Using Peachtree Decco65 as Preamp/DAC?

[oflores93]

Hi there. I recently purchased a Schiit Valhalla headphone amp, and some Sennheiser HD650's.

I was hoping I'd be able to use the Pre-Out to connect the headphone amp, but the Peachtree continues to use the internal amplifier (powers the speakers instead).

I'm hooking up a set of RCA's from the Schiit to the Preout found on the Peachtree Decco65.

Am I hooking this up wrong? I'm a misunderstanding the purpose of the preouts? I feel like I may be doing something wrong, or my integrated simply does not have this functionality.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I think i'm hearing sound come out of my headphones as the speakers play too. Is there a way I can switch between the two instead of both being used at once?

 

[StimpyWan]

The Decco65 Preout is for an external 'output' connection, into another device, such as another amp or sub. If you want to connect the Schiit 'into' the Peachtree, you'd use the Aux In connection.

As to simultaneously using the headphone jack, of the Peachtree, while having speakers connected too, the Decco65 automatically mutes the speakers, but only when headphones are inserted into the Decco65 headphone jack. Unfortunately, when using the Decco65 Preout, into the Schiit, this wouldn't trigger the muting function, since your 650s would be plugged into the Schiit, and not the Decco65.

 

[oflores93]

The Decco65 Preout is for an external 'output' connection, into another device, such as another amp or sub. If you want to connect the Schiit 'into' the Peachtree, you'd use the Aux In connection.

As to simultaneously using the headphone jack, of the Peachtree, while having speakers connected too, the Decco65 automatically mutes the speakers, but only when headphones are inserted into the Decco65 headphone jack. Unfortunately, when using the Decco65 Preout, into the Schiit, this wouldn't trigger the muting function, since your 650s would be plugged into the Schiit, and not the Decco65.

I wouldn't want to connect the Schiit "into" the Peachtree because its not a source? Maybe I'm misunderstanding.

The speakers do mute when I use the built in headphone amp, but not when I have the Schiit connected to the preouts and the headphones plugged into the Schiit. I'm assuming this is because the preouts are typically used for a subwoofer, in which having the speakers play at the same time would make sense.

I'm able to use the Schiit fine when I disconnect the speaker cables, but its really inconvenient to do this because I use both my headphones and speakers equally.

Is there a more convenient way of muting the speakers whilst using the Schiit?

Thanks again guys in advance, Please let me know if i'm not being clear. I find myself having a hard time describing things online.

 

[BayouTiger]

Still trying to figure out what is connected to what. Honestly, the Peachtree has an excellent headphone amp (though maybe not as good as the Schiit which I have not tried). I think I would give it a shot, but as it does not have a fixed monitor (REC) output, it's not the greatest solution for what I think you are trying to do.

 

[oflores93]

Still trying to figure out what is connected to what. Honestly, the Peachtree has an excellent headphone amp (though maybe not as good as the Schiit which I have not tried). I think I would give it a shot, but as it does not have a fixed monitor (REC) output, it's not the greatest solution for what I think you are trying to do.

The Schiit is connected via RCA to the Peachtree's Pre-Outs. The headphones are plugged into the Schiit, and the speakers are plugged into the Peachtree via speaker cable.

I've tried the Peachtree headphone amp and its not nearly as good as the Valhalla. I mean, its pretty good, but the Valhalla is just excellent on the 650's.

 

[cnolanh]

What happens if you just plug a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter (with no headphones attached to it) into the Peachtree's headphone jack? Does that mute the speakers while letting you listen to the headphones through the Schiit? If it's just a physical switch that trips when you plug something into it, turning off the speakers, that should work nicely. (This approach won't work if it also mutes the pre-out jacks.)

 

[oflores93]

What happens if you just plug a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter (with no headphones attached to it) into the Peachtree's headphone jack? Does that mute the speakers while letting you listen to the headphones through the Schiit? If it's just a physical switch that trips when you plug something into it, turning off the speakers, that should work nicely. (This approach won't work if it also mutes the pre-out jacks.)

I was considering doing this after work. I'm thinking it probably won't work because I'm pretty sure it mutes pre-outs also, but it couldn't hurt to try! I'll post results later.

 

[prisoners]

Best bet is to plug your source(s) directly into the Schiit. What you're doing now is stacking preamp stages which usually has a detrimental effect. If you want to retain the peachtree you can use a switch box from the sources and send one leg to the Peachtree and another to the Schitt.

 

[redcoates7]

The Peachtree will drive the speaker and the pre-amp outputs simultaneously.

Connecting a 1/4" adaptor with nothing attached to it won't mute the speaker outputs- and I'm pretty sure the pre outs are disabled when the internal headphone amplifier is in use

If you only want the output from the pre-outs you'll need to disconnect the speakers from the binding posts (or connect a speaker "switch box" to disable the speakers when you don't want to listen to your speakers)