DannyB Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 In general, when a headphone amp is on should it have a load:Specifically, headphones plugged in as is usually required of speaker amps having speakers connected?
peanutbutterjam Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Huh? Sorry I don't really understand your question. Do you mean to ask whether a headphone amp can be turned on without headphones plugged in?
grawk Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I don't personally leave an amp on without something connected for more than a few seconds.
n_maher Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 With SS amps I don't think it's an issue, with tube amps I've been told (but can't really explain) that they should not be left without a load for very long.
peanutbutterjam Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I don't personally leave an amp on without something connected for more than a few seconds. Why is that so? Unless you mean simply that there's no point turning on the amp without a headphone. Edit: just saw n_maher's reply Interesting... Why is that so? In fact I heard from some friends of mine that they usually leave their amps on for a while before using to warm up, and because they own a few cans they usually just let the amp warm up without anything connected.
grawk Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 I don't particularly have a reason. But I don't switch between headphones often.
kevin gilmore Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Some OTL tube amps don't have a built in load (say 10k or so) after the output capacitor. On an amp like this, if you leave the output disconnected for some period of time with the amp on, the cap discharges, then when you plug in the headphones there is a signifcant voltage spike (say 100 volts or more) which can definitely do damage to the heaphones. Singlepower and woo audio amps are known to have output load resistors. Transformer coupled amps are unlikely to have any problems.
Fitz Posted January 18, 2009 Report Posted January 18, 2009 Why would somebody even omit the resistor to ground after the output cap in the first place? Is there supposed to be some kind of benefit to doing it that way?
Dusty Chalk Posted January 20, 2009 Report Posted January 20, 2009 I think it changes the frequency response. Minutely, admittedly, but it's "old school".
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