Looking for suggestions re: headphone jack...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slackmaster2K
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Slackmaster2K

Slackmaster2K

Gone
So my monitoring setup is as such:

Delta1010->NAD 3020->Hafler TA1600->Event 20/20

The NAD 3020 is an old integrated amplifier, and from the back panel I am able to bypass its internal power amplifier and route the signal to the hafler. Thus I'm just using it for volume control and switching devices.

The dilema is this:

The NAD has a headphone jack that I used to use. It cuts power to its own power amp, but this switch must exist after the power amp routing section...because it does stop the signal from reaching the hafler.

The Hafler also has a headphone jack, but it does not cut power to the speakers. There are no speaker on/off switches.

So I find now that I can no longer use headphones with the monitors off, and this poses some obvious problems. I'm looking for some suggestions on what to do about this. I could build a speaker switch but I'm worried that the loss of resistance could damage the amp. I could throw the power amp jumpers back on the NAD every time I want to use headphones, but that's a pain and I have to switch everything off and on to do it.

I do not wish to purchase a mixer at this time.

Slackmaster 2000
 
You could go to Rat Shack and pick up a passive line level A/B switch and put it in line on the line output of the preamp, send the A side to the input of the NAD power amp and the B side to the Hafler.
 
Wow, I have pretty much the exact same system. Will the Rat Shack switch pose any extra noise??

How about this, is it possible to use the Delta 1010 as my main soundcard? I have my mini plug from my mac split and plugged into the RCA and the 1010 outs plugged into the Hafler. So when I want to play a game or listen to music or anything other than recording I have to unplug the 1/4 jacks from the Hafler.

Sorry for the hijack
 
Let's see if I have this right:
1. You want to be able to use the headphones without the monitors on (for obvious reasons)
2. Currently you can't do that because you use the headphone jack on the Hafler. If you kill power to the monitors (by turning off the Hafler) of course you kill the headphone jack on the Hafler too.
3. If you use the headphone jack on the NAD it cuts off the amp output of the NAD. This is typical of many integrated amps since they figure if you are using headphones you won't be listening to the speakers. Your NAD headphone jack is configured as a jack and switch. When you insert the headphone plug it breaks the contact of the line feeding the NAD amp.

I would suggest having someone who knows something about electronics (actually very little) take a look at the NAD headphone jack from inside the case. He (or even you) can determine which contact on the headphone jack is opened (break) when the plug is inserted. From here, it's simply removing the wires from each side of the contact and soldering the wires together. If you have schematics you can easily verify that this is the thing to do.

Now you can leave the Hafler turned off when you only want headphones (plugged into the NAD).

DD
 
Don, you just made me smack my forehead!

Duh, I could already just turn the hafler off, couldn't I. Haha, I never even considered that. Well the only downside to that is that the hafler takes an hour to warm up....but still, for tracking and stuff it would be ok for now.

I also REALLY like your idea of mod'ing the NAD. I've had that thing apart dozens of times....it was made around 1980 so everything is very simple and the layout is great. I could probably figure out something myself!

However, mod'ing the NAD would basically produce the same results as throwing a switch between the NAD and the hafler. I am a little concerned about just getting something at radioshack though...any suggestions if I go that route?


Slackmaster 2000
 
:confused: I must be a little slow today 'cause I'm really getting confused. You want to be able to leave the Hafler on so it stays warm but you want to use your headphones and not have the monitors playing at the same time. Am I right?? Please give me a virtual slap on the head if this sounds dumb but can't you still just plug your headphones into the NAD which will kill the audio going to the Hafler, thus killing the monitors? Or is audio to the NAD headphone jack also killed when you bypass its amp via the back panel? I'm really getting confused. Pass the Zanex...... I gotta take a nap :D :D :D
 
Crap, ok let me redefine the problem....it's worse than I originally posted:

With the Hafler hooked up, the headphones jack on the NAD does not function at all.

The headphone jack on the Hafler does NOT cut the power to the monitors, and there is no speaker off switch.

Thus, the solution I thought might work will not.

I want to plug headphones into either the NAD or the Hafler and have it cut the monitors.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Modding the NAD won't work. You don't have a signal at the Headphone jack because you don't have anything connected to the "normal in" (power amp input).

Track Rat's original sugestion is the best bet. You don't have to get it at Radio Shaq though, a lot of retailers carry those kind of devices.

What the heck I have another idea too. Just hook up the record out of the NAD into the "normal in" and see what happens. You might lose volume control somewhere (like for the headphones maybe), but you should have signal at the headphone jack and the hafler should still work off the NAD's volume control.:D
 
maestro, I appreciate the idea...I just tried it but it didn't work because I lost the volume control :( (and yeah that's the back of my amp)

I agree as well that track rat's idea will probably be best.

Thanks!

Slackmaster 2000
 
I unplug the speakers from the Hafler when i go to headphones....thats a pain in the ass........
 
Slack... please confirm..

"I want to plug headphones into either the NAD or the Hafler and have it cut the monitors. "


You ALSO want to be able to plug your phones into the HAFLER and have THAT cut your monitors??

If this is true.. you must mod your Hafler. And thenyou still have a problem RE: the NAD.

You should use a switch on your speaker lines. I use one.. and I believe they dont pose any problems. If you were really worried.. you could make an A/B on your HOT lines... and put the B side to a power attenuator or some kind of Dummy Load. I bet the geeks would know what to use for that

Or you could get THIS , you maroon.

xoxo
 
Camn...no, either or...I don't care which...as long as plugging the headphones in somewhere cuts the power to the monitors...without simply putting a switch on the speakers themselves, as I have always heard it's not a good idea to run a power amp dry.

I think that putting a switch on the line between the NAD and the Hafler is the best bet. I would want something decent though so I wouldn't have to turn the hafler or NAD off to flip the switch.

Slackmaster 2000
 
OR, some kind of little box with a headphone port that I could put between the NAD and the Hafler, if it would cut the signal to the hafler when headphones were inserted. I know a lot of devices would have this capability, but what about the absolute simplest?

Slackmaster 2000
 
this thread is almost a month old, so you probably already found a solution, but ...

if you already have a patch bay, you could put a normalled point in between the NAD and the Hafler. Then either patch in a small headphone amp or use a dummy 1/4" plug to break the connection.
 
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