How to connect a headphone amp

[Phil Lawton]

Need some help…I know I’ll be embarrassed when I get the answer, but whatever…

Just received my Graham Slee headphone amp. It’s attached to the mains and the RCA leads that usually go into the tape deck (as input leads, of course) are in the inputs on the back of the Slee.

However, I can’t work out how to get a signal sent to it. My headphones remain as silent as an audience at a Katherine Ryan gig.

Suggestions, solutions and pithy remarks regarding my technical aptitude (or lack of it) all welcome.

[struth]

much will depend on your set up..

[Barry]

As Grant says, it all depends on your set up: the source and the amplifier.

If you can list them them we might be able to help.

[Phil Lawton]

Marantz PM6005, RCA output from the ‘tape out’. Headphones plugged into the Slee.

Should this be more complicated?

[Barry]

The Marantz PM6004 already has a headpone output. What is the source: LP playback, CD player, etc.?

[Phil Lawton]

I know, but I understood that a headphone amp would be an improvement on the sound.

Have I been a knob for buying this?

Source could be phono, CD, DAB, optical from the TV, coaxial from the blu ray.

[Phil Lawton]

And I think I just worked it out.

RCA from CD player into the Slee’s input, another RCA from the Slee’s output/thru output and into the CD input of the Marantz.

Yes?

[Lawrence001]

Yes but tape out of the Marantz should have worked. As long as you selected CD and not tape!

[Phil Lawton]

Yes but tape out of the Marantz should have worked. As long as you selected CD and not tape!

Not sure how selecting the CD output would work (am I being spectacularly thick here?)…if the Slee has RCA leads from the tape output, then should not the tape output be selected?

[walpurgis]

I don't know the Marantz, but the tape output should be at line level and not attenuated and will present the Slee with the signal from whatever source is selected with the Marantz, you rely on the Slee volume control.

[Phil Lawton]

I don't know the Marantz, but the tape output should be at line level and not attenuated, you rely on the Slee volume control.

If I choose CD (with a disc playing, of course) and whack the Slee’s volume right up to max, then I can just about hear something.

Again, what am I missing?

[Phil Lawton]

I’m now thinking that the Slee is knackered.

[Phil Lawton]

Just tested the headphones direct into the amp and the CD player and they’re fine.

The issue is definitely the Slee.

Looks like it’s going back to the seller.

[Lawrence001]

Not sure how selecting the CD output would work (am I being spectacularly thick here?)…if the Slee has RCA leads from the tape output, then should not the tape output be selected?How do you select tape output on the Marantz?

[Barry]

Which Slee headphone amplifier is it Phil? I think there are three models.

[Barry]

How do you select tape output on the Marantz?

No, the 'tape out' usually connects to a tape recorder allowing you to record a selected source. So in your case, you connect the tape output on your Marantz amplifier to the input of your Slee headphone amp, and then use the input selector to chose the source you want to use: pickup, or CD, or tuner etc.

[CageyH]

Have you connected the Solo directly to the CD player to test it?
Note there are two inputs on the solo, so make sure you select the correct one on the front.

[Barry]

The input sensitivity of the Slee Solo headamp is ~ 0.5V, so the output from a CD player should be more than sufficient.

[CageyH]

And I think I just worked it out.

RCA from CD player into the Slee’s input, another RCA from the Slee’s output/thru output and into the CD input of the Marantz.

Yes?

The Solo does not have a RCA output.

From what I understand about your amplifier, is that you connect input 1 or 2 of the Solo into your recorder out RCAs on your amp.
Put the switch on the front of the solo onto position 1 or 2, depending on which input you have put the cables on.
Then play a CD by selecting the CD input.

[Phil Lawton]

I think I’ve discovered my error…and if correct, proves I’m a knobhead.

[CageyH]

And I think I made a mistake - It is a Novo that you bought?

[Lawrence001]

The Solo does not have a RCA output.
.Yes it does, a pass through rather than a pre out. I suspect I know what's happened here...

[CageyH]

The Solo and the Solo UL do not. They have two inputs.
The Novo has a pass through, but the stereo input has to be connected on the LH pair.

