How to Connect Headphones to a SMSL DAC

@soix  Yes I’d like some headphone amp recommendations.  My price range would be up to $800.

Any one who cares to chime in with an amp suggestion, please do so!

My setup would be NODE N130 > SMSL M400 > Amp > Sennheiser HD600.

I use a Singxer SA-1 amp with my Hifiman Arya Stealths and it sounds fantastic. It’s a fully-balanced Class-A amp that’s nice as I believe your DAC is also fully balanced, and here’s a nice used one you can get for $398 (a $200 discount). Can’t really go wrong with this one.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649999098-sa-1-headphone-class-a-amplifier-pre-amp-excellent-condition/

@soix Thx!  I’m not sure about connectors.  Would I use the balanced out from the DAC to the balanced in on the Singxer?  Right now my powered subs are using the balanced out on my DAC.  Could I instead plug them into the balanced out on the Singxer? (My powered speakers are connected to the RCA out on the DAC.)

Yes, I’d use the balanced out from the DAC to the balanced input on the Singxer as they’re both fully balanced.  You’ll want to use the fixed output on the DAC (that disables its volume control) into the amp and just use the Singxer to control the volume.  I thought this was a headphone setup so not sure how the subs figure into this — you’d have to provide more info about what you’re doing here. 

Here’s my system.  I have a NODE N130, but I’m bypassing the internal DAC.  A USB cable connects the NODE to a SMSL M400 DAC.  The M400 has 2 RCA outputs, these are connected to my 2 powered B&O speakers.  The 2 balanced outputs on my M400 each connect to one of my powered subs.  There’s no more outputs available.

So say I bought a Singxer, I would install interconnects between the balanced outputs on my M400, and the Singxer balanced inputs.  Having unplugged the 2 subs, I don’t know where I would reconnect them.

‘Right now I’m using my iPad to control the NODE, but volume is controlled by a remote for the M400.  You mentioned that the Singxer would control volume.  I would be using my system for both headphones and my speakers.  I don’t understand if my speakers/subs need to all connect to the Singxer, or if those stay connected to the M400.  And then, how do I switch between listening via the headphones and the speakers.

‘All this does point to the utility of the NODE, where everything is in one box and controlled by one controller.