Hi all,
I have been trying to use a dedicated headphone amp (Woo Audio WA6) connected to my Atom via pre out, but I can't isolate the pre out signal as the main one. What I am getting, however, is speakers and headphone amp sounding at the same time (speaker out a pre out signals simultaneously).
After addressing the situation with Naim support, the solution I received is to unplug the speakers from the atom every time I want to use the headphone amp. This is not an optimal thing, as speaker cables get pretty tight and there is not much room behind to be manipulating.
If there is no way to fix this situation, could this functionality --muting speaker signal within the menu or app-- be implemented in a future software update? The atom is a phenomenal product and it is a shame not being able to get full freedom of use.
My apologies if this topic has already been covered. I did some previous research and could not find anything.
Many thanks in advance.
M.
Posted on: 19 June 2018 by Mlnieto
Many thanks for your reply, SIMONPETERARNOLD.
The reason why I want to use a separate headphone amp is because the built-in one is not as bright as the rest of the product. The Atom is great but the built-in headphone amp is not its strongest feature.
Regarding your suggestion, once you plug a headphone in the minijack out, it automatically detects the headphone and mutes the speakers. Therefore, what I suggest is something similar but manually managed through software. I have read on the forums that other Naim products actually do this.
I am not an expert but, in the end, an output line is an output line, whatever the use you want to do with the signal. For instance, using an external amp or adding a subwoofer.
Posted on: 19 June 2018 by Richard Dane
To use a separate headphone amp you need a line out. The Atom does not have a line out, only a pre-out, so it's not really suitable for use with a separate headphone amp. If you want to use headphones with the Atom, you have to use the in-built headphone amp together with suitable headphones.
Posted on: 19 June 2018 by sjbabbey
Hi Richard,
I know that it is possible to connect a headphone amp to the preamp output of the UQ2 as I did exactly this to connect a Lehmann Black Cube for headphone listening. With the UQ2 there is a setting to select either small, large or no speakers the latter I selected when using the h/p amp. Is this option not available with the Atom?
Posted on: 19 June 2018 by GregWPGibbs
Unfortunately, speaker configuration is not available with the new Uniti range. It’s one thing I miss from my old Uniti 2 (I used to connect a subwoofer and change the main speaker setting to small, for AV use only)
Posted on: 20 June 2018 by Mlnieto
Hi Richard,
Just to align expectations: would Naim consider releasing some future software update that could block speaker line out or this is something I should forget about?
If it's not going to happen, ever, I'll have to get an additional streamer for my headphone line-up.
Many thanks
M.
Posted on: 21 June 2018 by Richard Dane
M, I'm afraid that's a question only Naim can answer. However, for your purposes, it's still not ideal, as you would be running a pre-out signal to a headphone amp, when what you want is a line out signal that bypasses the volume control etc..
