Headphone Splitter, is there any precaution?

Peroxyde

Member
Nov 2, 2007
186
0
76
Hi,

Here is the device I plan to buy to multiply 1 headphone jack to many (usually 2 users)
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCa...cess?Product_Id=404634

The splitter is used occasionally with a TV, laptop or MP3 player. It is very practical but I wonder if there is any precaution I should observe:

- Would that damage the hardware (headphone or the device source of the audio)

- We use low volume, may 15% from max volume. If we plug more than two headphones, would there be any harm?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 

Killmenow

Senior member
Oct 23, 2004
308
1
81
Hmmm, usually the only two things you would worry about when it comes to damaging headphones (aside from physical damage) would be DC offset and playing the music too loud (you generally do not want to hear the drivers clipping due to volume). But as far as the splitter is concerned, the only thing I would be worried about is if two very different set of headphone were plugged into the splitter; say 30ohms and 600ohms. Given the same volume setting at the source, the actual volume of the 30ohm headphones would be a lot higher relative to the 600ohm pair. If you were adjusting the 600ohm pair to a suitable listening level while the 30ohm headphone was still plugged in, it MIGHT be pushing the volume too high on the 30ohm pair without you even noticing. Realistically though, it shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand, after splitting the signal (and in turn the power), the source might not be as effective when driving demanding headphones... might need to amp the signal somewhere along the way... really depends though. Essentially, the splitter should not compound or add anything detrimental that was not already there to begin with (unless you take into consideration SQ).