KVR Audio

ftt · Post by **ftt** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:37 pm

I would like to know how I can plug a mini-stereo (3.5mm jack) headphone to M-Audio 2496 sound card which has two rca outs.

Is this an alternative? --> http://business.pcauthority.com.au/shop ... pid=349017 44

If yes, would it work with 4-channel stereo speakers rather than a headphone?

timobrien · Post by **timobrien** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:46 pm

The output of a soundcard is line-level and not strong enough to directly drive headphones.

You MUST go from the soundcard to an amplifier (or headphone amp) to run headphones.

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:01 pm

As far as techncially being able to connect them, a quick trip to Radio Shack or Sweetwater would work.

I have tons of adapters, I know I have some that go 2 rca's to a 1/8"(3.5mm)plug. I imagine Radio Shack or Hosa makes one that goes to a jack.

Sweetwater carries Hosa, and gives you free shipping.

where02190 · Post by **where02190** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:04 pm

You get a small headphone amp/cheap mixer and connect the soundcard outs to the headphone amp/cheap mixer in. Your soundcard RCA outs will NOT drive headphones.

ftt · Post by **ftt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:25 am

i've seen hosa, i think that might work. now i'm wondering if the sound lacks fidelity because of such a medium equipment

Angst Queen · Post by **Angst Queen** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:08 am

ftt wrote:i've seen hosa, i think that might work. now i'm wondering if the sound lacks fidelity because of such a medium equipment

Did you not read the posts where it said this won't work? I have this soundcard and it will not work properly without some kind of mixer or amp in between the outs and your headphones.

ftt · Post by **ftt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:47 am

i did, Angst Queen. i'm arguing out the physical side of the problem now. i'll use the headphones with a portable headphone amp and it won't have a rca-in; just 3.5mm stereo minijack. so whatever i do, i should convert those rcas to 3.5mm stereos via a medium.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:47 pm

So the AudioPhile has two RCA jacks and the preamp's input is 3.5mm stereo jack? Just buy one of these bog-standard generic RCA->3.5mm cables to connect them:

bleebsen · Post by **bleebsen** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:18 pm

as stated before the audiophiles output is not designed to actually drive any load. While I don't think it'll break something the sound level will be ridiculously low and probably distorted.

where02190 · Post by **where02190** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:33 pm

bleebsen wrote:as stated before the audiophiles output is not designed to actually drive any load. While I don't think it'll break something the sound level will be ridiculously low and probably distorted.

Read the original posters last post, he'd using a headphbone amp, he just doen't know how to go from RCA-1/8" TRS. Go to radio shack and buy a $5 adapter for it, it's a very common item.

I'm curious though, what HP amp do you have that has 1/8" TRS inputs? Are you sure those aren't the outputs?

ftt · Post by **ftt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:20 pm

excuse me, amp has outputs of course

if i use the headphone or stereo system "without" an amp, the solution can be:

if used with the amp, i'll use the one BertKoor has shown. thanks!

where02190 · Post by **where02190** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:43 pm

No that would not be a solution w/o the HP amp as we have explained to you several times. The line level out of your ADDA cannot drive headphones. Not sure what part of that you don't understand. You MUST HAVE a headphone amp to drive headphones, a line level out will not suffice.

offthewall · Post by **offthewall** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:51 pm

As I said in your other post about this. I have the exact item in your picture. The rca's are plugged to the outputs of my Audiophile 2496 card. I have a 'headphone splitter' plugged into the 3.5 jack outlet, and am running a pair of powered monitor speakers and a set of BeyerDynamic 220 headphones from the splitter.
It works like a dream.

where02190 · Post by **where02190** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:49 pm

OK, sure, and I got some nice ocean front property in Arizona. Line level is not capable of driving headphones, no matter how many times you say it. Wrong impedance, not nearly enough power. End of story.

stoolz · Post by **stoolz** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:22 pm

hi, i used to have to if these card, great in their time but now a bit long in the tooth for a seriuos musician, as others have said you need to go though a mixer of some sort to attain the right quality and levels o get a good enough signal, your would be better getting a new soundcard with a decent set of in and outs, their are loads out there and some good bargains too. I use a edirol ue101 but if you are on a budget the ua25 is also an excellent choice.

How to Plug a Stereo (3.5mm) Headphone to M-Audio 2496 (RCA)