Patchbay ->Two mono in->One stereo out?

[datune]

Hello!

Im wondering if someone could tell me if the following is possible.
I have a Neutrik NYS-SPP-L patchbay and want to do the following:

Basically i want to create more headphone outputs, using the one output i have on my Mixer.

Is this somehow possible using a patchbay? If so how?

Thanks a lot in advance for your time and help!

best regards,
datune

 

[regebro]

Well, headphones are also tip-ring-sleeve, so in theory it shold work. And since this Neutrik splits anything you put into the rear B connector into both front connectors, it should just work.

However:

1. Do not use any of the connectors close to the ones you use for a headphone splitter, since headphone signals may be stronger and might bleed though.

2. Unless you *loads* of headphone outputs, maybe an actual headphone splitter could work? I bought one for like a buck or two just a week ago.

3. You won't be able to individually regulate headphone volume this way. Different headphones will have different volume, and the headphone amp will have to struggle harder and harder the more headphones you connect.

So, all in all: If you are just connecting 2-4 heaphones: try headphone splitters. If more you might want to get a specialized headphone preamp.

Now, what your subject has to do with this, I don't know. Two mono in .> one stereo out? Huh? Headphones are usually stereo nowaydays...

 

[sjjohnston]

Patchbay and Headphones

You can "mult" a headphone output with a half-normalled TRS patchbay. Connect the headphone output to the back top jack. Plug a set of headphones to the back bottom jack. Now the headphone output is routed to those headphones. Plug a second set of headphones to the top front jack. Now the headphone output goes to those headphones, while not breaking the connection with the first set (because the pair of jacks is half-normalled).

But there's a good chance the results won't be too great. The connection from a headphone amplifier to headphones -- like the connection from a power amplifier to speakers, and unlike the connection from, say, a preamp to a tape recorder -- is a "power transfer" connection, rather than a "voltage transfer" connection. That is: the headphone amp isn't just sending a signal to the headphones, it's powering them so the diaphragms move enough to do work (create little wobbly pressure waves in the air). When you connect two sets of headphones, the headphone amplifier is powering more stuff than it's really supposed to. Put another way, you've overloaded the headphone amp by cutting the impedance it's going into in half. You might blow a power amplifier up this way (connecting two 4-ohm speakers to one speaker terminal), but you probably won't kill your headphone amp (I don't think ... but if you do, don't come crying to me). It just may sound bad.

The best way to split a headphone output is to use a separate headphone amp with multiple outputs.