propose how the system can go.
 
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Now, I'm gonna make a few guesses instead in the absence of such information:
 
1). If the preamp has a bypass output...
 
1a. Y-cable from bypass output
Multiple sources >> Preamp >preamp output> Speaker power amp >speaker output> speakers
                                     >bypass output/Tape Loop Y-cable> Headphone amp >headphone output> headphones
                                                                                    > Zone 2 power amplifier >speaker output> speakers
 
1b. Preamp bypass output and Headphone preamp output
Multiple sources >> Preamp >preamp output, Y-cable> Zone 1 speaker power amp >speaker output> speakers
                                     >preamp output, Y-cable> Zone 2 speaker power amp >speaker output> speakers
                                     >bypass output> Headphone amp >headphone output> headphones 
 
1c. Preamp bypass output and Headphone amp bypass output
Multiple sources >> Preamp >preamp output> Speaker power amp >speaker output> speakers
                                     >bypass output, Y-cable> Headphone amp >headphone output> headphones
                                     >bypass output, Y-cable> Zone 2 integrated amplifier >speaker output> speakers
 
 
 
 
 
2) Replace the Preamp with a DAC-HPamp with multiple digital inputs, a DAC line out, and a preamp output (Zone 1 and 2 not labelled)
 
2a. DAC-HPamp as total central hub
Multiple sources >> DAC-HPamp >headphone output> headphones
                                           >preamp output> speaker power amp >speaker output> speakers
                                           >DAC line output> speaker integrated amp >speaker output> speakers
 
 
2b. Use integrated amp with a preamp to drive Zone 1, and feed powe amp in Zone 2
Multiple sources >> DAC-HPamp >headphone output> headphones
                                           >DAC line output> speaker integrated amp >speaker output> speakers (Zone 1)
                                                                                                     >preamp output> speaker power amp > speakers (Zone 2)
 
 
 
 
Note: provision for TT is either a phono input with phono preamp built into the existing preamp, as in option 1; or a dedicated phono preamp is used into analog input on DAC-HPamp in option 2