Naim Nait XS with headphone amp

Posted by: Stickboy85 on 08 October 2015

Hi guys,
Hope you can help, I'm trying to connect my Nait XS to my recently purchased Audeze Deckard headphone amp. The plan was to use the Nait as a power amp but cant seem to get it to work.
Can anyone offer any suggestions?
Thanks. Anthony.
Posted on: 08 October 2015 by Richard Dane

Anthony, how are you trying to connect them together?

Posted on: 08 October 2015 by Stickboy85
Hi Richard,
Thanks for responding!
Connections as follows....
Rega CD outputs to Deckard inputs using rca to rca cable.
Deckard output to Nait...... (enter suggestions here!) Using rca to rca cable (can't find rca to din cable atm)

Thanks,
Anthony

Edit: and headphones connected to Deckard.
Posted on: 08 October 2015 by Richard Dane

OK, well if you want to use the Nait XS just as an amp using RCA phono inputs you could try the AV input set to unity gain.  Hopefully you won't get any hum or buzz , but you'll need to try it out.

 

I don't really know the Audeze Deckard though so not sure of what it's capable regarding inputs and outputs  - does the analogue RCA output channel all inputs?  Does it still work when headphones are connected?

Posted on: 08 October 2015 by Stickboy85
Unity Gain, is that the 'AV passthrough' switch on the back or is there something else I need to activate?
So just connect my rca cable to the AV input on the Nait  and switch the 'AV passthrough' to on?
Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Richard Dane

Yes, that's the one.  Do be careful though as volume control on the Nait xs is then bypassed on the AV input.

Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Skinnypuppy71
You need to use the tape loop on the xs and also a 4rca to 4rca cable and connect your line out from the headphone amp and into the (I think)record in on the tape loop of the xs.look out for a chord rca v3 cable,expensive new but try look for one s/h.
Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Skinnypuppy71
I l'll need to check my cable when I get home from work,it could be a 4rca to din.
Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Skinnypuppy71
Sorry,I've misread the question,about using your head amp as pre and xs as power.I was referring to using it as a head amp.
Posted on: 09 October 2015 by Stickboy85
Originally Posted by Skinnypuppy71:

       
Sorry,I've misread the question,about using your head amp as pre and xs as power.I was referring to using it as a head amp.

       


No need to apologise, I think my question was worded poorly in the first place!

Still no luck connecting the Nait to the deckard
Tried Richards suggestion but still no sound coming through my headphones.
My rega cd is connected to the Deckard via rca.
The outputs from the deckard were going into the AV in on the Nait with AV passthrough switched on.
Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Skinnypuppy71
Ok,this is how my rega ear mk2 is connected to my xs (for headphone duties)first of all the cable is expensive (chord crimson vee3 4rca to din)although I'm sure a cheaper one can be sourced on eBay if you hunt for it.The din side of the cable into tape in/out on the xs and the other end with the four rca's(Only use one pair)into the line out of the headphone amp.one of the pair will work the other pair won't a case of trial and error.Hope this helps.
Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Skinnypuppy71
Ps,for a eBay search.type in "5 pin din to 4 rca " also remove the cd player from the headphone amp and connect to the xs.the headphone amp when connected through the tape loop is permanently active (when powered up)so which ever source your playing will come through the headphone amp as well as speakers (if any connected),no need to press the tape source button either.
Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Judge

I understand you are trying to use the Deckard as a pre-amp. 

 

So the connection sequence is CD out to Deckard in, Deckard out to Nait XS AV (on bypass) in.  In this configuration the Nait XS should act as a power amp.  This is exactly how the XS2 (that I use) performs as part of a surround sound set up.  You should only need RCA cables to achieve this.

 

This is not the same as using the headphone amp as a headphone amp using a line out signal from the XS, which some have confused and answered incorrectly for your issue.

 

When you say you have no sound from your headphones, that should be completely independent of connection to your Nait - because the Deckard is before that item.  You only need the Nait to drive your speakers. 

 

Can you confirm that you have the Deckard in the correct mode, i.e. RCA input, and that without connection to the Nait you get sound?

 

Of course you are plugging your headphones into the Deckard and not the Nait?  Sorry but had to ask.

Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Stickboy85
Originally Posted by Judge:

I understand you are trying to use the Deckard as a pre-amp. 

 

So the connection sequence is CD out to Deckard in, Deckard out to Nait XS AV (on bypass) in.  In this configuration the Nait XS should act as a power amp.  This is exactly how the XS2 (that I use) performs as part of a surround sound set up.  You should only need RCA cables to achieve this.

 

This is not the same as using the headphone amp as a headphone amp using a line out signal from the XS, which some have confused and answered incorrectly for your issue.

 

When you say you have no sound from your headphones, that should be completely independent of connection to your Nait - because the Deckard is before that item.  You only need the Nait to drive your speakers. 

 

Can you confirm that you have the Deckard in the correct mode, i.e. RCA input, and that without connection to the Nait you get sound?

 

Of course you are plugging your headphones into the Deckard and not the Nait?  Sorry but had to ask.

Hi Judge,

Thanks for getting in touch.

 

Yes this is how I tried connecting it too. Rega CD to deckard in and deckard out to nait av in using rca cables.

No luck though; and yes the headphones were plugged into the deckard and correctly switched to rca 

soon as the nait is taken out of the question I get sound.

 

Any ideas what I could be doing wrong?

Posted on: 10 October 2015 by Judge

So you have,

 

1) CD + Deckard = Headphones plugged into Deckard produce sound

2) CD + Deckard + Nait = speakers connected to Nait produce sound

3) CD + Deckard + Nait =  Headphones plugged into Deckard do not produce sound

 

correct?

 

If so, are you sure Deckard can act as headphone amp and line-level pre-amp at the same time, because I'd suggest those outcomes indicate it can't: It would either be a headphone amp or pre-amp.

 

Otherwise I think contacting Audeze is your next action.

 

 

Posted on: 11 October 2015 by Judge

I thought about what I'd read further.  The Deckard is a USB DAC too, and somewhere in the documentation or reviews it talks about something like being "used on your desk with powered speakers...".  3 things here, first I'm not completely sure, but does the phrase "line-level preamp" suggest the output would be at a fixed level, because secondly its for when the unit is used as a DAC, and thirdly, don't "powered desktop speakers have a volume control?  

 

Not sure why that would mute the headphones when connected as discussed other than perhaps the unit isn't expecting to be attached directly to a power amp, and is protecting itself somehow.

 

I suggest you do ask Audeze.  

 

I also suggest you use it as a headphone amp - the reviews are good: you'll need a Chord Co. DIN to two RCA.  Then contact Chord Co.  Tell them you want the DIN termination redone to take the "record out" from the AV DIN socket for a headphone amp and they will quote you for the change etc.  That is cheaper and better than buying the DIN to 4 RCA cable and not using two (unless yout want to use it in a surround sound setup).

 

Good luck!