If you're looking to replace your headphone amp, the first question I'd ask is: what sources do you want it to be able to play?
If you have a lot of sources connected to your 200 that you want to be able to select (on the 200) and then play through the headphone amp, then it makes sense to keep the 200 in the loop. In that case, there is no benefit in specifically looking for a headphone amp with balanced inputs. (No disadvantage in having them, unless it doesn't also have single-ended inputs, in which case you'd need to use an RCA-to-XLR cable.)
On the other hand, if you're only interested in one input, say streaming Roon from your Nucleus, then it would make sense to find a headphone amp that Roon/Nucleus can talk to directly. The headphone amp would need to have a digital input, preferably via USB, wired Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. USB would be straightforward (and I see that the Conductor 3 has a USB input) but might limit the physical separation between your Nucleus and the headphone amp. Ethernet or Wi-Fi would give more flexibility in that respect -- if you go that way, look for a headphone amp that is Roon Ready. With this set-up there is no question about balanced or unbalanced signal into the Taurus, because the signal is digital.
To answer your later questions:
* you can use Roon with a headphone amp that has balanced outputs provided it has a digital input
* yes, you would be able to use the Roon app on your iPhone to control it (the headphone amp would be a separate Roon "zone")
If you have a lot of sources connected to your 200 that you want to be able to select (on the 200) and then play through the headphone amp, then it makes sense to keep the 200 in the loop. In that case, there is no benefit in specifically looking for a headphone amp with balanced inputs. (No disadvantage in having them, unless it doesn't also have single-ended inputs, in which case you'd need to use an RCA-to-XLR cable.)
On the other hand, if you're only interested in one input, say streaming Roon from your Nucleus, then it would make sense to find a headphone amp that Roon/Nucleus can talk to directly. The headphone amp would need to have a digital input, preferably via USB, wired Ethernet, or Wi-Fi. USB would be straightforward (and I see that the Conductor 3 has a USB input) but might limit the physical separation between your Nucleus and the headphone amp. Ethernet or Wi-Fi would give more flexibility in that respect -- if you go that way, look for a headphone amp that is Roon Ready. With this set-up there is no question about balanced or unbalanced signal into the Taurus, because the signal is digital.
To answer your later questions:
* you can use Roon with a headphone amp that has balanced outputs provided it has a digital input
* yes, you would be able to use the Roon app on your iPhone to control it (the headphone amp would be a separate Roon "zone")
Roon (Mac Mini), Wilson Benesch Full Circle, Expert 1000 Pro CI, Kaiser Chiara
Warwickshire, UK