Trust me. I have all three of these headphone amps in front of me. ;)

[Phil Lawton]

Yep…I’m a knobhead - and a prize one at that.

As you were, good people.

[RockAddict]

The snag with having a headphone amp hooked up to a.n.other amp (i.e. the PM6005) is that the output to the headphone amp is, by definition, affected by some of the circuitry in the PM6005. The only way you can know for sure whether the headphone amp produces "better" SQ (aka audio character that you prefer) is to leave the PM6005 out of the chain entirely. Of course that will mean the relative inconvenience of disconnecting the source cables from the PM6005 and connecting them to the headphone amp instead.

The only way to safely hook up both amps is to have a switching unit but more hardware / cabling there is in the system means more * potential * effects on the audio character. A couple of examples of (cheap) switching units can be seen on the USA Amazon site (note the 2 outs - one to Amp1, the other to Amp2 & you'll need more cables).

https://www.amazon.com/PROZOR-Bi-Directional-Switcher-Splitter-External/dp/B0B2P4FC7L
https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Audio-Switcher-Selector-Splitter/dp/B07CKK7J2L

Just to be clear, these aren't recommendations (I've no experience with this) but they should help to illustrate the type of unit that will do the job. Good luck!

[walpurgis]

I think I’ve discovered my error…and if correct, proves I’m a knobhead.

Tell us how you got it working Phil. What was wrong?

[Lawrence001]

He used to wrong inputs (ie output)

[Phil Lawton]

Wrong cables plugged into the Slee’s input.

Like I said…world-class, feeble-minded knobhead.

On the upside, the unit is wildly impressive. I did a bit of A/B with the headphone outputs on both the amp and CD player (also a Marantz). Far more open and more detail with lush mids and a great bottom end.

I’m seriously considering getting another PSU1 (I have one already on my Reflex M) to ramp it up even further.

[CageyH]

It will be worth checking to see if you could run both off the single PSU1.
I have read that people have done this.

[Lawrence001]

I think you should look at upgrading to the Solo rather than get a PSU1 for a Novo. I had a Ultra Linear Diamond with PSU1, didn't suit me in the end but I could see why some would like it.

[Barry]

Glad to hear it is now sorted and up and running. Happy listening. :)

[CageyH]

I prefer the previous version of the Solo Ultra Linear - the non diamond edition. It has a small amount of hiss, but sounds slightly more musical to me.

[Phil Lawton]

It will be worth checking to see if you could run both off the single PSU1.
I have read that people have done this.

Interesting idea - I'll look into it.

[Phil Lawton]

I think you should look at upgrading to the Solo rather than get a PSU1 for a Novo. I had a Ultra Linear Diamond with PSU1, didn't suit me in the end but I could see why some would like it.

I'm not a huge headphone user, Lawrence, which is why I went for the cheap end of the Slee range - I can't justify spending any more than that, even though I've no doubt that the higher spec models would be mindblowing.

[Phil Lawton]

Glad to hear it is now sorted and up and running. Happy listening. :)

Cheers, Barry...I'd say "I can't believe I was such a gimp", but I can believe it, really I can.

[Lawrence001]

I'm not a huge headphone user, Lawrence, which is why I went for the cheap end of the Slee range - I can't justify spending any more than that, even though I've no doubt that the higher spec models would be mindblowing.Fair enough but don't then spend money on a PSU1 either as it won't be worth it.

[walpurgis]

I used a PSU1 with my Era V Gold and Reflex M phono stages and heard no improvement over the basic wallwart plugtop PSU. Others may hear things differently.

[Phil Lawton]

Fair enough but don't then spend money on a PSU1 either as it won't be worth it.

I think you might well be right, mate.

[Phil Lawton]

I used a PSU1 with my Era V Gold and Reflex M phono stages and heard no improvement over the basic wallwart plugtop PSU. Others may hear things differently.

I bought one for the Reflex, Geoff...can't say it turned my head sonically, either, but I put it down to being too subtle a change for me to notice.

I think I'll take Lawrence's advice and drop the idea.

[Lawrence001]

If you've already got one, try it on the Novo and see what you think.