external headphone amp

Yes, Icon Audio HP8 Mk2 with Chord Reference interconnects (Din to RCA). A very big improvement over the built in headphone amp, which sounded flat and 2 dimensional in comparison.

But there are lots of options out there...

Which headphones?

fps1k posted:

Yes, Icon Audio HP8 Mk2 with Chord Reference interconnects (Din to RCA). A very big improvement over the built in headphone amp, which sounded flat and 2 dimensional in comparison.

But there are lots of options out there...

Hi,

I have recently been looking at this amp.  It would satisfy my interest in tubes, and the reviews have been good.  Have you tried it with any other headphones than the Grado RS-1?  

For my SN2 I am using the Headline with FlatCap XS 

thanks,

Pat

Emre posted:

Which headphones?

sennheiser hd800

Hi Pat, it worked very well with the RS1i's, like sitting on the stage in the band. However I'm now looking to get something else a bit more revealing. There is a review on Inner Fidelity where the (older) Beyer T-1 is said to work extremely well with it, as are the Audeze LCDs. I'm quite keen on hearing the new Focals and the Grado GS2000e too, which I think will be a good match as well. I did a couple of mods to it - Jensen caps and some valve upgrades - plus I replaced the annoying blue led with a green/ yellow one. And put a PL on it

They are hard to drive headphones, no naim internal amp will do them justice, I tried them with 272, very flat sound, no go

Depending on sound that you looking for if you don't want a tube sound but a warm sound look for violectric v200 or even Gustard h10

Creek obh21mkii is a budget option with switches to adjust empedance and will drive Hd800 very nicely, which I am using my Hd800 with Creek while I am writing this listening hair soundtrack, the source is cd2x/tpxs trough 272 pre

Headline is not that bad but not VFM option if you consider a hicap needed to make it sound at a good level than becomes very expensive

Hd800 deserves a good amp for sure so don't blink and this is one area not to be Naim fan if you don't have an idle hicap somewhere

If you need dac chord mojo/hugo/tt/dave are always are option

Did not listed Dave tough

I have HDs800 and use them with sennheiser hdva 600 sounds fab as they are hard to drive also have a Musical fidelity M1HPAP which in my opinion is so underrated.

I did own a headline previously.

Gary

fps1k posted:

Hi Pat, it worked very well with the RS1i's, like sitting on the stage in the band. However I'm now looking to get something else a bit more revealing. There is a review on Inner Fidelity where the (older) Beyer T-1 is said to work extremely well with it, as are the Audeze LCDs. I'm quite keen on hearing the new Focals and the Grado GS2000e too, which I think will be a good match as well. I did a couple of mods to it - Jensen caps and some valve upgrades - plus I replaced the annoying blue led with a green/ yellow one. And put a PL on it

 

Great info, thank you fps1k.  I would like to hear the new Focals as well.  I had the Beyer T-1 version 1 for several years.  But sold it off and planning to replace with the T90.  Will you be looking for another tube amp?  

Thanks for allowing the side topic, Matt.  

br,

pat

im driving HD800S's with a Moon Audio WA7d to great effect though i do have a Cavalli amp  on order

I'm pretty happy with the sound quality to be honest - I have a Hugo as well but prefer the HP8 for headphone listening. I may upgrade the cables to Chord Signatures, but haven't any plans to replace the HP8 at all - it's pretty good (esp. with the SN2).

The OP hasn't mentioned what the source is. I would weigh the necessity/merit of an external headphone amp (and the subsequent headphones) to the source used. I have HD800 and found that they really benefit from a HL2 powered by a HC if funds allow. The difference over the NAPSC was enough to indicate the HD800s are transparent enough to warrant that level of headphone amp.

To that end, using an external headphone amp with the SN2 is, to me, a no brainer. However, depending on what the source is, I may have been tempted in the same shoes to have chosen headphones that can reach their potential with the SN2 as it is like the 600s. Not having heard the SN2 I can only speculate in that regard.

1. HL+ HC is a 2000£ list price, you can so much but so much better than this for that money, violectric v200 is a good warm sound which marches Hd800 perfectly better than hdva600 that I also tested, if you are in the market for a dac also hugo is a perfect choice for the money. If funds allow spl phonitor is also a good choice

It's all relative Emre. I tried a number of headphone amps. As for one with a DAC, it really depends on the source. If the system has quality Naim streamer or an LP12 in th emix then really you just want to focus on a headphone amp that is the best possible analogue device.

I think there are some really great devices out there, especially some really not expensive valve designs. While I would agree that the HL may not be everyone's preference sound-wise but VFM is largely going to depend on how prominent headphones are in your listening chain. Yes a HL2/HCDR is serious money for a headphone amp and like all diminishing returns with hifi, you cannot say it sounds twice as good as something that costs half the price (the same goes for all hifi). But if the sound it produces is to your liking, as an analogue only headphone amp, it takes some beating.

Worth adding that (and I know it does not apply to the OP in this scneario), if a system upgrade elsewhere frees up a spare HC in your system, the HL suddenly because exceptional value for money.

feeling_zen posted:

It's all relative Emre. I tried a number of headphone amps. As for one with a DAC, it really depends on the source. If the system has quality Naim streamer or an LP12 in th emix then really you just want to focus on a headphone amp that is the best possible analogue device.

I think there are some really great devices out there, especially some really not expensive valve designs. While I would agree that the HL may not be everyone's preference sound-wise but VFM is largely going to depend on how prominent headphones are in your listening chain. Yes a HL2/HCDR is serious money for a headphone amp and like all diminishing returns with hifi, you cannot say it sounds twice as good as something that costs half the price (the same goes for all hifi). But if the sound it produces is to your liking, as an analogue only headphone amp, it takes some beating.

Worth adding that (and I know it does not apply to the OP in this scneario), if a system upgrade elsewhere frees up a spare HC in your system, the HL suddenly because exceptional value for money.

Yep I am using a Creek 21mkii with my 272/ cd2x, I am not saying headline is bad but is a very but veryyyy bad value if you add hicap to it,  it is still not a great one for 500£

I am not against to spend 2000 on a headphone amp I am against to spend on HL/HC which is a golf with a Porche price tag, even if you have a idle HC just cash it

And belive me I like the all naim look of my fraim and it is an important aspect for me

Violectric v200 with 700-800£ price tag is far better amp

In this case we are talking about amps for Hd800

For 2000£ you can buy a very good tube amp as dna or zana for Hd800 which they very good matches if you like the tube sound

Also I am with the idea that a super headphone amp tuned with new focals will be with us in near future