Hi Tony,
you mean something like this
http://www.headphone.com/productphotos/large/0060210000_102.jpg ?
Just a splitter plug, no boxes like the one you linked to in the previous post. The more electronics you introduce the more distortion and loss you get.
This indeed is all. The male end goes into the "tape out" on the BP26, then one end goes to the BHA, the other end goes to your recorder.
would it keep the tape loop switch functional?
The tape loop switch only affects the loop INPUT on the BP26, NOT the output, those are selected by the source knob.
From the manual:
Tape Outputs: The “TO TAPE” outputs are selected by the rotary ‘SOURCE” knob and are provided as a recording output. This feed is unaffected by the operation of other front panel controls.
So all that happens is the OUTPUT signal from the BP26 is split to the input on the recorder and the input on the BHA, nothing more.
What I don't see yet is how it all works. Usually when plugging in the Headphone, the speakers are muted. In the tape loop the source is permanently to the "to tape" or "record". Speakers are not muted, right? So A/B 'ing the headphone/speakers is done with the mute switch? Or does that mute the source into the tape also connected to the BHA.
The sound from a source ONLY gets muted if a headphone is plugged into an integrated device, like a receiver or an amplifier that has the pre amp and the power amp in one box.
The BP26 is a pre amplifier, that has no headphone amplifier integrated. You will need a separate device for that, which is the BHA. To prevent the signal from reaching the loudspeakers you turn the poweramp (I do not know that you have, so as an example) 4B SST2 off, or you turn the volume on the BP26 to zero. The BHA then functions as the pre amplifier AND the power amplifier for your headphones. The BP26 ONLY functions as a source selector.
Flipping the tape switch to "from tape" or "play" still plays my tape?
Yes, no changes there. the BHA is ONLY connected to the tape output on the BP26, NOT to the input.
I see balanced (XLR's) and rca (SE) in's on the BHA back, that would be connected to the "to tape". In my case the SE. What setup would need the XLR's. Also I see a stereo-connection. What goes in there?
The BHA will be connected via the RCA, because the BP26 does not have a balanced rec out. There is no benefit from going from RCA to XLR in a cable.