Using RCA to AUX cable from a DAC that has no headphone port any risk ?

[Earwax]

Hello,

Curious if there is any risk using the RCA output port to listen to Headphones on a DAC with no Headphone port... Of course using a RCA to AUX female cable adapter would be needed.

Many small DAC`s have volume controls these days so please take that into consideration as the SMSL SU1 has no volume control and once it goes through that dac it is outputted at full level loudness just the way they chose to design it...

 

[AnalogSteph]

Curious if there is any risk using the RCA output port to listen to Headphones on a DAC with no Headphone port...

I mean, I can think of various older soundcards with 5532 opamps driving 3.5 mm jacks via 47-100 ohms... not the last word in anything, but it works.

But why would you want to do this today, with how far headphone driving has come?

 

[wwenze]

It will be LOUD

Or not loud enough

Depending on your headphone. Most headphones designed for use with 3.5mm, LOUD

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Curious if there is any risk using the RCA output port to listen to Headphones on a DAC with no Headphone port...

The RCA output will be expecting a high impedance load (the input stage of a preamplifier or power amplifier that has a gain control). Low impedance headphones plugged in to the RCA connectors may force the output stage into supplying more current than it was designed for and since current means heat, you may find it overheats.

It may have a higher output impedance than a headphone amplifier (with impedance bridging, 1kOhm output impedance would be ok for line level) meaning the impedance curve of the headphone will "drive" the frequency response and the amplifier which will not be flat.

It may not be able to swing sufficient voltage to drive high impedance headphones.