[Norman]

Hi guys!

I plan on running both a head amp and a stero amp so that I can use both speakers and headphones on my computer.

What I want is something that goes inbetween the amps and the soundcard so that I can switch between the two on the fly


What is this 'thing' called?

Thanks a lot!

 

[rxc]

Switchbox?

 

[Norman]

Ahh, yes! That's the one..

Will I hear any degradation in the SQ if I use any random one? Any brands to look out for?

 

[sejarzo]

There are not a huge number of them out there. Niles Audio is about the only "name brand" maker of them, as far as I know:

http://www.nilesaudio.com/product.ph...rdcdID=FG00012

This one is designed to connect two sources to a single input on an amp, but I am 99% sure that it works just as well to connect one source to two different amps.

 

[NiceCans]

I have the Niles 5 position selector switch and it works very well.
They cost a bit more than a Radio Shack unit, but there is no loss of sound quality that I have detected and the build quality is excellent.

 

[Norman]

Thanks for the replies!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejarzo /img/forum/go_quote.gif This one is designed to connect two sources to a single input on an amp, but I am 99% sure that it works just as well to connect one source to two different amps.

That way the sources input becomes my output and vice versa, right?

 

[sejarzo]

That's what I presume. Some firm that made a very similar unit in recent years (maybe Niles, just a slightly different model) advertised it as capable of switching between two inputs to feed a single output, or switching a single source between two outputs. Probably wouldn't hurt to send an email to tech support and verify, though.

 

[Maniac]

How about just a plain old pre-amp?

If you have a integrated amp, you could try using the Tape-Record output of the amp to hook up your headphone amp.

 

[Norman]

Nah I don't have a preamp lying around..

 

[Maniac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Nah I don't have a preamp lying around..

Does your amp have a Tape out/Rec? if it does, you can just wire your headphone amp there.

 

[Norman]

Oh you mean like that.. I'll have to check, but it might.. Do line outs do much to the sound signature or does it pass through relatively transparent?

 

[Maniac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh you mean like that.. I'll have to check, but it might.. Do line outs do much to the sound signature or does it pass through relatively transparent?

That will depend on your rig, but this is kinda a no-cost option, so it can't hurt to try it out.

 

[Sarchi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh you mean like that.. I'll have to check, but it might.. Do line outs do much to the sound signature or does it pass through relatively transparent?

Tape line outputs usually bypass all the gain circuitry in the preamp stage, so it should be very transparent.