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24.15.107.23
and I'm not clear how to connect a headphone amp to my existing system. I have an Aesthetix Calypso linestage with several sources. Do I connect the Calypso's tape outs to the headphone amp's line ins? The linestage has a lot of ins and outs, balanced and RCA. I could also use some suggestions for an amp/headphone arrangement for around $1K. I would like to be able to switch between sources using the linestage. Balanced ins on the heaphone amp and a remote would be nice, too. Thanks in advance for any info and advice.
Frihed89 is correct. I'm a former Janus owner.
Before you throw a lot of money at headphones, maybe it would be better to start modestly and educate yourself about cans and amps. Like speakers, headphones can vary greatly in sound quality while the differences between headphone amps are a lot smaller. There can be informative posts on head-fi.com and one eventually learns to separate the wheat from the crap, err, chaff.
Good luck. It will be an entertaining journey.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
The tape-out carries the signal direct from your source and bypasses the gain stage of the preamp. It is like a straight wire.
"What did the Romans ever do for us?"
Edits: 08/25/11
If your pre-amp or intregrated has a 'fixed line-out' that works well.
My Peachtree iNova has line-outs, I run them into my Sound Quest SQ84 tube headphone amp.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Exactly, but my understanding is that the tube in the Peachtree is not in circuit. Run it into my Ming Da tube headphone amp.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
The Grace amps have a good reputation and have balanced in. I haven't auditioned personally however. These don't have balanced out, unfortunately. So this will only work if your headphones are wired single-ended.
You might want to evaluate if (since you have a balanced system) you want to get your headphone re-wired with balanced cable. A nice article exploring the difference that makes is at 6 moons (link below). They mention the balanced Headroom amp in that same article. Headroom offers an amp with balanced in and balanced out operation: i.e., HeadRoom Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp (BUDA). I haven't heard this particular amp but I've heard some of their line and I've got the impression that their upper level amps are very good performers.
If your budget allows, consider the Apex Pinnacle Headphone Amplifier which has fully balanced operation. It's been getting superlative reviews at the headphone meets. It's a bit of overkill for you since, it is configured as a full stereo preamp... which obviously you don't need.
A very good option, which I heard at a meet about a year ago, is the Eddie Current Balancing Act. This is a pretty wonderful amp and might be my first choice recommendation (I've actually heard it) for your system. Like the Apex Pinnacle it has multiple inputs so it can function as a preamp.
Another thought is to ask one of the smaller vendors if they would add balanced inputs. For example Red Wine Audio has a (recently released) battery-powered balanced-out desktop headphone amp; you could inquire if they will deliver with balanced-in. I've heard their headphone amp at a Head Fi meet and it was quite memorable. And very quiet.
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