Connecting 252 to Focal Arche

[PPT]

Hi guys,
I’m trying to connect my 252 to Focal Arche Headphone ampli.
I bought a naim hi line din5 to 2RCA connecting it to tape out of 252 and with my great surprise, it doesn’t work (din on 252 tape out and rca on arche).

I then tried to use a custom made 5din to 2RCA cable on the same out and it work.

So I was thinking it was the naim hi line cable having some defect but
I tried to directly connect my NDX2 to the focal arche using the HI LINE cable (din on NDX2 and RCA on arche) and it do work perfectly.

Am I doing something wrong?

[Mike_S]

In my NDX2 / 252 set up, I use the RCA outputs on the NDX2 to my headphone amp and switch outputs in the app when using headphones.

[easeback1]

I ran into similar problems with my 252. Pin configuration on the DIN - RCA lead is the issue, see Mr Dane’s explanation below:

Headphone amp

OK, you’ll use the unbalanced input on RCA phonos on the HDV820. You’ll need a suitable DIN to RCA Phono interconnect. As I mentioned earlier, the DIN will need to have the REC OUT pins connected, so may well need to be a custom made for purpose.

Connecting RCA - RCA from NDS to headphone amp and switching inputs works fine. Is there any sonic advantage here to keeping the 252 in the signal path?

[PPT]

So, you mean that I need a custom cable to connect 252 to the headphone ampli.
Using RCA-RCA from Ndx2 is fine but I can’t listen to my record player

[Richard.Dane]

It’s all in the forum FAQ;

How To Connect a Headphone amp to your Naim system

If you wish to connect a standard (DIN) Headline then you connect the captive DIN signal lead to one of the IN/OUT DIN inputs on a suitable Naim pre-amp or Integrated amp. The manual explains connection as follows; [Headline connection] If you have an RCA Phono Headline then you should connect to Line Out RCA Phonos, should your equipment have them, or alternatively to RCA Phono outputs on a suitable source component. Note that any Headline will require a suitable power supply to operate, ei…

[easeback1]

“Note also that some Naim devices, such as the NAC-N272 Network Pre-amp, offer a LINE OUT on RCA Phono, and here you can connect to a non-Naim RCA Phono-equipped Headphone amplifier using a standard RCA Phono interconnect.”

So is the RCA phono analogue out on NDS / NDX2 etc. officially approved for connecting a non-Naim headphone amp, or is there a reason to connect via the pre-amp instead?

[Richard.Dane]

As per the FAQ, you can connect directly from a particular source. Only drawback here is that you’ll only be able to use the headphone amp from that source, whereas connection via the pre-amp will allow you to use it for any source.

[PPT]

Thanks Richard.
Is there an original Naim cable like the 5Din-4RCA one or do I have to buy it custom made?

[Richard.Dane]

Yes, Naim do one, see the FAQ here on interconnect ID.