I’d also strongly recommend you try and audition some of the top-end Grados, preferably well run in.
No, I have not tried the HeadLine with a SuperCap power supply.
I’m in Canada, and a SuperCap DR currently has a suggested retail price of $9,690.00 plus tax.
I would love to hear from anyone driving a flagship headphone with a HeadLine powered by a SuperCap DR.
In my opinion, some hard to drive flagship headphones benefit from a balanced headphone amplifier. I hope Naim are developing a flagship headphone amplifier with a balanced output option.
thank you very much for your always valuable advice … unfortunately in the city where I live I have no way to make demos … I only have an Ultrasone dealer … he offered me an Ultrasone Edition 11 … for all the rest would take specifically for without being able to try them first …
considering a budget of around € 500 (which is the value of a second-hand HL / Napsc), what alternatives could I consider?
@Mike_S
Mike has recently purchased the Heed Canalot III which is being powered by the Q-PSU. It’s warming up at the moment but soon he’ll be able to report upon his experiences compared to the headphone amp in his SN2. This combination is slightly over budget but it is a possible alternative to a Headline/NAPSC.
1 Like
Have to 100% agree on the statement, that top flight headphones need something better than a headline, even if you power it with a supercap. I tried mine with it being powered from a hicap, 552, and supercap, and it didn’t really make much difference, but then it only used one power rail, so really why would it?
I just replace mine with a violectic V281 into my sennheiser hd800s and its just great, really showing up the limits of the headline 2, even my older grado sr325e sound much better.
If you are serious about headphones or maybe looking at using headphones more, i would get a better amp, simple, the headline is just about ok at the £300 second hand mark, as long as you dont need to buy a power supply to use it and your headphones are just for the odd occasions and you want to keep it naim.
2 Likes
The V281 is on my shopping list.
Does it look a bit industrial in real life? I’m not sure from the photos.
1 Like
Just a mention for the Trilogy headphone amps. The 931 I found pretty impressive, a fast and dynamic listen but the 933 is a real class act. Very engaging, really has some of the magic posessed by the best HiFi components in just letting the music flow through. It is £2.7k approx though!
Bruce
The trilogy amps are ment to be good, but expensive and for me the lack off balanced inputs and no balanced out for headphone, ruled it out straight away for me.
MaxilMe
The V281 i think looks great and more importantly sounds fantastic with my headphones and source
2 Likes
From my experience, a pair of Grado PS1000’s are stupendously sublime with a Headline2/Supercap2DR. Even though it only uses one of the power rails, the difference was night and day compared to a HCDR.
2 Likes
Same here, only with the earlier GS1000. A fantastic experience. Way better than the top flight Stax, for example - in my opinion.
2 Likes
Thats good then, but for the price off a new supercap dr, headline and cables, you are looking at almost £6k and for that it offers very poor valve for performance is my view, plus just using one power rail is a massive waste in my eyes, but it works for you great.
But as i said the headline didnt work very well with the hd800s and held them back and it didnt matter which power supply you used
2 Likes
Price is irrelevant: I am referring to your comment that top flight headphones need something better than a Headline.
Right i see, but i still stand with what i said, headline is ok up to a point and then its clearly struggles and if you try it along side a good range off headphones and amps, it soon becomes apparent
The Grado PS1000’s were completely effortless with the Headline: there were no signs of struggle to my ears.
2 Likes
But did you try them with other amps?, as with a budget off around £6K, there are some simply stunning headphone amps.
I tried quite a few different amps and headphones at hifi lounge, and it was easy to hear what worked and what didnt and sorry to say the headline was way down the list on what paul has in his demo room, but then i also dont like the grado that much and i even own a pair lol, but they are the much cheaper ones.
I also own a pair of HD800’s. Have you heard them in comparison to the PS1000’s?
Yes, i have, i tried loads.
They ones i really liked the most, but they cost more than what i wanted to spend, are
The focal utopia, stax 009 and my favourite until i found out the price abyss.
The grado i didn’t get on with really, plus being an on ear style, i much prefer the over ear design
Please explain what aspect of the PS1000’s is on ear?
1 Like