Originally posted by balamm@9 September 2003 - 19:02
Simple fix, leave the stereo plugged into the soundcard out and plug your headphones into the stereo instead. Turn the speakers off when you want headphones only. The gain needed by the stereo is much lower and so it will seem much louder when compared to your unpowered headphones. You couuld play with the preamp jumpers on the soundcard if they are present but that might change the gain/impedance to the stereo which could cause failure of it or the soundcard.
I assumed that was what he meant he had done, but having re-read it I see I may have misunderstood. If I have, then this suggestion by balamm seems to be the obvious solution, always assuming that there is a suitable port on the stereo.