Yes - as most headphone lovers have multiple headphones, so do I 
The GSX Mini is used for dynamic/planar magnetic headphones; I have a Sennheiser HD800 and a DCA Ether 2, amongst others. Then, for electrostatic headphones you need an entirely different kind of amplifier/energizer, so for that the Blue Hawaii comes into play. Models used, amongst others: Stax SR-X9000, SR-009.
@Paul_Bemelmans Makes sense. I’m not sure I’ll get to multiple headphones but that’s what I said about spending more than $1000 on a hifi system a few decades ago. Part of my interest with headphones is for late night listening without waking up the family.
I’m considering HiFiMan HE1000 V2 headphones. Without turning this post into a headphone debate, do you know if the HiFiMan phones will mate well with the GS-X Mini? I’m budgeting about $1,500 for headphones which could include pre-owned. My only experience with headphones were Audeze LCD-X’s which I found a bit heavy.
I appreciate any headphone recommendations you may have. My listening taste mainly includes jazz & classic rock.
Thanks,
Brian …
The only Hifiman headphone that could be considered somewhat taxing is the Susvara. You should have no issues whatsoever with the combo HE1000 V2 and GSX Mini.
Hi Brian,
The idea behind using an audio switch is to avoid using two amps in series, in your case a headamp after a preamp.
An example of such a switch looks like this:
This is a 3-way passive stereo audio splitter. It supports 1 stereo XLR input and 3 outputs. You can choose freely according to your audio device. Your Rossini goes in, and 1 stereo XLR out goes to your Gryphon preamp, and one to your headamp.
This will give you the best SQ, and also will avoid having two gain settings and/ or attenuators in series.
This 1-in-3-out switch will of course not work if you want to listen to your other sources (turntable and CD player) on headphones. But a 3-in-3-out switch can do it. First you select your input (Rossini - turntable (phono pre required) - CD player, and then you select your output: source to preamp, or source to headamp. (one output not yet used)
For all these connections you will need extra pairs of XLR cables, hence it will be an investment.
@Ermos Emo, Thanks for clarifying. Perhaps I add a 3-in-3-out switch at a later time due to the expense of the extra XLR cables needed. For my initial connection of my preamp to the the HeadAmp GS-X Mini headphone amp, do you recommend to use XLR cables vs. RCA between my preamp and the headphone amp?
Thanks,
Brian …
In general I would advise XLR, but I am not familiar with the GS-X Mini.
Beware that you are not going to blow up your GS-X Mini, your cans and your ears! One day the volume of your Gryphon preamp will be turned up for listening through your speakers, and then you will switch to your headamp while forgetting to turn your preamp down. If your headamp is set to max volume… bye bye headamp and headphones, and bye bye to your ears if you already had put your cans on.
The GSX Mini is a fully-balanced headphone amp, but with a super-symmetry input stage that properly and automagically converts single-ended (RCA) signals to balanced signals. However, if you need to use long leads (which I do, 7m) then balanced cables are MUCH preferred.
@Ermos Thanks Emo for the words of caution.
@Paul_Bemelmans Thanks Paul. I noticed the GS-X Mini has a toggle switch to turn the pre-amp section of the GS-X on and off. Should I set it to Off since the GS-X will be connected upstream to my Gryphon Pandora preamp?
Sorry for the rookie questions.
Brian …
This only comes into play if you have anything connected to the output connectors of the GSX Mini. And then you’d set that switch to ON. The outputs will observe the volume control of the GSX Mini.
If the GSX Mini is at the end of the chain you’d set the switch to OFF.
Thanks for all the support and suggestions many of you have provided as I venture into headphones for the 1st time. I took advantage of a HiFiMan open box sale and ordered HiFiMan HE1000 v2 headphones that I’ll connect to a GS-X Mini headphone amp. I’ve been reading posts from HiFiMan owners that suggest upgrading the stock XLR cable at some point. I have a few questions.
I noticed the HiFiMan stock cables are stiff. Is it more desirable to have flexible headphone cables?
Does the length of an XLR headphone cable matter for SQ? I may need 3-4 meter cables to reach my listening position.
Any recommendations for 4-pin XLR headphone cables in the $750 - $1000 range?
Thanks,
Brian …
Have you found Head-Fi.org? I have been a member for 8 years. Very helpful community of headphone enthusiasts. It also has a very robust classified section where you can find anything you need(want). My suggestion if you want to buy new would be Double Helix Cables or Norne Cables. Be aware that at this time of year they are working through BF orders so a 6-12 week wait is the norm.
I shall be sceptical. Look at the cable recommendations here. If you get 10 answers you will get 10 different recommendations. That is more or less the same everywhere.Read further on all postings that you can find on any cables that interest you. However you still cannot know how they will sound to you.
Getting from the source to your listening position is highly recommended 
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@pippen99 @PAR
Thanks Charles and Pete for your comments and introducing me to HeadFi.com. I found this interesting review of a Focal stock vs. Norne cables, https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/norne-audio-premium-headphone-cable-review.22457/
Pete, your skepticism and this review taught me to look for headphone cable vendors that offer a 30-day money back trial period.
Thanks,
Brian …
