Headline: Does the preamp make any difference?

I noticed a dramatic improvement going from 82 to 52 although this also entailed going from 'old' to 'new' Napsc.

I've used my headline (with Hicap & Senn HD600’s) directly connected to my CDX, when living in a rather natty 60’s flat (walls paper thin). I must say that the sound was much better, much more revealing, the decay of notes and apparent space around the musicians was far better defined.

At the time, I did not know Naim supplied an adaptor. My lead was made up from components bought from RS and Maplin (who supply a mic cable that looks remarkably similar to the stock Naim cable).

On comparison with the connection routed via my 82 (w/Flatcap), there was definitely a sense of the music being more 'shut in'. Nevertheless, through the 82 it was still very musical. It may make a difference if you had 2 hicaps....

It will make a difference, some preamps have buffered tape outputs, some don't.

Those with buffers will also sound different depending upon PSU's etc.

Andy.

Those with buffers will also sound different depending upon PSU's etc.

Andy.[/QUOTE]

Is buffering considered to be better?

quote:

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Is buffering considered to be better?

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It depends!

In a lower end preamp (like my 112) anything connected to the tape out connections is, in effect, connected to the source selected at any given point in time.

This load (Headline / tape deck even the cable used to connect the two!) presents a load to the source that can affect quality of the source, the amount of which depends upon it's design (from virtually nothing, to clearly audible).

In this case buffering is likely to be beneficial since it allows the sources to operate at optimum whilst tape decks etc are connected. This is clearly audible on my 112, and as a consequence I only plug in recording devices when needed.

The buffers also can drive cables / capacitive loads better, so can sound better for this reason. This is traded off against the effect that the buffers have on the PSU feeds to other circuits in the preamp, hence the reason why 'board-pulling' is so common in those 32's and 72's.

If you don't use the tape outs it's likely to sound best without buffers, if you do you have to evaluate each case on it's merits, but buffers will bring more consistent performance over a wider range of circumstances, but not, ultimately, the best in some specific cases.

Andy.

Hey,

Can I still get one of those adaptors from Naim so I can go from my CDX straight to my headline? I was just talking to Naim USA and they don't have any. If any private seller has an adaptor they don't use anymore I'd be happy to buy theirs.

Thanks

Carl,

Headline arrived safely then ;O). I have tried it via 52(SC)powered from sk2, 82(Hi)HL Hi, and direct with Naim din connector( just sold down under!) and the direct connection was by far the best with my NAT 02.

Carl, to go back to your original question, it does make a difference which preamp is involved. When I moved from a 52 to a 552 there was a corresponding improvement in my Hi-cap powered headline (with HD 600s). I haven't tried it powered from the 552 yet, but that may be even better.

Thanx all, apparently I'm not yet due for psychiatric treatment for hearing a difference (or else a lot of fellow forum members are due for it as much as I am - come to think of it, that highly probable, no? ). Chris, the headline's doing great (now NAPSC'd but judging from the comments I can't wait for my Hi-Cap to come back from servicing -whenever that is - to try it out on the headline). Cheers,
Carl

This got me interested, so have been playing all weekend. My findings were that all CD players sounded better going through the pre-amp to the headphone amp, but all tuners sounded better going directly into the headphone amp. Can't explain it, but I tried a lot of combinations.