Meridian 501 - question about using headphones

[rigger67]

I've just bought a Meridian 501 pre-amp fitted with an MC phono board and have set it up in my system.
It was reasonably priced and I'd been after one for a while.

https://i.postimg.cc/DfpWHNxy/s-l1600.webphttps://i.postimg.cc/4y0mcKYh/s-l1600-1.webp

Sounds lovely, all good so far .. until I plugged my headphones in to the socket on the back for a spot of late night listening.

I expected it to mute the output to the speakers automatically but it didn't : the music was coming through both my EPOS ES12s and the headphones.
I tried mucking about with the controls, like using the "Copy" feature (for taping) and changing the source but to no avail.
No matter what I've tried, I can't just listen to the headphones on their own for some reason.

Can anyone help ?
I'm a bit stuck as to what I'm doing wrong ??

[Alex_UK]

According to a bit of Googling, this is is the way they are designed, apparently.

Workarounds are to either turn off the power amp, or use the "Copy" - "The 501 does have a "Copy" function which can send audio to the tape output. You can select a source to copy, and then select a different source for listening, effectively muting the speakers while still sending audio to headphones through the tape output" Not sure if that will work?

[rigger67]

I've tried that, also after googling, and couldn't get it to work just like the fella in the reddit thread who had the same problem as me.
Turning off the power amps is a good idea.

Sometimes you can't see the wood, can you ??

Thanks mate :doh::lol:

[Alex_UK]

I must admit functionally it appears a silly idea, but from a sound quality perspective, avoiding having something that interferes with the main circuit makes sense - hopefully all sounds good, which is of course the main thing!

[rigger67]

Yup !
It works and sounds good, thank you very much :youtheman:

[Mikeandvan]

What's the headphone SQ like? Thinking of replacing my Suggie and Slee amps with an all in one package, I like the look of the Meridian stuff.

[Mikeandvan]

Anyone had 551 integrated? Internet says its smooth a easy going, some say a little too easy going...........

[rigger67]

Sound quality is decent.
I don't use 'phones that much - mine are some AKG open-backed that cost about £120 - but I did have a two or three hour session when I got the Meridian and it was non-fatiguing throughout and actually seemed to get better with time.
Obviously that was my ears adjusting to the headphones over my normal speakers, but by the end I was happy and glad I'd bought the amp :)