Running balanced and unbalanced at the same time.

[Strikkflypilot]

Hi.

My Mainline is usually run with HD800s with balanced cable.
Today I also hooked up my modded HD580s to the unbalanced jack.
I would imagine it should be possible to hear a slight difference with an additional 300ohms headphone connected while listening to the HD800, but I heard no difference.
(Doctor, is this normal...?)

[Doc B.]

The output impedance of the amp is low enough that halving the load from 300 ohms to 150 ohms by paralleling two high impedance headphones (it's actually a bit more complex due to the balanced/unbalanced setup) really won't affect the output level that much. Lower impedance cans may have more influence.

[Strikkflypilot]

That explains it.
Thank You very much.

[Paul Birkeland]

If the balanced/unbalanced switch is left on unbalanced, you should be able to do this without any issues.

-PB

[Strikkflypilot]

The switch made a difference, like before, but, left balanced, listening to HD800, I could not distinguish whether or not the HD580(unbalanced) was connected.

[Strikkflypilot]

In fact, listening with my HD800s with balanced cable, I hear absolutely no difference between balanced and unbalanced setting.
With my HD580s which are cabled unbalanced, they sound louder when the switch is in unbalanced.

Is this normal. I am not sure it has been like this all the time.

[Paul Joppa]

That is as would be expected, though there may be some more subtle differences, especially with lower-impedance phones.

[Strikkflypilot]

Fantastic news:)
Thank You for the swift reply.