Help! Have headphones, no headphone jack.

[Mgoldman]

Hello all,

Longtime audiophile, though just now getting back into it. It will all slowly come back to me.

I just purchased a pair of high-end headphones hoping to listen to some music at volume levels not possible in my condominium. I'm embarrassed to admit I forget what I have specifically but it's high end Aragon amp and preamp along with a California Auido CD player. Since I can't crank up the volume to enjoy my speakers and sub, I thought a really nice pair of headphones would hold me over. Unfortunately, I never noticed my preamp, nor amp, have headphone jacks. : (

<B>Is is possible to listen to my high end audio equipment through high end headphones if niether my preamp nor amp have headphone jacks? </B>

I have an IPOD... I have a Yamaha Reciever, but what I'm after is the absolute best audiophile experience. <B>Do I need to "settle" for the Yamaha AV reciever</B>, or can I make something work and work well for the amp /preamp combo.

Thanks!

/Mitch

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello all,

Longtime audiophile, though just now getting back into it. It will all slowly come back to me.

I just purchased a pair of high-end headphones hoping to listen to some music at volume levels not possible in my condominium. I'm embarrassed to admit I forget what I have specifically but it's high end Aragon amp and preamp along with a California Auido CD player. Since I can't crank up the volume to enjoy my speakers and sub, I thought a really nice pair of headphones would hold me over. Unfortunately, I never noticed my preamp, nor amp, have headphone jacks. : (

<B>Is is possible to listen to my high end audio equipment through high end headphones if niether my preamp nor amp have headphone jacks? </B>

I have an IPOD... I have a Yamaha Reciever, but what I'm after is the absolute best audiophile experience. <B>Do I need to "settle" for the Yamaha AV reciever</B>, or can I make something work and work well for the amp /preamp combo.

Thanks!

/Mitch

Your best bet, is to buy a headphone amp, and use a Y connector from your pre amp, feed one leg to your amp and the other to the headphone amp.

Your other option is to buy a small case from Radio Shack, two sets of speaker terminals, four in all, to mount on the box. Then buy a panel mount 1/4 inch switched stereo phone jack to mount on the box. Then you need to build a simple attenuator circuit on the phone socket. Then when you plug in your phones, it will disconnect your speakers and you will be able to listen to your headphones.

If you are up to it, I can give you the circuit, it is four resistors in all.

 

[Mgoldman]

Hi TLS,

Yes, I'd appreciate the circuit layout and value for the homemade box.

I'm not familiar with headphone amps, figured they were "new" and specifically for I-pods and such. I'm looking at getting the best possible sound. With a headphone amp, am I getting any value from the Aragon preamp or amp or is one, or both bypassed. I suppose the chain would be CD to Preamp to headphone amp and it would be important to invest in a good headphone amp.

Thanks.

/Mitch

 

[TLS Guy]

Hi TLS,

Yes, I'd appreciate the circuit layout and value for the homemade box.

I'm not familiar with headphone amps, figured they were "new" and specifically for I-pods and such. I'm looking at getting the best possible sound. With a headphone amp, am I getting any value from the Aragon preamp or amp or is one, or both bypassed. I suppose the chain would be CD to Preamp to headphone amp and it would be important to invest in a good headphone amp.

Thanks.

/Mitch

As I stated your best bet is the headphone amp. This is because you will be listening to your phones from a power amp. This is not a big deal, but a close second best.

I don't have spice, too expensive. If you want to make the headphone box, PM me your address and I will draw it out and mail it. The other option is for me to draw it and scan it, and then send it electronically.