Moving to headphone system

Well, if you're really going to headphone only, why not consider getting a set of Stax Headphones with their included amplifier?  Then you wouldn't need your NAP250 or the Headline.  Of course, you would then only be using the 282 as a phono preamplifier, so could sell the 282, and Supercap, and just get a separate phono preamp to run into the line input socket of the Stax's amplifier.   That would REALLY save a lot of space.

NAC 272 has a very good headphone amp in it......just connect your source!   Headline is not the best you can get for a headphone amp, unless you want Naim only kit. What sort of headphones are we talking about? I recommend a Violectric 200 for a warm sound.... excellent kit with a excellent value

Emre,

Not to dispute what your ears tell you, but an interesting response in that on one hand you call Naim's inboard HP amp very good while being rather dismissive of the Headline. I've found the FCXS-powered Headline far better than Naim's inboard HP, and the Headline will readily grip most HP's on the market. In the OP's case there's an option to power the Headline with either the existing Supercap or HCDR. Granted, it then becomes a very expensive HP amp, but not unreasonable being his only point of listening.

It is a very good one considering price/value of NAC 272 pre amp+streamer+headphone amp ( class A ) .... Mine is at the 30 hours so i don't want the give a judgment yet...

Not considering my self an expert of any kind, just my humble ears who listened many headphone amps and headphones....

headline is a quite investment if you don't have the power supply already , "headline + flatcap/hicap/supercap are very expensive / very very expensive / the highest price headphone amp" in the market propositions.....will i buy one if i have a unused PSU, yes i might, because i like the " all naim" look, feel and sound, will i invest a flatcapxs + headline?  noooooo wayyyy...... i will go with Violectric 200 for 700euro for sure, specially if you have a HD800 and after a solid state sound with a touch of warmth...

You can do much better that this with excellent headphone amps depending on your headphone and sound you are after.... even the very popular on Naim forum dac Hugo will be a better value if you like detailed analitical the sound of the Hugo with your selected headphones.

Violectric, DNA, Cavalli, Schiit, Eddie Current, Moon,  and many more have a very good headphone amps competing with headline... 

just my non expert ears....

If your listening is going to be through headphones only then you can dispense with not just the power amp but also the pre-amp as well.  Take signal straight from the Superline/Supercap into a headphone amp such as the Headline.  You will just need your dealer fit a new DIN connector on the Headine.  

As a STAX user myself, the recommendation of a STAX setup I can second - certainly well worth trying out as they are about as revealing and transparent to the source as it gets and their "out of head" presentation can be preferable to regular cans.  Again, you can take signal directly from the Superline/Supercap to the Energiser via a good quality DIN4-RCA interconnect.  

Thanks everybody for the replies, very much appreciated. I didn't realise I would be able to go straight to the headline ( or stax amp) via the superline , and so do away with pre, power and hi-cap? (Which is currently powering the 282) or if I was to go with the headline would the hi cap be required to power that, could someone enlighten me please as to how to connect it all up ?

on the stax point, what sort of sound could I expect? I listen mainly to pop, rock and I like a "lush" kind of sound, harshness and pronounced trebles are not really my thing!

going direct through superline, would I miss the warmth that the 282 currently brings, I understand that a demo is critical, but forum members current findings are also invaluable in my experience!

thanks 

stuart

I hesitate to recommend something I haven't heard, but the Little Dot Mk3 gets a lot of love hereabouts. With the right valves in place it has (apparently), a delightful, warm sound well suited to vinyl replay. It's also a thing of beauty in a kind-of steam punk way, and is a lot cheaper than many alternatives at around £300 or so, depending on the exact spec. 

Others who own one can doubtless comment with more authority.

All that said, which amp you choose really depends on which headphones you use. You could get a perfectly good amp and nice headphones, but if they don't match then they won't work well together. 

The Headline would connect to one of the Supercap's power amp outputs - you would need to get its five pin plug swapped for a four pin one. You then need to connect a power supply to the Headline using a slic lead. I'd expect the Hicap you already have to be perfect for the job. I've only heard a Headline once, and it was excellent. 

The Stax alternative would involve a lead from the Supercap to the energiser box. 

The STAX combinations are not at all harsh - quite the opposite, they are exceptionally clear, lucid and highly resolving.  However, I wouldn't call them warm, and I wouldn't call them cold either.  They are exceptionally uncoloured really and allow you to "hear into" a recording like little else. You can choose between solid state or valve energisers, and the latter provide some scope for tweaking by swapping around with different valve makes and ages. If you've never heard electrostatics then you should definitely try to get an audition.  If only to get an idea of what they do and where their strengths lie. 

