Splitting DAC XLR Out for Multiple Amps

[heita0]

I would like to use the XLR output of my DAC (Gustard X16 short-term, maybe a Holo May in the future) to feed both my stereo (integrated) amp and headphone amp (one at any given time). Both amps have 50k+ input impedance. From similar posts, I gather that this is fairly harmless and has no effect on the sound!

However, I have questions whose exact answers I haven't found in layman's terms:
1) If I use Y-splitters, does one of the amps being off (in standby) 'make a difference' to the DAC's operation? Will it try to provide a signal to both at the same time even if, say, my stereo amp is switched off and in standby mode?
2) Is there any reason to prefer a splitter solution like this over or a pair of 1-male to 2-female splitter cables like this? Which would you recommend and why? Does the DAC sense anything differently across the implementations?
3) Anything I should know about voltage (ideally with noob-friendly instructions for affirmative action)?

Thank you for reading my questions. I hope you have a great day.

Best,
H

 

[VNandor]

To answer 1 and maybe 3: The point of this XLR splitter is to get the same voltage signal to multiple XLR cables. If the DAC is outputting a signal there's going to be some voltage difference between all of the connector's respective pins no matter what, even if you didn't connect any of them to an amplifier because that is the point of the splitter, it's just cables.

However, leaving the connector dangling in the air is a bit like having a battery and not putting it into anything. With the battery, there's going to be some voltage difference between the + and - connections but nothing will really happen because the circuit is still open. Once you close the circuit with something, the current can start to flow, like a wire (don't do that) or maybe with a remote controller's circuit which would be much more sensible. Just like that, there won't be any current flowing through the XLR cable even if it's connected to a working DAC's output until you connect it to something (like an amplifier) to close the circuit. If the amp is turned off there's still not supposed to flow any (non-negligible amount of) current through even if it's properly connected, so from the circuit's viewpoint it's supposed to be still open. Of course the amp's designer might think otherwise and let some current to still flow through even if it's turned off, I can't know for sure, but I know my amp works properly.

As for the splitters, the cable splitter is more cost efficient because you can already plug that in but for the box you still have to buy some cables to go with it.

 

[heita0]

To answer 1 and maybe 3: The point of this XLR splitter is to get the same voltage signal to multiple XLR cables. If the DAC is outputting a signal there's going to be some voltage difference between all of the connector's respective pins no matter what, even if you didn't connect any of them to an amplifier because that is the point of the splitter, it's just cables.

However, leaving the connector dangling in the air is a bit like having a battery and not putting it into anything. With the battery, there's going to be some voltage difference between the + and - connections but nothing will really happen because the circuit is still open. Once you close the circuit with something, the current can start to flow, like a wire (don't do that) or maybe with a remote controller's circuit which would be much more sensible. Just like that, there won't be any current flowing through the XLR cable even if it's connected to a working DAC's output until you connect it to something (like an amplifier) to close the circuit. If the amp is turned off there's still not supposed to flow any (non-negligible amount of) current through even if it's properly connected, so from the circuit's viewpoint it's supposed to be still open. Of course the amp's designer might think otherwise and let some current to still flow through even if it's turned off, I can't know for sure, but I know my amp works properly.

As for the splitters, the cable splitter is more cost efficient because you can already plug that in but for the box you still have to buy some cables to go with it.

Thank you for the informative response! It sounds like using the splitter definitely won't have any impact on the sound as well? Will go with the cable solution, then.

 

[VNandor]

Thank you for the informative response! It sounds like using the splitter definitely won't have any impact on the sound as well? Will go with the cable solution, then.

I don't see any reason why it would change the DAC's signal if you only turn on one amp at a time. But speaking from experience, if you second guessed your setup every time you glanced over it while listening to music, that could definitely detract from your listening experience.