nately
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 13, 2002
- Posts
- 181
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Newbie alert!
I'm trying to figure out a way to add good sounding headphones to my setup at home. I have a modest system, Cambridge Audio C500 preamp to a P500 amp. I figure if I pull this off, I'll find myself doing at least 1/4 of my listening on headphones.
My first question is, at what point in my setup would I insert a headphone amp? It would come off the preamp somewhere so I can use the selector and phono stage. I don't particularly want to sacrifice my tape loop. The way I see it, my choices are:
1) There are two sets of line-out (for bi-amping). I could send the unused set to the headphone amp. Would the turned-off power amp or headphone amp affect the other when not in use? My impression is that connected in parallel, if one is turned off it won't draw the signal away from the other half at all.
2) I noticed in the specs for the Creek OBH-11 that you can insert it in between the preamp and amp. Since I don't have a high-end system anyway, the idea of an extra passive component (when I'm using speakers) doesn't really bother me, but why do it if I don't have to.
My second question is, given that the Creek (not the SE) is at the expensive end of my budget, I currently use Grado SR-80s, and portability is not an issue, what are some amps that you'd recommend? (I'm on a budget, but don't have a soldering iron and don't want a DIY... unless somebody wants to do it for me... DIFY? Anyway, I'm ramblin')
I'm trying to figure out a way to add good sounding headphones to my setup at home. I have a modest system, Cambridge Audio C500 preamp to a P500 amp. I figure if I pull this off, I'll find myself doing at least 1/4 of my listening on headphones.
My first question is, at what point in my setup would I insert a headphone amp? It would come off the preamp somewhere so I can use the selector and phono stage. I don't particularly want to sacrifice my tape loop. The way I see it, my choices are:
1) There are two sets of line-out (for bi-amping). I could send the unused set to the headphone amp. Would the turned-off power amp or headphone amp affect the other when not in use? My impression is that connected in parallel, if one is turned off it won't draw the signal away from the other half at all.
2) I noticed in the specs for the Creek OBH-11 that you can insert it in between the preamp and amp. Since I don't have a high-end system anyway, the idea of an extra passive component (when I'm using speakers) doesn't really bother me, but why do it if I don't have to.
My second question is, given that the Creek (not the SE) is at the expensive end of my budget, I currently use Grado SR-80s, and portability is not an issue, what are some amps that you'd recommend? (I'm on a budget, but don't have a soldering iron and don't want a DIY... unless somebody wants to do it for me... DIFY? Anyway, I'm ramblin')
