Good Audio Switch?

[darkarn]

Hi, I am looking to get a tube amp to pair up with my Audinst MX-1 soon. Only prob I am seeing is that as I have only one pair of RCA jacks as my line out (other outputs are headphones out), all audio must go out from them; I cannot use the switch on the MX-1 to change from speakers to headphones and vice versa.

Currently, as I cannot find any (affordable) tube amp that lets me change the audio output, may I know what good audio switch can I get to solve this issue?

In terms of audio chain, it will be used after the tube amp (i.e. source > DAC > tube amp > switch). I have seen some "3 In, 1 Out" RCA switches, can I use them by treating the Out as In and vice versa (I am assuming that they work like RCA cables, which do not require specific directions to work like audio cables)? I am also aware of possible loss in SQ in using the audio switch; idea of this thread is to find a switch with minimal SQ losses but reasonably priced so that I can channel more money for the tube amp.

Thanks!

 

[alamakazim]

good one cost more than your dac much more

example

http://www.goldpt.com/sw4.html

 

[darkarn]

good one cost more than your dac much more

example

http://www.goldpt.com/sw4.html

alamak (pun not intended), if that is the case, should I go get the RCA switch instead?

 

[alamakazim]

some tube amp have rca out

 

[darkarn]

some tube amp have rca out

Yeah, I noticed the Little Dot amps have them with headphones out too but no way to switch between headphones out and RCA out.

Do I use just the RCA out if getting the normal RCA switches?

 

[alamakazim]

The rca out usually is always on

So anything connected to the rca out will play music together with the tube amp

Just off the device connected if dont want to play together

 

[darkarn]

The rca out usually is always on

So anything connected to the rca out will play music together with the tube amp

Just off the device connected if dont want to play together

I see, so I should connect the amp`s RCA out into in the RCA out of the RCA switch (those 4 IN 1 OUT switches) and then switch between headphones and speakers using the RCA switch?

 

[alamakazim]

ehh I lost you.. why need a switch ?

dac ----> tube amp(I assume headphone amp) ----rca out----> speaker(I assume powered type)

just off the tube amp, the rca out mostly is just a bypass.. not controlled by tube amp volume

 

[darkarn]

Ah I see, but if say I want to color the sound of the speakers too with the tube amp, will this work?

 

[alamakazim]

U need to check tube amp function liao...

Else just buy a tube buffer

 

[darkarn]

U need to check tube amp function liao...

Else just buy a tube buffer

Ok, time for me to post in Head-Fi/Little Dot forums

Will a tube buffer colour the sound even further?

 

[darkarn]

Quick update: I got one of those RCA switches in Koba (10 bucks I think? Was charged 13 but I was buying other components too) and can use it to switch between speakers and headphones (need RCA to 3.5mm though).

Connect the OUT ports to the amp/DAC, then connect each set of IN ports to your speakers or headphones with appropriate "RCA-to-something-else" converters and you are done!