Splitting Signals from Sources

[msobeldc]

Hi, I am hoping I can get some advice from people with much more HiFi experience than me. I have a Wyred 4 Sound STIv2 500 amp with which I am very satisfied.Unfortunately, the amp doesn't have an integrated headphone jack. I currently have line inputs from a CD player, TT preamp, and streamer into the amp, playing over my Von Schweikert VR 4.5 speakers. I want to be able to listen to music with headphones on occasion and the W4S cannot accommodate headphones either directly or through my Schiit Asgard 2. I have confirmed this with the company's tech support. There doesn't seem to be an option through the amp.

I am thinking as a workaround, I could possibly use a second amp that is not connected to my speakers solely for headphone use, either through my Schiit or directly with an amp HF jack but I have to get the signals from my inputs to that amp. Would splitting the input signals via Y connectors to feed both amps harm, reduce or otherwise impair the line input signals or could I rig them up to use the same inputs to feed both amps? I would only use one amp at a time.

I thank you in advance for your suggestions. This is not really a headphone question so I posted it here. It's more about splitting signals from sources.
Thanks again.

 

[gadget73]

happen to have a tape output on the Wyred ? If so, tape output to whatever input you like on the headphone amp. That would keep the source selection on the Wyred, but volume and other controls for the cans would be on the other amp.

 

[whoaru99]

A brief review suggests the unit has pre outs/aux outs. You would connect those to an external headphone amp, and the Wired for sound unit would still control all the source selection. No Y cables/splitters involved.

 

[FlaCharlie]

Using a Y to split the signal and send it to two devices works fine. You would use one Y connector for each channel.

A Y should not be used to take signals from two sources and combine them so they can be sent to a single device.

 

[gadget73]

just have to be careful with that. If the second amp shorts un-used inputs to ground its going to cause issues when not in use.

definitely do not want to split a turntable either, the loading is fussy on that. Output from a phono preamp is fine, just not straight off the cartridge.

 

[whoaru99]

Using a Y to split the signal and send it to two devices works fine. You would use one Y connector for each channel.

A Y should not be used to take signals from two sources and combine them so they can be sent to a single device.

In general yes/agree with that.

But, for the OPs focus/clarity, splitters aren't necessary (nor, IMO, desirable) in this specific case.

 

[Lavane]

just have to be careful with that. If the second amp shorts un-used inputs to ground its going to cause issues when not in use.

definitely do not want to split a turntable either, the loading is fussy on that. Output from a phono preamp is fine, just not straight off the cartridge.

I had this issue in the past. Some equipment just won't play nice and share a splitter. Its only happened a couple times though. I use my tape out connected to my headphone amplifier with a splitter going to one of the aux inputs of a SS integrated amplifier without issues.

 

[whoaru99]

Hi, I am hoping I can get some advice from people with much more HiFi experience than me. I have a Wyred 4 Sound STIv2 500 amp with which I am very satisfied.Unfortunately, the amp doesn't have an integrated headphone jack. I currently have line inputs from a CD player, TT preamp, and streamer into the amp, playing over my Von Schweikert VR 4.5 speakers. I want to be able to listen to music with headphones on occasion and the W4S cannot accommodate headphones either directly or through my Schiit Asgard 2. I have confirmed this with the company's tech support. There doesn't seem to be an option through the amp.

I am thinking as a workaround, I could possibly use a second amp that is not connected to my speakers solely for headphone use, either through my Schiit or directly with an amp HF jack but I have to get the signals from my inputs to that amp. Would splitting the input signals via Y connectors to feed both amps harm, reduce or otherwise impair the line input signals or could I rig them up to use the same inputs to feed both amps? I would only use one amp at a time.

I thank you in advance for your suggestions. This is not really a headphone question so I posted it here. It's more about splitting signals from sources.
Thanks again.

Why did they say the Asgard would not work? Sometimes getting the right answer is contingent on asking the right question.

Sure seems to me like you have all you need if connected properly.

