A Headphone Amplifier thread

Hi Gregg - Very nice - I do like the look of the GSX mini so i’ll be interested in your thoughts when it arrives and the solution you finally end up with. The Brooklyn has settled in nicely here.

James

Will do James. FedEx is keeping up their end of the bargain and the GSX Mini makes its appearance tomorrow

I will post this information here as the Mobile HiFi thread is now closed to new comments:

Sony has released a new firmware, 3.02, for the WM1Z and WM1A. People on HeadFi seem to like it.
I am not in the position to do comparisons between this and the previous 3.01 as I simply do not listen to my 1Z enough to comment. I will say that I did download the update and the 1Z, with both my Utopia’s and Sony Z1R’s, is sounding spectacular. Perhaps more air, space and atmosphere - and a wider soundstage. Truly delicious and sublime.

Unfortunately I did do some comparisons along the lines of what JamesN commented on - there really is a large difference between using the 1Z in DAC mode and streaming Tidal from an iPhone vs. playing tracks from the imbedded memory/SD cards. A really big difference. I guess it makes sense as this was Sony’s intent all along - a no holds barred player with the best sound possible - which according to them necessitated the elimination of any Wifi capabilities ie no streaming from Tidal etc.

I might have to revisit my long lost project of ripping the entirety of my CD collection. 700 CD’s down…and only 2000 more to go :frowning:

Has anyone purchased the 1Tb SD card yet?

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I did: 8TB usb hard drive to rip my meager but constantly growing collection for Uniti Star replay…
Since my 5,000+ CDs and 1000+ LPs went into Heaven thanks to the Woolsey Fire, and the only tunes which did not desert me were my rips for iPod/Pono replay… nowadays I rip everything and store in my office, my car, and at a new home! I sound like a Jack London character… called Amazon about a discount for the Kindle copies of the books I bought from them over the last 20 years, got a $25 gift card: !!!

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This headphone business isn’t as simple as I thought it was…

I have Sennheiser HD800’s that I listen to via a mojo connected directly to NDS. It’s ok but think it can be improved plus the whole battery thing with a mojo is a PITA

Currently considering exploring Sennheiser s hdv600 with balanced cables - which will cost be c£700 - is there a better way to go than this?

Thanks
Gary

The HD800 are really demanding of both source and headphone amp. On a HL2/NAPSC the more forgiving HD600 outperform the HD800. The really needed a HL2/HCdr to then blow the HD600 out of the water.

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They way it’s done is to make music on a bed drive and backup of your database to a usb stick. Then deauthorise the core. Have Roon running on other device , enable and do a restore of the backup point library to HDD . Same thing when you return home. Then it’s in sync.Other way is to get a VPN set up on the core machine at home and connect to it away from home. This is not the easiest to do but a lot of users have managed it.

:small_blue_diamond:@glevethan,…Just ask Richard.Dane to reopen the thread.

/Peder🙂

The original poster of any thread can ask for it to be opened if it has closed since two months of receiving no further comments or replies.

Under certain circumstances I will also agree to open an old thread where there’s a need to add important new information.

Otherwise, please feel free to open a new thread. You can always post a link back to any older closed thread.

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That sounds to me like far too much hassle to do on a regular basis. For that to work for me, I’d need to do it every couple of weeks or so.

At the office I have a Perreaux headphone amp with Sennheiser HD 650- works very well together. Detailed but can listen for hours without being fatiguing…

Sennheiser HD800S + Fiio Q5/AM5 + Qobuz HiRes via computer USB->DAC, very happy with them, but will be even much happier next week because I will be getting a Naim DAC V-1 next week :smile: .

Could I use my HiCAP DR to power both my SN2 and a Headline connected to my NDX2? Then I could use the variable sound setting on the Naim app to control the volume on the Headline I think? Using HD800’s.

A HC can only power one item. Only the Flatcap is actually capable of powering two items and remaining stable.

As for the variable output on the NDX2, you’ve lost me there I’m afraid. The HeadLine has a volume control. Or were you thinking about how to make it remote controlled? Either way, if I understand the limitations correctly, you cannot simultaneously connect the NDX2 to an amp on fixed output and another on variable.

If remote control is really important, there are many non Naim headphone amps that are good. At least a few must have remote.

The other option is to keep it simple. Use what you have. If you borrow HD700/600 and they do indeed work better on the SN than the 800, sell them off and downgrade. Downgrading to upgrade is always a valid tactic. You might also just find you dusagree and the 800 work best for you on the SN.

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Yes, probably the best advice. I was thinking you can alternate outputs fixed/variable when using the headline through the app, but I can see that being a bit of a compromise for UI.

The Naim Gods would love the green one :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Hi Gregg - Interesting about the FW for the Sony. I’ve had the 1Z all week with me on holiday but with no WiFi (and no email - bliss) the firmware update had to wait until we were home. Another job to do at the weekend…

How’s the GSX Mini coming along ??

James

Well Bruce, I’d like to say the Shawcan cable is wonderful but after waiting for the cable to be made, missing the initial delivery whilst i was on holiday and then getting it redelivered today and expectantly opening the package…

They’ve made the wrong cable.

Another couple of weeks to wait…

I started reading that entry thinking you were about to say it was rubbish! Fingers remain crossed.

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Have been listening to my new purchased Naim DAC V-1 for 3 days now, and I am stunned how good this DAC V-1 is, especially with DSD128 from Roon/Qobuz. I used to have Naim CDS/Headline 2/HiCap to drive my Sennheiser HD650 before, but I don’t have my Headline2 anymore, so I can’t really compare, but I think my current setup is much quiet, more transparent, and has much more details than my old headphone setup and Naim signature sound stays the same , but still can’t say which setup is better unless I still have my Headline2 and use the same Sennheiser HD800S headphones. Both setup indeed are very enjoyable, but DAC V-1 seems to work better for me because I listen to Roon/Qobuz more often these days. And DSD128 is really amazing, I have been comparing PCM 348 vs DSD128 for a while, and I can easily pick DSD128 over PCM every time, DSD128 just sound more like playing from my CD player(and better than CD quality for sure), and PCM still sound a bit more like digital to me even with 24/384. Btw, DAC V-1 does very well to my Sennheiser HD650 too, I never thought my HD650 can sound that transparent like right now. Still love the punchy base and the mid from my HD650, sometimes I just don’t know which one I should put on my head, 650 or 800S, LOL.

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As usual, different brains different opinions. For me the Headline 2 w/ HiCap DR was more detailed that the DAC-V1, also with Senn HD 650. But both are fine.

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