Headline 2 question?.

Greetings Pieman,

The simple answer is 'Yes'. I ran my Headline on a FCXS to good effect. I would counsel you to look at other good headphone amps on the market (as I did) which are neater one-box designs and do not entice one onto the Naim power-supply upgrade path. Your Headline ideally needs a Supercap of course!

With regard to headphone choice, all competent h/p amps will drive just about anything, so it's a matter of open or closed back for domestic harmony and whatever you like the sound of at the price you wish to pay. Find a dealer with a good range of 'phones to audition.

Good luck.

John.

Hi John.

Thanks for your reply.

I am only a light user of headphones, but find that comfort, is as important as sound quality.

I will have to demo a few model's  to find out as suggested.

Regard's

Pieman.

Hi Pieman,

Don't know where you are based but if you live in the Bedford/Cambridge/Essex area you can't go wrong in visiting Paul at Hi Fi Lounge, I reckon he has the best selection of headphones in the UK and he is a Naim dealer. Worth a visit.

Cheers,

Bill.

Hi Bill.

Berkshire is where base is ,

Quite enjoy visiting audio dealer's, that are new to me.

Regard's

Pieman.

I ran a Headline 2 with HiCap into Sennheiser HD650s. Ahhhhhhhh...

(I would really recommend the 650s; hugely comfortable with a lovely warm sound. Now running them through the Hugo. I tried some Grados which people have raved about but after a few second they chafed my ears; ouch.)

I have Headline/HC2/ Sennheiser 700 and couldn't be happier.  The 650 is a true classic can which is unbeatable at the price imo.

Thanks ,

May well try HD650'S.

Regard's

Pieman.

I use the Sennheiser '650' with the Naim NH2 powered by a serviced CB HiCap. The pre-amp is an 82 with Supercap. The whole lot works very well and can be listened to for hours on end. The 'phones are very light and comfortable but quite noisy for other room users. 

Hi dektop100.

I am interested in the HD650, not sure how long they have been out as a model , but will give them a demo as a lot of positive comment's seem to be present on the forum.

Regard's

Pieman.

Another one with HD650s (with a Cardas cable) through Headline2/ HCDR.  I have run them with a FCXS to save shelf space and they were still good.  They do leak sound though - my wife couldn't watch TV in the same room if I was wearing 650s so I bought some AKG 550s for that scenario. 

Hi Bartman.

I am interested also what the newer HD700 has to offer, but believe that the HD650 has a warmer sound. I guess it's all down to personal choice, and the sound that is preferred. Just the same when purchasing speaker's.

Regard's.

The 650s were introduced  in 2003. I had a pair for about 8 years only selling  them due to upgrading to the700s which have a more refined, detailed sound and just a fraction more comfortable. I got a good deal  on the 700s otherwise the 650s would still be around.

Hi Tony2011

I must admit that the HD700 does have a hi build quality look about it. I think that the HD650 is more suited due to my limited use of headphones. Both are winner's in different ways I suppose.

Regard's.

Pieman.

The 650 is terrific with the Headline.

Hi Pieman,

I use the Headline 2 with a Flatcap XS.  Always had a Flatcap around to power it (first used with a CD5X, now with the NAT05 XS). 

John makes a good point to check out other one box solutions if you are so inclined  May keep you off the power supply path.    

I mostly use the Beyerdymanic T1 (version1) with the Headline 2.  I also use the Grado GH1s with it.  Both are very enjoyable to me w/ Naim. 

I have no doubt the Senns will be very good too, I just have not tried the HD650 or HD700 with them.

Best regards,

pat

Hi Pat.

Thanks to all you guys for your comments.

It is good to have a decent idea what works well. I wonder what a set of naim headphones would be like if they existed??.

Regard's

Pieman.

They'd be inordinately expensive. 

And Black

With a green backlit Naim logo on each ear.

And they would be very well engineered and heavy, on several weeks delivery, with occasional firmware updates (well maybe not with occasional firmware updates..)

What would they be called?.

HP555

There would be an upgrade path involving the Headcap power supply and a mid-level product called HP5-XS. There would be rumours of a planned Statement headphone with the 1 horse power electronics carried on a....horse.

The Naim forum would debate whether said horse needed an essentially unnecessary but nevertheless compelling rider called Hugo.

And they would need to be used near a wall to have some bass.