Headphone Amp advise needed.

gdphoto
gdphoto Posts: 182
in Headphones
I am looking for a headphone amp to use with my existing preamp. Currently using a Hafler DH110, which has been re-capped, so I do not want to eliminate it. I was looking at the Schiit Vali 2+. I am not sure how it should be hooked up. I do not want to plug my TT directly into it, so how would I do the hookup? The headphone jack on my Hafler sounds fine, but I am looking for more volume. My headphones are the AKG Q701’s which are 62 ohms. Will the Vali 2+ work? I like the idea that it is a tube amp. Does anyone recommend a headphones only amp with 1/4 “ banana jack that I could plug into my Haflers Headphone jack and then plug the headphones into the headphone amp?
Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
Hafler Digital FM Tuner
Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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Comments

  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    gdphoto wrote: »
    Does anyone recommend a headphones only amp with 1/4 “ banana jack that I could plug into my Haflers Headphone jack and then plug the headphones into the headphone amp?

    Do not do this.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    gdphoto wrote: »
    I am not sure how it should be hooked up.

    Use one of the preamp's RCA outputs into the headphone amp's input. I think you are really overthinking this.
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    Could you explain why I shouldn't do this?
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    Because that's not how you hook up a headphone amp.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    edited December 2020
    Edit: I'm dumb
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    I am still a bit confused. If I hook it up to the AUX or Tape Out and I want to listen to my TT it will work? The selector switch will be set on Phono and not the others. Sorry! I never had to do this before.
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    edited December 2020
    Actually, I'm stupid. What you want for this use case is a fixed line level output that is not behind the master volume control, because you want the full un-attenuated signal going to the headphone amp, since the headphone amp has it's own volume control.

    Here's a link to the manual you can see the output options and which one would work: https://www.manualslib.com/products/Hafler-Dh-110-227426.html
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    edited December 2020
    Ah! I never thought of that. It would be like I have 2 TT's hooked up. I would just switch over when I want to use the headphones. I didn't see your detailed post before I sent my last one.Thanks!
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    Ideally the tape out or effects loop out would be a fixed level, not behind the master volume control attenuation.

    Maybe someone else can chime in here. I'm going for a walk now.
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    edited December 2020
    It sounds like Tape Out would be the easiest hook up. Does anyone have a recamendation on a headphone amp? I see there are some tube types that are reasonable. Would a tube amp sound better than solid state. Or, it doesn't matter because my Hafler is solid state.
    Post edited by gdphoto on
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    Budget?
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    I won't use it often, so I would like to stay in the $150 range.
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    edited December 2020
    If tubes don't matter, I found this on amazon For $79. Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amp and Preamp. However, if tubes make a positive difference I'll spend more. I have no experience with tube amps.
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    By the way, I never would have thought about the Tape out option.
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,933
    I think the small formfactor Schiit headphone amplifiers are well-liked, but I only have experience with their Asgard 2 headphone amp.

    Since you are still shopping, take a look at Toppings offerings as well, they are really nailing the price to performance ratio: https://www.amazon.com/Topping-L30-Headphone-Amplifier-Preamplifier/dp/B08DXRQ4R7
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  • Gardenstater
    Gardenstater Posts: 4,459
    I don't know anything about this one but I know I am impressed with everything I have purchased from iFi: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DL99B5V/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=themasswi0f-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B08DL99B5V&linkId=5fe85b834a4078ac347660219a5b565a
    George / NJ

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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    Still not sure about the tube amps. Do they sound better?
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • Irrenhaus
    Irrenhaus Posts: 1,089
    Check this one. It puts out 2.2W at 62ohms and Toppings get good reviews.

    https://drop.com/buy/topping-a50-headphone-amp

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dVw-iRT1yg

    I have the Schiit Jotunheim and I love it.

    Cheers
    HTAVR-Pioneer SC99XPA-DR3 Differential Reference AmpPolk R-700Rear- RT150Side- RT150Center-CSi5Sub-Rythmik audio F25Player- Panasonic DP-UB9000Projector- Optoma CinemaX P2Screen- Silver Ticket Products STR Series 6 120"Audio Room 2ch rig.Cary AE-3, Onkyo M-504, Marantz SA8005, Azur 851NWharfedale - Linton, SVS SB12-NSDMinis Forum PC (streamer) and Panamax MX5105Headphone rig;Schiit JOTUNHEIM and different headphones.Samsung 42" flat screen TV.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    I got lucky and have a Singlepower PTP wired tubed headphone amp,, short of a dedicated head amp, the audible illusions L 1 pre has a killer headphone section.Just my .02 Good luck
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • gdphoto
    gdphoto Posts: 182
    I ordered the Schiit Hersey. I'll let you all know how I like it. Thanks for all of the great input!
    Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
    Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
    Hafler Digital FM Tuner
    Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
    Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
    Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited December 2020
    Try the “Can Opener”....

    It taps into your existing speaker outputs....

    https://vinylflat.com/canopener.html

    DSCN0162-227x158.jpg

    DSCN0159-312x225.jpg

    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • ALL212
    ALL212 Posts: 1,577
    Similar in function to the CanOpener. I've used this on my Bottlehead Stereomour modified to use 45 tubes. That amp wasn't designed to work with headphones and has just a smidge of hum when you do so but it's hard to find a cheaper adapter!

    4gkhidk0idll.jpg
    Aaron
    Enabler Extraordinaire
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