| Columns Retired Columns & Blogs |
March 22, 2009 - 6:21pm
#1
Headphone/Speaker out adapt
| Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources | |
Analog Sources Accessories Featured | |
Music Columns Retired Columns | |
Show Reports | |
Features Latest News Community | |
Resources Subscriptions |
© 2024 StereophileAVTech Media Americas Inc., USA
All rights reserved
Lucas-
While it is theoretically possible I'm not aware of a converter in commercial production that will convert the speaker outputs to something that will drive standard headphones. You could use a headphone amplifier (project and a number of other companies make these) which would hook up to the "tape outputs/Record out" on a preamplifier or integrated amp that was so equipped. The other avenue that you could take would be to get a pair of Stax headphones with the appropriate converter. Their speaker level to headphone converter is proprietary to their headphones.
X2 on mrlowry (whose advice is helpful as always). In particular, the best way to go for you is probably an entry-level headphone amp. Judging from your statements, I assume that you aren't looking to drop a $1000+ into a headphone setup, but would rather save up for some speakers etc., but correct me if I'm wrong.
What headphones are you using? Depending on your budget and overall goals, the pro-ject headbox (around $150 if memory serves) is a good option (I checked, and there is a used one on ebay right now). It will likely do everything you need it to. If you want to spend more money, your options approach infinity.
Thanks for the speedy replies guys... I would probably consider spending around 500 bucks to be set up with headphones... that would have to include any preamp, wiring and the headphones themselves.
I'm planning to upgrade speakers soon, considering the psb line, polk line, and maby some better jbls... which I have about 500 bucks budgeted for that... so it seems reasonable to justify spending the same on a headphone set-up... as they both serve nearly the same function
It sounds like you have everything you need except the big items - headphone and headphone amp. For $500, you can get a good rig. Check out head-fi.org and be prepared to spend a bunch of time reading really useful threads.
Some headphones to think about in your budget (you can get prices from Amazon, headphone.com, musicdirect.com, etc.:
These are all "open" headphones, so they don't block any sound and are terrible for air travel. But they offer a great soundstage, and are my favorite (and thus what I have the most experience with). Others can recommend some great closed headphones if that's what you're looking for (one that will come up is the Denons with the Lawton Audio mods).
- Sennheiser HD595 (great headphones that are really easy to drive so you can use any amp, but don't rise to the level of the rest in the list. I own these and use them at the office.)
- AKG K601 - (a step up from the HD595 IMHO)
- AKG K701 or K702s (These are my babies. Very popular. I'm biased,obviously, but I love these things.)
- Sennheiser HD650 (Also very popular and many people swear by them. Apparently, they have a bit better bass response than the AKGs, but maybe trade off a little in other areas. There is a Sennheiser vs. AKG war in some circles. I'll probably own both of these phones eventually. Also amp dependent)
- Beyerdynamic DT880 (I have no experience with these, but they're supposed to be very good).
Grab any of these (or another good pair of headphones - this is FAR from an exhaustive list) and a decent headphone amp and you're in business. Some people say the K701s are finicky with different headphone amps. I drove them with my Marantz integrated amp (about the price range of your Jolida, but I had a headphone out) and they sounded pretty darn sweet. I got a nice headphone amp and, granted, they improved, but they were still stellar without it.
Second that. I own sennheiser hd650s, 600s, Stax... but the AKGs are a favorite overall. Sound great. (701s).
So... if i'm understanding correctly; the best way to get setup with headphones would be to get a seperate headphone amp, which I would use only with headphones. And then use my jolida to run the speakers when I wanted to listen "out loud"....
If this is the case... then, do I need to get some sort of switchbox that can direct my source to either the jolida or the headphone amp??? I think the only out on the jolida is the speaker posts... It doesn't have a pre-amp out or anything that could send the signal to a headphone amp. Am I thinking about this in the correct way?
Eventually I plan to add a tuner... and maby a cd player at some point. So I wouldn't want to be plugging/unplugging everything from one to the other... it would be nice if I could have the choice of speakers or headphones with the flip of a switch
once again, thanks for the replies
No Tape out/Record out either? Wow, for once the Stax might be the cheapest option and least cumbersome solution. They offer a converter that takes speaker level outputs and convert to headphone (but it ONLY works with Stax headphones) and allows the user to switch between speakers and headphones. But be careful they also have headphone amps that DO NOT have this capability. Ask lots of questions BEFORE buying.
An integrated amp without a pre-out, tape-out, or headphone out? What were they thinking?
The stax may be the best way to go. Since you have no outputs on your integrated, you have to use the speaker outs OR put something between your sources and your integrated amp (generally not desireable).
Another option is to contact Jack at WooAudio to see if he can customize something for you. I can't speak for him, but based on my experience, you're probably looking at $100-300 on top of the models he sells, so it is probably beyond your budget. Either way, it doesn't hurt to ask.
EDIT: I would definitely contact Jolida to see if they have a reasonable modification that will allow you to hook a regular headphone amp to it. Probably not, but definitely worth a try.
OK, so I just got home and double checked the back of the jolida... the only thing back there is Inputs for: cd, tape, tuner, and aux (which I am currently using for the turntable,(running the turntable through pro-ject phono box)) Then there are the speaker posts (ground, 4ohm, 8ohm).. and thats it. I see nothing in the way of an "out".
I have looked at the woo products, and they look great! But, if i'm going to spend that kind of money just to get set up (before even buying the headphones) maby I should just wait a little while and upgrade the whole amp to somthing with a headphone out built in... Then I could also try and find somthing with a built in phono stage too. I gotta say, part of the joy i get from audio, besides the music, is hearing this system evolve... So maby that route would make more sense long term.
I've just had the jolida for like a month though, and feel like I owe it more time than that to really develope a true opinion on the thing... That might just mean less late night listening
Jolida makes a great amp, and it would be a shame for you to give it up over this issue if you otherwise love what it does. Go for the Stax if Jolida can't help you out (or the AKG K1000 if you want to drop a grand and be the talk of the town).
The other option is to constantly plug/unplug cables (annoying, inconvenient, and you're likely to break something), or get a switch box with multiple output selection of some sort that goes between your source and your integrated amp. I'm sure one exists. But this option puts more stuff in the signal path, which is not usually desirable.
I also found something called the "MA18 Headphone Volume Control" (search for it on google) that is exactly what you originally asked for. It hooks up to the speaker posts and has a headphone out. I have no clue how it would sound. Also, it is discontinued - but there are probably some still around.
Just throwing things out there. Why, oh why, could they not include a single output that wasn't the speakers?