Superuniti Headphone Amp

Posted by: ROOG on 12 October 2015

Be gentle, I'm new to this game!

I recently bought some new headphones, Oppo PM-3's, and I auditioned them using the same box of tricks that I have at home, a Superuniti. In store I used a USB stick with a selection of my WAV music selection. I am very happy with the headphones, they are a significant step up from my present dynamic models.

However, before leaving the store and whilst standing around chatting, the owner suggested I try his portable music player, a Astell & Kern Jr. Before I plugged in the PM-3's, he offered a caveat, saying that it was only their "entry level" model. He need not have bothered, I was amazed by the sound.

I am now questioning the capability of the headphone output of the SU. Am I right, or have i just been taken-in by a 'bold and brassy' presentation from the little A&K?

So, would the SU benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier?

Posted on: 12 October 2015 by phosphocreatine

Before going up the Naim ladder I appreciated very much the Superuniti for a couple of years. In my opinion the headphone out of the SU is not modest but neither very good (my cans are the Grado GS1000) and can be easily surclassed even by not so expensive headphone amplifiers in the 600€ price range.

Posted on: 12 October 2015 by ROOG

Thank you for your thoughts 'phosphocreatine', its not until I heard the same phones fed from another source, did I realise that I might be missing out!

I do quite a bit of headphone listening, it sounds like a dedicated amplifier might be a worthwhile purchase.

I appreciate that everyone will have an opinion on their favourite, but are there any obvoius ones I should try first, especially considering my headphones, (Oppo PM-3's) are not hi end devices.

Many thanks

Posted on: 12 October 2015 by feeling_zen

The headphone amp on the Uniti range is average at best. In the case of a UQ2 not even particularly good.

But don't let that lead you to believe Naim have a problem with headphone amps. The headphone amps on non Uniti devices (where the have it) is excellent and their dedicated HeadLine headphone amp is, depending on the power supply used, a reference level amp.