Headphone jack adaptor question.

Thanks to all for the great ideas. Now there's another question: How can I verify that the output RCA on my preamp is really line level and not speaker level? Is there a testing device? (Excuse my ignorance here, please). Elizabeth has me thinking about exercising "caution."
Yet MORE questions for all you smart audiophiles (yes, I mean that, not being sarcastic):

Does anyone know, think, or have an opinion about whether either of the two devices recommended {{{(by Sfar and Swampwalker--thanks guys! :) }}}are better than the Ramsey SHA-1 headphone amp (this can be found at Ramsey Electronics and on ebay)?

Artizen65: Do you know whether that Radio Shack device is intended for line or speaker level outputs, and is it safe, given what Elizabeth said?

Thanks for the information! This is really great!

Mdhoover,

Ok here is what I think is the easiest rout at this point. Y off of the back of your DAC. Take one set of cables to your PRE and take the second set to your head phone amp. Audioquest makes makes a nice set of Y adapters for about $25.00 US. I use one to take a center channel out to a stereo amp for bi-amping my center channel works just fine.

Warning I tried this with a DVD player and monster Y adapters to go to the stereo and to the TV and got distortion out of the stereo. I am pretty sure this was due to an impedence mismatch. So before spending big bucks on an extra set of cables give it a try. IMHO a $25.00 experiment is worth it.

Michael

Oops,

You will need 2 Y adapters 1 for each channel.

Michael

Artizen65,

Thanks for the tip. Would it also work to use the line level recording outputs from the tape loop on the preamp, going directly to the headphone amp, which has a volume control?

Md- That is the way it is typically done, putting a headphone amp in the tape loop. Many also have a loop out, so you can still insert a tape deck even if you only have one loop.