Switching Between Headphone Amps

[PAR]

You don't need an amplifier stage ( powered switch) between the DAC output and the headphone amp input. Otherwise you are feeding one amp ( which if cheap is not going to be too great) into another amp. You just need an audio switch box with two outlets.

 

Unfortunately using a switch in this role has negative aspects ; You need three sets of interconnects, the switch itself can cause noise/distortion by making a poor electrical contact. The switch can raise the effective output impedance of the DAC as seen by the input of the headphone amp.

 

I would not want to accept the sound quality penalty of using a switch and I would prefer to plug and unplug the headphone amp chosen at any given time. However you may rate the convenience of a switch higher than the potential loss of sound quality. Only you can judge.