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Driving headphones from pre-outs?

193.9.13.138

Just wondering what are everyone's thoughts on driving headphones directly from the pre-outs of a pre-amplifier??

Sennheiser HD-600 have an ouptput impedance of 300 ohms which seems like an easy enough load. I've tried this and it sounds supperb on the output of a simple 6922 output stage.

Wondering what I could be missing with this setup?? Both sections of the 6922 are tied together, and there is no cathode follower there (for those into tube design) and it seems to work well. My only comparison is with another preamp with a built-in headphone amp and this seems superior. I guess I will try the direct connection to the preamp with headpone circuit and report back on what difference that makes if that will help me determine the plus/minus of such an arrangement.

Follow Ups:

This can work..... - Chuck Y 15:18:37 05/14/12 (0)
but if you are also connected to an the amp section of your integrated amp it could also be a problem. You might be loading the signal to your main amp or phones. I'd talk with the manufacturer and see if the circuit they use would create a problem.

If the pre-out exists to provides a signal concurrent with the signal that goes to the amp section, like a sub woofer for example, you are probably OK. Also if using a pre-out requires switching off the signal to the amp or by removing jumpers you will probably be OK.

I realize that not everyone is that serious about headphone listening, but personally I would (and have) bought one of those Fournier Headphone amps which sounds wonderful with my Senns (598 & 650's). Its is a Tube/ss hybrid and cheap (under $200). You would drive it off your tape out or, if you have one, a HT bypass.

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