Is Keeping A Headphone Plugged In When Powering On/Off A Headphone Amplifier Safe?

[HeebieGenie]

Yes, sometimes it can be a problem, especially if you power the system on and off from a switched power strip: Designers don't always consider this possibility! You can easily test without risking your headphones by measuring DC

Analog multimeter, or the analog-esque display of a DMM ought to suffice.

This is the 3rd time I've had a valid reason to buy one of those. Probably a good idea to measure and then get the answer right from the source(s). 3rd times the charm I guess.

 

[HeebieGenie]

Should be fine to leave the phones plugged into the jack. If in doubt, yank it out. That 100% guarantees headphone safety.

I've done some proper yanking before! But that was due to my own tomfoolery from forgetting to set the volume to zero the last time I used my setup and switched to a more sensitive audio device.

 

[HeebieGenie]

Know that Neutrik rates their 1/4 in (6.3 mm) phone plugs for only 1000 cycles. Example below is their NP3X-B.

View attachment 449706

This is something I have thought of. It's part of the entire reason I own cheap dongle DACs, as well as multiple cables per headphone, incase the cable end or the source end borks itself. Even though that won't realistically be a problem for a long time.

 

[wwenze]

Your own soundcard works well as a low-budget scope. Those pops usually last long enough to be audible, and audible = measurable.

Or, use the old adage, anything that isn't dangerous to your ears is not dangerous to the speaker/headphone.