NAC 272 Headphone output

Posted by: Timmo1341 on 20 July 2017

Since upgrading from SuperUniti to the 272/250 combination I have noticed a significant improvement when occasionally listening via the headphone output into B&W P7 headphones.

My question is, as you don't know what you don't know(!), precisely how good is the 272's headphone amp? Would I experience another significant improvement were I to buy a dedicated headphone amp? This question should be viewed within context of perhaps 5 or 6 hours per week headphone usage, as I'm not sure just how cost effective such a purchase would be, nor how achieveable in terms of 272 connectivity.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

Posted on: 20 July 2017 by hungryhalibut

Have you tried streaming to the A&K using AK Connect?

Posted on: 20 July 2017 by Timmo1341

Sorry HH - what relevance has that to headphone listening? I can already connect the P7s to my AK Jr and access all my collection, but that does not sound as good as connecting P7s to the 272.

All I'm asking is has anyone upgraded the headphone amplification on 272 to significant effect?

Adam's reply is way too cryptic for simple old me!

Posted on: 20 July 2017 by hungryhalibut

I was, too briefly, suggesting that you do what you clearly have already done. I tried sending music from the nas to my AK70 using AK Connect and the sound was probably better than direct from the 272. I must try it again, though I don't tend to use headphones with the 272. 

Posted on: 20 July 2017 by ChrisSU
Timmo1341 posted:

Adam's reply is way too cryptic for simple old me!

I think he was referring to the H word! 

Posted on: 20 July 2017 by Emre

Every decent headphone amp will be improvment on 272 if you have a good headphone such as hd800, fostex 900, audeze lcd, focal elear etc that is a fact because i tested many, even my wife said ok buy the amp its way better

creek, arcam, rega,violectric, gustard are good ss choices that you can use with all your choices

mojo/hugo2 are options that you can connect to 272 and use it as a dac/amp with naim app

they all far better than 272 but with a good headphones

p7s are easy to drive sort of portable headphones so i am not sure that you will get the benefit or not, i own p5 but not touched them for years, so if you like headphones you might be better of with first upgrading them then get a good amp as well

mojo is always a good option drives everything

İf you are looking for closed cans my favorites are fostex 900/fostex th00 and audioquest ones depending on your budget

open ones are hd800s and elear are very good options

massdrop got very good headphones time to time, i just bought an hd650 again after 10 years for 199$, it is a fantastic deal but need to wait

headfi is a good source of info if you like the headphones