A Headline is quite different in many ways, obviously depending on how it's powered and what headphones you pair with it.  You might prefer it, you might not, although it's probably at its best on the type of music you like.  However, it's not exactly what I'd call "lush" either...

 Either way, you should try to get an audition of both options.  There are a number of dealers these days who specialise in headphones and headphone amps, including STAX systems, some of which are also Naim dealers, so do your research and set up an appointment to take a listen.

Thanks all. The headline would be the way I would want to go I think, as I can got hold of a almost new 2nd hand one for a good deal.

Forgive me if I'm slow in the uptake here, but if I power the headline from the hi cap ( seems logical as I would have a spare one, if the 282 is no longer required) then I would need a SLIC lead, that I understand, so where does the signal come from ? Seems to be that I need to take a lead from the superline ( 4 or 5 pin?) to the headline ? But where would I plug it in, from the rear of the headline it looks like there is nowhere for it to go?

The Headline comes with a captive lead with a five pin din plug on the end. This is the plug that you get changed for a 4 pin plug, which you then connect to one of the Supercap (which powers the Superline) power amp outputs. 

The slic lead goes between the Headline and the Hicap's socket 4. No signal passes through the Hicap.

Perfect that's very clear, excellent forum and very helpful.

thanks

stuart 

You won't regret it (though you may miss speakers after a while). A HeadLine powered by a HCDR is a truly astounding headphone amp. I run mine into HD800 and while an HL/HCDR is an expensive analogue only headphone amp it proves itself. 

Headphones are a bit trickier. It won't come down purely to sound quality. Everyone's head is different and headphones that feel light and comfortable to one person can feel like an agonising vice to someone else and vice versa. I was really impressed with a pair of Audeze headphones but they hurt like hell and the HD800 were supremely comfy. I know others who feel the opposite. Audition carefully and leave them on for some time.

Interesting you mention HD800, I was thinking of HD650's on a good friends recommendation, I think they are pretty well thought of for the money. Luckily a good friend works a retailer who stocks grado and seinn so hopefully I can audition a few pairs, that's my plan

I think I will keep all my pre / power cables etc, as I'm sure one day I will go back to speakers, but at the moment physical space is an issue, so needs must....

happy though that I got outbid on a napsc yesterday! The advice I have received has saved me a few pounds! Plus rigging up the headline direct to supercapped superline with power from hi cap should result in a pretty half decent sound

A "Supercapped" Headline is rather good....

StuSaff posted:

Interesting you mention HD800, I was thinking of HD650's on a good friends recommendation, I think they are pretty well thought of for the money. Luckily a good friend works a retailer who stocks grado and seinn so hopefully I can audition a few pairs, that's my plan

I think I will keep all my pre / power cables etc, as I'm sure one day I will go back to speakers, but at the moment physical space is an issue, so needs must....

happy though that I got outbid on a napsc yesterday! The advice I have received has saved me a few pounds! Plus rigging up the headline direct to supercapped superline with power from hi cap should result in a pretty half decent sound

In turn, also interesting you mention HD600. I have a pair of these too since over 15 years now. When I got the HL/HCDR combo, they were totally outclassed by that and the source. So the 600s went to the office system and 800s came to take their place in the main system. Up to that point I felt the 600s were awsome (and they are) but I had been driving them with a Rega Ear which is about right for them.

Thanks to this forum that's what Im aiming for, if I hadn't have asked I would be probably be looking at a napsc powered headline, with an outlay of extra expense that I wouldn't have needed, just need to make sure when I order the headline I clarify the need for a 4 pin captive lead and not the standard 5 pin, that would be a nuisance !

StuSaff posted:

Interesting you mention HD800, I was thinking of HD650's on a good friends recommendation, I think they are pretty well thought of for the money. Luckily a good friend works a retailer who stocks grado and seinn so hopefully I can audition a few pairs, that's my plan

Audition allways good

I have had HD600 & HD650 and by far preferred the closed BeyerDynamics in same or cheaper range

DT770/600ohm, DT250 or DT150, T70 etc - magnificent phones with more direct sound

I think the Headline were developed on Beyers

If you persue HD600/650 wear them for a long time, to me they seemed like I had my head in a vice!!