Drive two inputs from one output AKA how to buffer

[ChrioN]

I need my soundcard with only one stereo output to feed both the monitors and headphone amplifier.
So, in other words, what would be the smartest, simplest and most audible transparent way of buffering a soundcard output?

 

[bcarso]

What are the input impedances of the two things to be fed? If high enough, you might not need anything at all, other than a "Y" connector.

 

[ChrioN]

Thats true.

The monitors themself got an impedance of 20k, but I'm going to use a volume controller (potentiometer) infront of the monitors, and the resistance of that potentiometer is 5k.
The headphone amp: 100k

That slightly lowers the impedance to around 4.8k, I think.
That shouldn't be that much harder to drive than 5k, right?

 

[bcarso]

Nah.

The loading of 5k however, which becomes 4k at max up might tax some soundcards, depending on their current drive capability and on their output coupling caps, and lean out your bass response a bit. Would need to know more about the card.

 

[ChrioN]

Thank you for the reply. The soundcard is a Emu 1212m.
I don't know anything about how the output looks on this card.

In my homestudio, I got a Emu 1820m, and there I'm also using a 5k pot to control the volume.
Come to think of it, I think I sweept the pot at different settings, with pretty much no frequency response issues at all.
If I recall correctly, the same DACs are used in the 1212m.