 

[msobeldc]

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I have the amp output going to the Asgard inputs. The sound comes through the Asgard and into the headphones but there's no way to shut off my main speakers. The mute button shuts off all output, not just the speakers. There is also no automatic cutoff of the speakers when the headphones are in use. Per the Tech's advice, I have also tried it with the output of the Asgard connected to a line input on the amp and have tested that both with Loop on and off. Nothing works to shut off the external speakers while using the headphones. It seems that if I can set up a second amp for dedicated use with the phones and split my inputs (not directly from TT but through headphone pre; thanks for that advice) that I could use that as a workaround. It's a bit extreme, but it seems better than nothing. It's frustrating especially since I like the W4S amp, which has great punch and spaciousness with my speakers, but it has other limitations. The driving force is that my wife doesn't want to hear to my music upstairs so I'm stuck listening at low levels unless I can get the phones hooked up. Thanks again to all.

 

[RTally]

Another solution is to use a speaker selector switch between your amp and speakers. Even though you do not have multiple speakers, you can use the speaker switch to turn off the speakers when you are listening to your headphones.

 

[msobeldc]

Thank you @RTally. That's an interesting idea. Do you recommend any particular brand or model? Will using such a switch reduce the quality of the signal getting to my speakers? Is there a downside to using a speaker switch with only one set of cables attached? Appreciate your help.

 

[whoaru99]

... The sound comes through the Asgard and into the headphones but there's no way to shut off my main speakers. ...

Ok, well, that's a different problem than initially described.

I agree with the switch. A simple double pole on/off should do nicely or any number of switches available. I have no specific recommendation.

My personal choice would be simply a switch in speaker wires rather than a mess of Y cables/splitters.

In a pinch you could just temporarily disconnect/reconnect the speaker cables, albeit not particularly convenient for an on-going solution.

 

[WaynerN]

Your amp is an integrated amp and the aux outs would be the place to pull signal from. This is more than likely a record out, in other words, before the volume control. If your add on headphone amp does not have a volume control, there will be a problem as the amp will be at full volume (whatever the source component is), unless the source conponent has its own volume control.

I have built a headphone amp that has no volume control and is powered by my preamp which has 2 sets of line outs for 2 amplifiers. This works perfectly for my set-up.

I find it odd that Wired did not include a headphone amp in their unit. You can buy nice boards for around $12......just sayin'.

 

[whoaru99]

Your amp is an integrated amp and the aux outs would be the place to pull signal from. This is more than likely a record out, in other words, before the volume control. If your add on headphone amp does not have a volume control, there will be a problem as the amp will be at full volume (whatever the source component is), unless the source conponent has its own volume control.

Further into the thread you'll see the actual problem is not getting signal to the headphone amp, that part works fine. The real problem is not being able to shut off the speakers when using the headphones.

Record/tape out would have been a solution that allowed just to turn down the integrated amp's volume, but it has only variable level pre outs (called aux out) not fixed level tape out.

Hence, recommendations for speaker switch.

 

[gadget73]

If the aux out is upstream of the volume control, he should be able to turn down the volume on the W4S amp and still have signal fed to the headphone amp. At that point nothing comes out of the speakers.

doesn't work if its variable level out of course

 

[msobeldc]

Thanks for the further advice. The aux out does not seem to be upstream of the volume switch and the Asgard 2 does have a separate volume pot. The problem as pointed out, is that I can't shut off the volume on the main speakers. To add to the complexity, my speakers are bi-wired and per W4S's advice, I piggy back banana clips (tweeter plugged into the back of the woofer plug) into a single RCA speaker output for each channel, so I'm not sure how I could use a speaker selector that doesn't have the ability to accommodate bananas. I spoke with Russound, which makes good selectors, and all of their connections are for single 14 gauge wire and can't accommodate RCAs or bananas. Sorry for this late info, but I just realized the added issue when I spoke with the guy at Russound.

 

[whoaru99]

I see several versions of switches with 5-way binding posts that would/should accept banana plugs.

That said, the commercial switches I've seen have all been common ground. While that's fine for many, if not most amps, it is not fine for some.

I suggest to contact W4S and ask very specifically if your amp is or is not common ground output. Being a switching amp/Class D-type amp, from what I've seen, are more likely to NOT have common ground so a common ground switch could cause problems. That's why you need to confirm what it is with W4S.

If not, and the safe bet anyway, would be sure to buy (or make) a non-common ground switch. A pair of DPST or DPDT switches (or one 4PST or 4PDT), a small box, and some binding posts would make a fine isolated/non-common ground switch.