Got me a Headline
Posted by: JohanR on 21 May 2002
I received a Headline and a new Hi-Cap to drive it a couple of weeks ago. I have been using the "cheat" headphone output on the Hi-Cap driving the NAC 82 before to drive my AKG K100:s.
The most obvious difference is a change in the frequency balance. With the "cheat" output, the 82 driving the headphones directly, one got a very lean and fast sound. With the Headline there is more bass, the balance is now how I guess AKG wanted it to be. This is probably down to the Headline having standardised output impedance around 100 ohms.
The second most obvious differenceis that the Headline has a much higher output level. Now, using a 400 Hz sinus from a testdisc, the headphones starts buzzing from overload before the amp clips. This, by the way, happens at 12:30 on the Headline volume contol with a CDS II through the 82. Much better!
Well, the million dollar question, how does it sound? As there is quite a difference in frequency balance a direct comparasion is, IMHO, not meaningful. And I'm not a fan of HiFi reviewer lingo so all I can say is that I'm very happy listening to music!
And with the the new Hi-Cap I got just that, a new Hi-Cap to drive my 82. The old one, about 9 years old, is driving the Headline (source first!). I also got a black SNAIC from the pre to the cap.
Johan R
The most obvious difference is a change in the frequency balance. With the "cheat" output, the 82 driving the headphones directly, one got a very lean and fast sound. With the Headline there is more bass, the balance is now how I guess AKG wanted it to be. This is probably down to the Headline having standardised output impedance around 100 ohms.
The second most obvious differenceis that the Headline has a much higher output level. Now, using a 400 Hz sinus from a testdisc, the headphones starts buzzing from overload before the amp clips. This, by the way, happens at 12:30 on the Headline volume contol with a CDS II through the 82. Much better!
Well, the million dollar question, how does it sound? As there is quite a difference in frequency balance a direct comparasion is, IMHO, not meaningful. And I'm not a fan of HiFi reviewer lingo so all I can say is that I'm very happy listening to music!
And with the the new Hi-Cap I got just that, a new Hi-Cap to drive my 82. The old one, about 9 years old, is driving the Headline (source first!). I also got a black SNAIC from the pre to the cap.
Johan R