Headphone amp advice needed

Is crossfeed and crosstalk the same thing  and why is it so important ? I am learning a lot so far for example i did not know Violectric before Thanks !

@Fourteen: About which Violectric model I may help a little because I was able to test some models on CanJam Europe in 2015: HPA V200, HPA V280 and HPA V281. Headphone has been the Sennheiser HD800, and I was able to use my own music tracks for testing (*.flac files).

The V280 has been superior to V200 basically because it has XLR-output, which gives better sound than the unbalanced one. This was surprising to me because right at the V280's output a short (few centimeters) XLR-to-stereojack adapter was connected.

Then, unfortunately, I tried the V281. Knowing its price it was my (little) hope not to hear a difference significant enough to seriously think about the associated additional invest. But, well, the V281 was adding quite a lot and my very first thought was "shit, I should not be have tested". However, in discussion with Violectric's CEO Fried Reim he mentioned that not everybody testing both V281 and V280 made the experience to hear any difference... And, I'm not going to describe the amp's sound as this is quite difficult, just, Violectric headphone amps are from my point of view very neutral and have full control over full frequency range.

So, choice is up to you - in particular with respect to budget limits. For same reason I personnally put descision off: V281 and HD800 (which has been my conclusion after CanJam visit) sum up to around 3300€, which levels priorities ...

nbpf posted:

DrPo posted:

I had no idea about Violectric until I was lent one by a friend ; driving my HD800S's sounds like end game to me.

I am not saying it's the best but it's awfully good. High current, solid design, reasonably priced, warm and full sound complementing nicely the detailed HD800S

Which Violectric model are you referring to? Thanks, nbpf

200, the "simple" one, not balanced no remote. I haven't heard the 220, 280, 281 but I read above from Kilian there is a difference. As currently my source is NAIM NDX I wouldn't consider balanced design. My next step though is to try the new dSC Bartok which also has an onboard headphone amp... 

I've read this thread with interest. I just acquired a pair of B&W P7 (wired) headphones to use with my 272 and I'm totally gobsmacked by the sound quality. So I was just wondering, does adding a headphone amp really add significant further SQ improvements that is worthy of such an investment?

Please excuse my ignorance on this subject, and apologies if this is a diversion from the original question....

Atherton posted:

I've read this thread with interest. I just acquired a pair of B&W P7 (wired) headphones to use with my 272 and I'm totally gobsmacked by the sound quality. So I was just wondering, does adding a headphone amp really add significant further SQ improvements that is worthy of such an investment?

Please excuse my ignorance on this subject, and apologies if this is a diversion from the original question....

???? Atherton,....I agree with you,B&W P7 is good.
I usually describe them as a bit of Naim's Chrome bumper or Olive-series,..with a LP12 and a pair of Linn Kan....in other words,..very "stomping the pace".

Separate headphone amplifiers usually add an extra dimension,..if it's worth the money,only you can decide.
But as usual,...everything has meaning,..think "Attention To Detail".

What you have before the headphones makes the headphones better,..Think "Source First".

Then the installation is the most important....
◾ The correct Electrical phase,..not in UK.
◾ Which power cord.
◾ Which signal cable.
◾ Which usb cable.
◾ Which ehternet cable.
◾ The correct direction of these cables.
◾ The right torque draw of the audioboard,this should a savvy trader help you with,if you do not have the knowledge yourself.
◾ What placement of your headphone amplifier.
◾ The correct connection of the power cord in your powerstrip.
◾ A good Switch.....
etc,etc,etc.......

But bring your headphones with you to a trader and listen to different headphone-amps,and then..what you think seems interesting..Borrow home and listen to it in your own music-system.

A properly installed headphone-system is very,very far up in the sound hierarchy.

/Peder ????

Atherton posted:

I've read this thread with interest. I just acquired a pair of B&W P7 (wired) headphones to use with my 272 and I'm totally gobsmacked by the sound quality. So I was just wondering, does adding a headphone amp really add significant further SQ improvements that is worthy of such an investment?

Please excuse my ignorance on this subject, and apologies if this is a diversion from the original question....

The P7 is fairly easy to drive so works well with most decent headphone outs.  They were designed to work well with portables, and indeed that is exactly how I use my own P7s, so I'm not surprised that they also sound great on your NAC-N272.

Richard Dane posted:

The P7 is fairly easy to drive so works well with most decent headphone outs.  They were designed to work well with portables, and indeed that is exactly how I use my own P7s, so I'm not surprised that they also sound great on your NAC-N272.

???? Atherton,....As Richard says,they are easy to drive..22 Ohm,111 db in sensitivity.
The same values as their top-model P9 has.

Do you want to use them as portable in a simple way,and get good sound,..Complete with a Audioquest Dragonfly Black or Red USB-Dac.
Then you can use your phone or your Laptop to listen to music and have good sound.
These two USB DAC's are small,very good,..and cheap.

HifiMe 9018 USB DAC is also good, and cheaper than Audioquest Dragonfly Black.

/Peder ????

Hi Peder,

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I will certainly look up the Audioquest Dragonfly products you recommend, although I don't currently plan using the P7's while I'm out and about.

Really I bought the P7's as a marriage saver(!) as my wife does not share my interests in listening to Pink Floyd etc at high volume, as well as a number of TV programmes that I alone enjoy, so I now pipe the TV through my 272 with the P7's for her peace and quiet.

Re your earlier post, I think I more or less got the 'origin' details sorted, at least within reason for a system at this level....I have an XPS-DR behind the 272 and a Supra LoRad mains block behind that. Tidal & UPnP (90% of my listening) is delivered via a quality ethernet cable direct from hub to 272. And ISP is British Telecom, fibre to the property (72mbps).

Thanks again.

I have and would suggest a listen to the Naim Headline powered by a HiCap DR. I also use a Powerline into the HiCap DR but that can be a future upgrade! This combo at used prices would most likely fit within your budget or only be a bit over. I am using a pair of HD600’s that I purchased back in the late 90’s but have been with me ever since. Maybe time for me to investigate other options here but I am mightily impressed with the sound that comes from them. They do not sound like a sub standard add on vs the 300DR/SBL’s which must be a good thing right?!! I have owned multiple other headphone amps before my Naim journey and all have been pretty uninspiring tbh. Maybe I just love the Naim sound...

HD600s need a quality headphone amp capable of driving cans with that kind of impedance.  Plug them into a regular headphone amp and they sound fairly execrable. However, if you plug them into something suitable, or designed with them in mind, then they are still a fantastic pair of headphones in spite of their age. And if you want to try something small and neat with the HD600s then get yourself a Ponoplayer.  I'm told this was designed using the HD600s and you can even drive them balanced with a custom cable using the dual outputs and setting it to balanced mode. Listening to Ponoplayer and HD600s and you can tell that there's a lovely synergy going on.

Thank you for the advice and comments Richard. I have looked at the Ponoplayer before actually but never bought one. I assume you would class the Naim Headline powered by the HiCap DR as being 'capable' which is why my results are a marked improvement over what has gone before?

Yes, Headline and Hicap DR work very nicely.  

Does someone know how  the headline and HiCapDR compare with the SN2 (and HICapDR) headphones output .