How to Connect Headphones to a SMSL DAC

Thx @soix  I have a better understanding.  I’ll give it more thought.  Often when I want to use headphones it’s late and I’m tired.  I don’t know if I would opt to switch connections.  I can see how some people end up with a separate headphone system.  I am interested in your balanced cable recommendation.

This has gotten more complicated than I anticipated. Perhaps the best thing you can do is use RCA splitters to drive your B&O speakers off one of your DAC’s outputs and the drive your subs off the other set of RCA outs. Then you can run the balanced outputs from the DAC into a dedicated balanced headphone amp of your choosing — one that doesn’t have a preamp/volume control — then you can use the DAC to control everything. As far as a balanced headphone cable, I’d recommend this one with the AECO XLR plugs as it’s a great performer and a great value for what you get. Hope this helps, and best of luck.

https://www.lavricables.com/cables/reference-silver-headphone-upgrade-cable/

Update - thanks to everyone who chimed in answers!  I bought an RME ADI-2 DAC fs, which has a headphone amp with 2 outlets, one for IEM’s.  I also bought the Sennheiser HD600’s.  They sound great together.  This gives me the option to listen late at night without having to turn down the volume very low.

I chose this to avoid having another box and wires, as well as giving me a wide variety of controls including parametric EQ.  I also bought a UMIK 1, so I can do some room testing and perhaps adjust the sound for further improvements.  Since I don’t have a preamp, I had no adjustments before.  Enjoying the upgrade!