[kaufex]

Hey guys! I need to get a Y-splitter to go from my DAC to two headphone amps. Is there any difference between color-coded (white and red side) Y-splitter that marked for left and right vs a Y-splitter that is unmarked?

I did a search for headphone splitter on Amazon and the results were that they were all unmarked. I did another search for audio splitter and other similar searches and what I got was Y-splitters that indicate left and right.

I don't think there is any difference between marked and unmarked but I am not sure. The ones that indicate left and right are better made and better design than the headphone splitters. Thanks!

 

[MindsMirror]

The ones you saw that split into red and white might be RCA adapters like this one http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Splitter-3-5mm-Stereo-Female/dp/B0009JFF7K
It is really just an adapter to go from one device with a 3.5mm connection to another device with an RCA connection. RCA audio has separate plugs for L and R so that is why the cable splits.
 
The other kind of splitter is like this one http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-293520-3-5mm-Splitter/dp/B000V1O1KS
This one splits the 3.5mm connection into two. It is different than the RCA adapter because each 3.5mm connection has both L and R channels. With this you can connect three different devices together.
 
There is also one like this http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Series-Y-Adapter-Inches/dp/B005DL2OVE
It can connect one channel to two other devices. If your DAC output and amp's inputs all use RCA connections, then you need two of these, one for L and one for R.

 

[kramer5150]

White and red RCA connectors usually means its a stereo cable.
 
I split my source  line out to two amps with a couple of these:  You need two, one for each channel.
 

 
You want to avoid splitters like these... they are too flimsy and not very durable.
 

 

 

[kaufex]

 

 
 
Thanks for the tips  Kramer!  Sorry, if I haven't been clear with my equipment.  I forgot to mention that my DAC and headphone amp are travel size and single-ended.  I need just one cable to connect my Centrance DACport LX and my Meier Stepdance 2 amp for now.  
 
Haven't bought a 2nd amp yet but  if I do, I was thinking of getting a cheap tube amp like Bravo Ocean to power my Senn HD650 and of course a Y-splitter to use my Senn in conjunction with my AKG Q701.  But which one?  A better quality color-coded Y-splitter for left and right or a headphone splitter that are made of cheaper quality.  Does it matter?
 
My other possibility is to get a headphone splitter with separate volume control if I want to use 2 headphones at the same time in order to watch movies with a friend.  I think my amp has enough power to run both headphones.  I would rather choose the more economical approach if the sound quality doesn't degrade too much. 

 

[kaufex]

Quote:

  The ones you saw that split into red and white might be RCA adapters like this one http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Splitter-3-5mm-Stereo-Female/dp/B0009JFF7K
It is really just an adapter to go from one device with a 3.5mm connection to another device with an RCA connection. RCA audio has separate plugs for L and R so that is why the cable splits.
 
The other kind of splitter is like this one http://www.amazon.com/RiteAV-293520-3-5mm-Splitter/dp/B000V1O1KS
This one splits the 3.5mm connection into two. It is different than the RCA adapter because each 3.5mm connection has both L and R channels. With this you can connect three different devices together.
 
There is also one like this http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA-Series-Y-Adapter-Inches/dp/B005DL2OVE
It can connect one channel to two other devices. If your DAC output and amp's inputs all use RCA connections, then you need two of these, one for L and one for R.

 
That's exactly what I am talking about!  On the last link, I almost pull the trigger to get something similar but it was from Audioquest but unfortunately, I think the male end of the Y-splitter needs to be flush if I want to insert the DAC all the way in without "the extra grip". 
 
I saw something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2QK4MG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=37DCM6BHSRPLN&coliid=I1VVZBU8AH542K
 
But it coded for left and right. I am not sure if this will still work for my single ended DAC and 2 single ended amps.  What do you think?
 
Here's another one I was looking at: 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VJX2F2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=37DCM6BHSRPLN&coliid=I1KSQUOGPSCDEK

 

[MindsMirror]

  Quote:
 
That's exactly what I am talking about!  On the last link, I almost pull the trigger to get something similar but it was from Audioquest but unfortunately, I think the male end of the Y-splitter needs to be flush if I want to insert the DAC all the way in without "the extra grip". 
 
I saw something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2QK4MG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=37DCM6BHSRPLN&coliid=I1VVZBU8AH542K
 
But it coded for left and right. I am not sure if this will still work for my single ended DAC and 2 single ended amps.  What do you think?
 
Here's another one I was looking at: 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VJX2F2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=37DCM6BHSRPLN&coliid=I1KSQUOGPSCDEK

I'm not sure what you mean by single ended. Are they stereo?
 
Those products you linked will send the left channel only to the white RCA plug, and the right channel only to the red RCA plug. I don't think that is what you want.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Quote:
 
That's exactly what I am talking about!

 
I think the first link that is not color coded is a 3.5mm to 3.5mm headphone output splitter. All the others are 3.5mm to RCA, and the others posted so far are RCA to 2xRCA splitters.
 

  I need just one cable to connect my Centrance DACport LX and my Meier Stepdance 2 amp for now.  
 
Haven't bought a 2nd amp yet but  if I do, I was thinking of getting a cheap tube amp like Bravo Ocean to power my Senn HD650 and of course a Y-splitter to use my Senn in conjunction with my AKG Q701.  But which one?  A better quality color-coded Y-splitter for left and right or a headphone splitter that are made of cheaper quality.  Does it matter?

 

 
But it coded for left and right. I am not sure if this will still work for my single ended DAC and 2 single ended amps.  What do you think?

 

OK, let's clear up a few things first. From the looks of it you want to hook up the output of the DACPort LX to the Stepdance and potentially another amp, like the Bravo Ocean.

 

Here's what you're missing - the color coded splitters are color coded for good reason. White and Red is for Left and Right channel outputs, and the ones that are are 3.5mm stereo (+ Right, + Left, shared -/GND) into RCA (R+,R- and L+,L-).  The one that isn't color coded I already explained above.

 

If you're going to hook up all that gear, the very first problem is that the LX uses a 6.3mm output jack, so the first thing you need to do is find a 6.3mm to RCA cable, or use a 3.5mm (female) to 6.3mm (male) adapter. After that it splits into two RCA ports, Left and Right. You need to split that again for two amplifiers. 

On each of those you will need to hook up an RCA to RCA splitter like those posted by kramer5150, so you now have two sets of RCA outputs - two left and and two right. From there, you run an RCA cable to the Ocean for example, and then on the other pair, you hook up an RCA to 3.5mm cable to hook it all up to the Stepdance2, since that amp only uses 3.5mm for input.

 

To be perfectly frank, and this is friendly advice, all those cables and converters on there sound like a total PITA. Why not just retain the Stepdance2? It's a powerful and clean amplifier anyway. If you're going to get a different amp then just get the amp that you can afford that has the best balance of output power and low distortion, and preferably with switchable gain, just in case you might hook up a very sensitive/efficient headphone to it.

 

I mean, unless there are other features you might need, you can just get an O2+ODAC and call it a day.

 

[kaufex]

I am happy with my current amp.  The reason why I am considering another amp is because another headfier suggested another amp with a splitter than having  a headphone splitter.  If I am not losing too much sound quality by using a headphone splitter with volume control for 2 headphones with one computer,  I would rather keep that setup instead of buying another amp with a higher quality Y splitter.  Yes, it's a PITA to do the latter.  :/
 
Anyway, I am more clear about the difference between the Y-splitter and headphone splitter.  Thank ProtegeMagic!