[ruthieandjohn]

my Schiit Mjolnir has a pair of three pin XLR jacks labeled “preamp.” What are they for? What do they do that the other outputs, for headphones, do not do? Are they for speakers? Are they for speaker amps? Is their power or impedance-driving ability or output impedance different from the headphone outputs?

Thanks!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

my Schiit Mjolnir has a pair of three pin XLR jacks labeled “preamp.” What are they for? What do they do that the other outputs, for headphones, do not do? Are they for speakers? Are they for speaker amps? Is their power or impedance-driving ability or output impedance different from the headphone outputs?

In simplest terms the signal will go through the volume control circuit on your amp, but will skip the output stage driving the headphones and just go right out. They don't have any real "driving" capability since all that is is a line signal that can be attenuated by the preamp stage on your amp.

This is meant to go into a pure power amp (ie no preamp stage) for speakers, or the amps built into powered monitors that tend to have just the gain control. Your Mjolnir will serve as the volume control for the speakers' output either way.