Hi Guys
I have been using a Motu Firewire interface for many years, and had the main outputs connected to my speakers, and used the headphone output for my headphones - when I got a better headphone amp, I was able to use some trickery to send the output to the speakers and the headphone amp, as the interface has 8 in and 8 out.
Anyway its an old unit now, and firewire is all but dead, so I've been looking at an Apogee Duet or Focusrite Forte - probably the latter as its Mac and Windows compatible - as they seem like the go when it comes to DAC quality.
Whilst they both have headphone outs, I expect that the amp in my LittleDot MkV will be far better for powering my HD700s, so I would like to use it.
I'm thinking of making some splitters to connect to the main outputs, so I can have my monitors as well as my headphone amp connected and can simply turn off what I'm not using.
- Is there any negative or sound quality loss from using splitters?
Alternatively, can someone recommend a DAC, ideally with balanced outputs, that has 2 sets of stereo outputs?
The other options I can think of:
- use my Oppo HA2 as my headphone amp, and use the HD700s with it, which I do now for gaming and they seem to work quite well, but I can't help but think they would do better using a beefier amp.
- Use use the Oppo as a DAC only, and connect it to my LittleDot V
- Grab another USB Dac, like a dragonfly, and use that with the headphone amp
The only disadvantage of the above is having to manually change the soundcard when using headphones and vice versa, and I'm not usre if the DAC quality would match up to the Focusrite without spending a LOT more.
Any suggestions?