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MikeH said:
Maybe a silly question, but what’s the benefit of having the pre out? Would you use a different power amplifier?
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Pre outs can be used for subwoofer(s). They can also be used to connect to additional power amps. I have done both.

Right now I have the pre outs connected to a headphone amp so I can listen to my turntable via headphones without having to mess with changing the rca connections.

The EX-M1+ can be run as a:
  • standard integrated amp
  • pre amp only
  • power amp only (HT Bypass)
  • pre amp and power amp together
 
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mindhead1 said:
Pre outs can be used for subwoofer(s). They can also be used to connect to additional power amps. I have done both.

Right now I have the pre outs connected to a headphone amp so I can listen to my turntable via headphones without having to mess with changing the rca connections.

The EX-M1+ can be run:
  • as a standard integrated amp;
  • pre amp only
  • power amp only (HT Bypass)
  • pre amp and power amp together
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Headphone amp was something I’ve been looking into a bit lately but was unsure if I could run it through my NAD 316 BEE. Some people had said to not run it through the pre out. Something to do with now having two volume controls (one on NAD and one on headphone amp). Currently I just plug my Meze Noir 99s into my Singxer SDA-2’s headphone output. It seems fine and maybe I’m just tinkering for the sake of tinkering
 
MikeH said:
Headphone amp was something I’ve been looking into a bit lately but was unsure if I could run it through my NAD 316 BEE. Some people had said to not run it through the pre out. Something to do with now having two volume controls (one on NAD and one on headphone amp). Currently I just plug my Meze Noir 99s into my Singxer SDA-2’s headphone output. It seems fine and maybe I’m just tinkering for the sake of tinkering
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Yeah. You have to pay attention to the volume setting. I set the pre out at about 2/3 and control volume with my headphone amp (iFi Zen CAN). Sounds good.

The Singxer/ Meze 99 sounds like a nice setup. I also have the Noir and like them a lot.
 
MikeH said:
Headphone amp was something I’ve been looking into a bit lately but was unsure if I could run it through my NAD 316 BEE. Some people had said to not run it through the pre out. Something to do with now having two volume controls (one on NAD and one on headphone amp). Currently I just plug my Meze Noir 99s into my Singxer SDA-2’s headphone output. It seems fine and maybe I’m just tinkering for the sake of tinkering
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You can get a good/excellent Headphone amp and DAC for $200 or less
Stick with SMSL or Topping same deal
I love my 316BEE
That is worth every freaking penny
 
MikeH said:
Happy with my DACs. Just was unsure about using the pre out for a headphone amp.
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I would think it's best to run through a line input (CD, tape, aux type) on your NAD.
I have preamp input on the Denon integrated but it's for connecting an AVR and using the amp for powering fronts and also using them in multi channel.
 
I always figured a headphone amp worked like a preamp. Guess I should be happy I've got what appears to be a decent one in the 3050.
 
Lee Newman said:
I always figured a headphone amp worked like a preamp. Guess I should be happy I've got what appears to be a decent one in the 3050.
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It can. It largely depends on your system.

If you have a power amp and a headphone amp with multiple inputs and a preamp out you can use it as a both a preamp and a headphone amp and cycle between each output depending on how you’re listening.

If you have an integrated amp you’d generally use it after it just for the headphones. If you have a line level output, like a tape loop or a record out, you can run it off that and knock the amp volume down to zero. You can then use the volume on the headphone amp to control the headphone volume and the speakers can be off because line level is unaffected by the volume on the integrated amp being at zero.
 
Lee Newman said:
now I know why the 3050 has a speakers off selection (actually, this is how you get the speakers to shut off when using headphones)
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Yeah our two integrated amp connections do the opposite with external amp plug in.
The Denon converts to a power amp (Input) and your 3050 converts to a preamp (Output).
Glad I'm not into headphones because this is a pain in the ass.
 
Middle Earth said:
You have some really nice equipment
And as I now see an excellent DAC
It is easy to spend other people’s money
But why not get a headphone amp ?
Just curious, not trying to be an arse
I am not a headphone guy just plug into my iPad
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Before I had a space for a proper speaker setup my hifi was strictly headphones. IMO a headphone amp or DAC/Amp combo is a worthwhile investment if you are going to invest in a nice set of headphones.

I’ll caveat that by saying that depending on the headphones you get you don’t need crazy amounts of power. For example, the Meze 99 run really well off of an Apple dongle DAC. The Meze 109 Pro can run off it as well, but do benefit from better amplification. Even headphones like the Audeze LCD-X can be run off of modest amplification and sound good. But again they do benefit from good amplification.

Amps in the $100-$200 range from from Schiit, JDS Labs, iFi Audio, Topping, Aune are nice additions to an audio setup.

Even though I now have a dedicated listening space in my house I still keep a headphone setup in the living room that everyone can use.
 
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