TOPIC: Connecting a headphone amp as well as speakers/sub

Hi everyone. I have ordered an SHD and eagerly awaiting its arrival. But I have a question about connecting a headphone amp such as a Topping A90 or THX 789. If there are 4 rca outputs and 4 xlr outputs can I turn on all 4 xlr and 2 of the rca at once? That way I can attach and manage dsp for two speakers, two subs and a headphone amp from the outputs of the SHD? Or does the SHD max out at a total of 4 outputs at once?

Secondly I assume that the headphone amp receiving signal from the SHD would then have the dsp settings applied to it, so my headphones will have the eq of the room? If that is the case could I set a dsp filter/eq setting on one of the four available filter/eq settings which has dsp effects turned off. That would provide a standard response without dsp to my headphones? Obviously if this is the case I could then add appropriate EQ to my headphone filter/eq settings in the SHD to give the improved eq for my headphones if I wanted as well (get them to better match Harman curve or whatever)?

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Mike

The RCA and XLR outputs are paired rather than independent. So if output 1 has a signal sent to it then both the RCA and XLR number 1 outputs get sent this signal.

What you will probably want to do is to have one preset for headphone use and another for your main speakers plus subs. When using headphones you'll need to turn off whichever other components are also fed the same output signal.

Hi Mike,
I have mostly the same setup ( 2 subs, Headphone amp).

Regarding the connection: once you turn on an output in the matrix, the signal is available on all output plugs of the same number, eg it is on rca,xlr and digital outputs.

I have connected my Headphone amp to the digital outputs of the subs (they are connected via rca) and created a preset where the subs get the fullrange signal. When listening to headphones I use this preset, turn off dirac and the subs via remote control. Within this preset, you can create any equalization shd allows. It works fine.

Greets
Christian

chrissy wrote:
To clarify for the OP, did you mean that you feed your headphone amp with a digital signal from the same SHD output channel as used by your subs (using an analogue RCA connection)?

I've not come across a subwoofer with a digital output and I doubt that is what you meant .

Hi,

Thats exactly what I did. Connected subs to analog output 3 and 4 of the shd and headphone amp to the digital output 3 and 4 (spdif) of the shd via dac. I will try connection of headphone amp via XLR and use shd as dac soon.

I use this connection because it is possible to turn down the volume of the subs via app, which is not possible with my main speakers. With a dedicated preset it doesnt make any difference which output you use.

Greets
Christian

Ok that makes sense. So I could have 1 output sending say XLR to my power amp for my speakers and the RCA going to the subs. Then have output 2 xlr feeding my headphone amp? That sounds like a plan! Thanks.

This will definitely be another option. Thanks!

Remember, it's comfortable to use an output that you can easily mute, no matter if it's the subs or the main speakers. In my case I used the subs, since I can mute them via app.

mikeburnsnz wrote:
No. You'll want to be using different output channels for your sub and main speakers, or you'll end up sending them identical signals.

Your headphone amp will have to share an output like @Chrissy described. Then use a different preset for headphone use, and have a way to deactivate the sound from what is shared (e.g. switching off the power amp for your main speakers).

Hi,

I too am doing something very similar to Christian and am happy with the
results. I'm not realy adding any new information but am replying to show
that there are others doing something similar.

I reserve Presets 1 & 2 of my SHD for 2.2 stereo listening (left, right, sub1
& sub2). Presets 3 & 4 are dedicated to driving an Oppo HA-1 headphone
DAC/Amp.

SHD analog XLR outputs 1 & 2 are connected to a Gen 1 Emotiva XPA-2
stereo amplifier driving a pair of Elac UB5 bookshelf speakers. Analog XLR
outputs 3 & 4 are providing signals to subwoofer 1 & 2, respectively.

The SPDIF coax output of the SHD with channels 1 & 2 are connected
to the SPDIF coax input of the Oppo HA-1 headphone DAC/Amp.

Subwoofer output is enabled in the matrix mixer in Presets 1 & 2 (2.2 listening),
supressed in the matrix mixer for Presets 3 & 4 (headphone listening). I have
to remember to swith off or to standby the XPA-2 stereo amplifier when switching
to Presets 3 & 4 (headphone listening).

I have the miniDSP EARS and followed miniDSP's "Using Dirac Live 2 with EARS"
application note. The resulting Dirac filters are part of Presets 3 & 4. Presets
1 & 2 (for 2.2 listening) also have Dirac filters. Preset 2 is the same as 1 but with
a modest bass boost for low volume listening.

Edit: Minor correction. Subwoofer 1 is driven by channel 3 RCA analog out,
not XLR, as its plate amplifier doesn't have XLR input. Subwoofer 2 is driven
via XLR. Appologies for the mistake.