Splitting Phono preamp for headphones

[Scaven75]

Hi, I'm needing some help with this. I have Roth Oli Powa 5 (active) speakers, which have no headphone out. I have a pc (used as a media centre) hooked up via optical and my turntable hooked up via preamp and phono cables, into the speakers. I use wireless headphones plugged into the pc's 3.5mm headphone jack (so I don't disturb the wife, while she watches her soaps). I'm looking for a way to get a signal from both the pc and the turntable to the headphones. Any advice would be great. Thanks

 

[Mark.Yudkin]

You media PC likely has a stereo audio in, so run a cable from the unspecified preamp's output to the PC. If your unnamed preamp's outputs are all occupied, use a pair of simple splitters (AmazonBasics 1-Male to 2-Female RCA Y-Adapter - 30.5 cm: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics or Gold plated splitter RCA plug to 2 x RCA sockets: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics; there are also versions with 3.5mm jacks if that's how your media PC's input looks). The splitter will have a -3dB insertion cost, so you'll need to increase the volume slightly when using both transducers.

 

[Scaven75]

Sorry Mark, I hadn't explained properly. My Phono preamp is a Cambridge Audio 551P. It only has one pair of Phono RCA inputs/outputs, which connects between my turntable and powered speakers. The pc is connected via optical to the speakers. So currently the headphones can only be connected to the pc's 3.5mm stereo jack, but I need to be able to connect to the phono preamp's output too, so I can listen to either. Hope this helps explain a bit better

 

[muljao]

Maybe this

Box Design by Pro-Ject Audio Systems

 

[Scaven75]

Thanks muljao, I was hoping not to have to get another powered box in the set up. Seeing as the preamp already amplifies the signal from the turntable, I was just looking for either a cable splitter (non powered box or plug). I remember with the PlayStation 1 there was a yellow plug that you could piggy back when using the Namco light gun (see pic). Isn't there anything like this for phono to 3.5mm. I've looked but probably not using the right words. But thanks so for guys for the suggestions.

 

[muljao]

I'm not sure about the cable.

If you bought an older av receiver that has preouts and a phono stage you could ditch the phono stage you have and use it as a preamp

 

[Mark.Yudkin]

Unfortunately you didn't post a picture of your PC's sound card's inputs. Nothing in the other pictures contradicts my suggestion from post #2 for using a splitter out of the CA 551P to route the TT sound to both the speakers (for loud listening) and the PC (for quiet listening).

Buying a new headphone amp or a second hand AVR with pre-outs does seem a rather expensive approach if a splitter cable would work.

If you post a picture of the PC's back, I can posts links to the correct components on Amazon UK.

 

[Scaven75]

The only problem with that Mark, is I'd have to turn the pc on when I wanted to listen to the turntable. Not something I really wanted to do. However, if I did split the phono preamp signal with two splitters, then I could use a rca to 3.5mm jack (or cable) and feed that and the pc 3.5mm output jack into a 3.5mm jack splitter and then that into the wireless headphone base. Thanks

 

[muljao]

Would it be worth swapping your preamp for something like this

Turntable Lab: PH01 - Phono Preamp + Headphone Amp

Or this

Furutech ADL GT40 review

 

[Mark.Yudkin]

The only problem with that Mark, is I'd have to turn the pc on when I wanted to listen to the turntable. Not something I really wanted to do. However, if I did split the phono preamp signal with two splitters, then I could use a rca to 3.5mm jack (or cable) and feed that and the pc 3.5mm output jack into a 3.5mm jack splitter and then that into the wireless headphone base.

Since you said "I use wireless headphones plugged into the pc's 3.5mm headphone jack" in post #1, I understood that you always used the PC to control the headphones. That assumption is apparently incorrect.

If the wireless headphones base has a second line level input, you could indeed bypass the PC for TT listening using just a suitable splitter. If you only have a single input to the wireless headphones base though, you'd also need a line level switch to be able to select whether you were listening to the TT or the Media PC (e.g. HQ 3-Way Stereo Input Control Box Feed CD TV Tuner Into: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics). Since you didn't give details on the headphones, I cannot be more precise.

 

[Scaven75]

Thanks again Mark. I've had a rummage around the house and found a few bits and pieces to try and got the following to work (see photo and a pretty bad drawing explaining) . Can play from either sources and comes through headphones great. I've ordered those RCA splitters you suggested and a 3.5mm male to 2 x female splitter cable to use instead of the adapter in the photo, just because the headphones base would stick out too much from the wall if I used the adapter. I appreciate all the help and suggestions you and muljao have given me and how quickly you both responded.

 

[Mark.Yudkin]

I would not have done it this way or suggested such a layout as you're not splitting but switching, and you've omitted the switch.

If you only have a single input to the wireless headphones base though, you'd also need a line level switch to be able to select whether you were listening to the TT or the Media PC.

But if you're happy, that's all that counts.

 

[BlueWizard]

I'm inclined to agree with Mark.Yudkin. I believe the Switch Box he selected is a 3-into-1. Actually the box is completely passive so it works in either direction - 1-into-3 or 3-into-1.

That would allow you to have independent inputs for each device. One for the Turntable, one for PC to Speakers, and another for PC to Headphone Amp. The only drawback is you can have two devices on at the same time. Though that is not much of a drawback.

You can connect one Output to several Inputs, but you can not connect several Outputs to a single input. When you do that you are tying the output of more than one amp together and that risks shorting them to each other.

In your case, from the diagram, you have the output of the PC tied to the Output of the Phono Pre-Amp. I can't guarantee that is a problem, but very likely it will be.

Though perhaps I'm over-simplifing this in my mind.

You have PC to Speakers, and PC to Headphone Amp. But you have Turntable (pre-amp) to Speakers. So, you don't have a common source or a common destination.

I would suggest you Split the PC output with one leg going to the Headphone Amp, and the other leg going to a switch box. The Switch Box will allow you to switch the speakers between the PC and the Turntable as the source. The Headphone amp will be controlled independently. If you don't need Headphones, simply turn the headphone amp down or off.

Steve/bluewizard