Headline 2/mains
Posted by: Chris Metcalfe on 26 June 2003
Thought I’d share my thoughts on some recent listening experiences. I’ve recently moved house from overcrowded Swindon (albeit the hub of the universe) to the calmer climes of south Gloucestershire, specifically to a larger house. Taking advantage of this move to have a dedicated ring-main installed, I’ve finally got round to trying out the Headline 2 with no less than 3 different power supplies. Ironic, insofar as there’s less need for me to use phones now than ever before… but I’ve always enjoyed headphone listening as an alternative, lying on the sofa without worrying about the sweet spot etc.
Initially I set up the HL2 with NAPSC2 and tried it against the Creek 21SE with its uprated p/s. The latter is superb and amazing value at less than £250 all in; wouldn’t hesitate to buy if this was my limit. However, the HL2 had a spaciousness and rightness which the Creek, detailed tho it was, couldn’t quite manage. It was also obvious that the HL2 was a big improvement over the original, which when I tried it put me in mind of a phones equivalent of the NAIT 1 or 42/110 – a cut-price version of the Naim sound, bass-shy and a little underpowered. Not the case here. Still, there was a slight sense of fluffiness. Changing to the Flatcap2 not only showed how good the HL2 is, but how much better able to respond to upgrades in p/s – the HL1 sounded a bit overpowered with the Hicap1 IMO. Now it was very tight, far more detailed, and exciting. That should represent the end of the requirement at £675, but I had to try the Hicap2, which unfortunately sounded brilliant – now very physical, with amazing depth and richness on Steely Dan’s ‘Blues Beach’ and Richard Thompson’s ‘Gethsemane’ – which was stunning with its great guitar tone. The fact that the HL2 can respond so well to this HC2, and the fact that the combo sounds so rich and fat and scrummy, has really made me want to work my way through the system with upgrades to the new stuff (from CDX/XPS, 82/SC/250).
Other trial was the Isotek Cube… and yes, it does further clean the mains, but it really sounds bleached out. Reverting to the dedicated supply without it was.. simply better. Less brightly lit and overt, but more natural and flowing. And it weighs a ton. Sorry.
Oh yes, the living room is a big improvement too. Pics may follow.
Initially I set up the HL2 with NAPSC2 and tried it against the Creek 21SE with its uprated p/s. The latter is superb and amazing value at less than £250 all in; wouldn’t hesitate to buy if this was my limit. However, the HL2 had a spaciousness and rightness which the Creek, detailed tho it was, couldn’t quite manage. It was also obvious that the HL2 was a big improvement over the original, which when I tried it put me in mind of a phones equivalent of the NAIT 1 or 42/110 – a cut-price version of the Naim sound, bass-shy and a little underpowered. Not the case here. Still, there was a slight sense of fluffiness. Changing to the Flatcap2 not only showed how good the HL2 is, but how much better able to respond to upgrades in p/s – the HL1 sounded a bit overpowered with the Hicap1 IMO. Now it was very tight, far more detailed, and exciting. That should represent the end of the requirement at £675, but I had to try the Hicap2, which unfortunately sounded brilliant – now very physical, with amazing depth and richness on Steely Dan’s ‘Blues Beach’ and Richard Thompson’s ‘Gethsemane’ – which was stunning with its great guitar tone. The fact that the HL2 can respond so well to this HC2, and the fact that the combo sounds so rich and fat and scrummy, has really made me want to work my way through the system with upgrades to the new stuff (from CDX/XPS, 82/SC/250).
Other trial was the Isotek Cube… and yes, it does further clean the mains, but it really sounds bleached out. Reverting to the dedicated supply without it was.. simply better. Less brightly lit and overt, but more natural and flowing. And it weighs a ton. Sorry.
Oh yes, the living room is a big improvement too. Pics may follow.