The NAC332 headphone section sounds very good but I wonder is it possible to raise the game with an outboard headphone amp?
I have used OPPO PM2 headphones for many years and am currently home trialling Fiio FT7s. My new Palma DHS-1 should arrive within a couple of weeks.
Not mentioning budget at all because I would be interested to hear of good alternatives and then make my decision on where to pitch in. Actually, let’s be sensible, keep it under the price of the NAC332!
I believe the 332 uses the same headphone section as an Atom HE (hope somebody corrects me if not). I have an Atom HE in one system and a Trilogy 933 headphone amp in the other. The latter improves things substantially across the board and is really special, and remember the HE isn’t that shabby itself. It is discontinued but they crop up s/h. It was about £3k new.
The 931i is Trilogy’s current model that apparently approaches the 933’s performance but I have not heard it. About £1600 new.
I guess my point is you might be surprised how much more performance a dedicated headphone amp can give you with decent headphones. Worth trying one, and there are quite a few options.
With the headphones that you have just bought, a headphone amp will probably get the most out of those cans.
I have just replaced my Lehman Audio Drachenfels with an SPL Pronitor SE. The Lehman is great value for money, but the Phonitor is a move upwards. The Crossfeed function makes some albums with strong stero effects listenable (Mingus Black Saint and the Sinner Lady).
But headphones can be more important than the amplifier. I have accumulated 4 sets.
The reasonably priced Shure 1540 is the bass king. I wanted a closed back to play in the presence of others. for €500, these are great.
I was undecided between the Sennheiser HD800S and the Beyerdynamic T1 ver 2. I bought the very neutral detailed HD800S. These were my go to cans for 90% of the time until recently.
But I picked up a pair of T1 v2 on Fleabay at a ridiculous price. These are dragged out for bass heavy music.
The Heddphone 2Gt has made my other headphones a bit redundant. Brilliant crisp allrounders with their AMT drivers. They need a powerful HP amp.
But the Phonitor has breathed a lot of quality into the HD800S that was missing before.
I believe these German brands and Shure have not engaged in the exaggerated pricing of some US and one particular Chinese brand ( who then discount viciously last years model).
I now have an atom HE and it out performs my old Lehman headphone amp when used with Hifiman Anya organic headphones connected to my main 500 system.
When I talked to Naim they said the 222 had a better headphone amp than the Atom HE (which I already thought was excellent) - not sure but assume it’s the same design for 333?
Not sure what you would need to spend to improve on that but I have decided to not invest any more money in headphone amps….
Gary
I believe the headphone amp is essentially the same in the Atom HE, Nait50 and New Classic boxes, but you are getting the benefit of a superior source using a 222 or a 333/332 compared to the Atom.
Thank you for the information. I can’t find any definitive information on the NSC332 headphone circuit but as it is fed by a separate NPX300 Power supply, I would hope it performs better than the Atom but it is all academic.
The performance of the headphone amp seems very good but I was just curious about possible improvements with a dedicated amp.
Having spent a lot of the past week or so investigating amps (mainly YouTube), it is becoming apparent that these amps are used to shape sound in a manner to compensate for the sound signature of headphones. I know this is similar to speaker selection but seems more complex to me.
One thing for sure, I don’t need a DAC or DAC/Amp - my NSS333 with NPX300 is all the DAC I will ever need!
Once my Palma DHS-1 headphones arrive, I will just concentrate on using them with my NAC332. I did all of my testing of the headphones with my iPhone playing hi-res music via Roon Arc and my original mojo DAC/Amp. The mojo has served me well and I enjoy the sound of it as a secondary/portable system usually with Oppo PM3 closed back planars.
The Palmas sound great and fly in the face of my bias towards Planars as they are dynamic headphones. In second place during my auditions were the Dan Clark Noire X which are lovely closed back planers and a significant improvement on my PM3s.
The Palmas are adjustable to be closed or open - I am hoping that there is not too much leakage when in close proximity to the Mrs or I may have to get the Noire X as well! 
Indeed, the NSS333 is a great source.
The headphone amp in the NAC332 is very good and whether any better than the Atom, the performance is very pleasing.
The dealership where I auditioned and then ordered the Palma DHS-1 specialises in ‘headfi’ and has some incredible equipment on display. However, it is a rabbit hole that I will avoid!
For my portable system I use an original chord Mojo and wonder if it is worth upgrading to the Mojo 2 or even HH2.
I find that my headphones are far more distinct in their sound tuning compared to headphone amps. My old Lehman Audio HP amp does not sound much different to my SPL Phonitor that cost 4 times more. I bought it for the cross feed function. There may be some difference between tubes and solid state.
My Shure 1540 cans have far heavier bass compared to my Sennheiser HD800S headphones.
This past year I have been updating my HiFi, particularly the headphone side. I have perhaps been reading too much. But I get the impression that the HiFi world is full of snake oil and BS.
Some reviewers are not objective and a single piece of gear might get very different reviews.
My findings are the same as yours concerning reviews for headphones/amps - very inconsistent.
Surely every product can’t be as good as they say! It is the area where I have the least respect for reviews. They are just not helpful at all.
I have Oppo PM2 open backs and PM3 closed backs. I am waiting for delivery of my Palma DHS-1 closed/open back and hope that they will serve as open and closed even though they are less ‘closed’ and less ‘open’ than traditional ones. If not, I will get the DCA Noire X for closed back use.
I will be returning a set of FiiO FT7 open backs - they are very good with ‘more’ bass than the Palmas but the Palmas are better sounding all round to my ears. Mind you they should be at more than double the price.
It will be too difficult to audition amps at home so I am not going to bother.
Thank you for your insights - much appreciated.
In my experience headphones vary hugely. Not just in 'performance ’ but fundamental musical style. Far more than loudspeakers or other components I think. So some may be warm, or bright, or open, or fast etc. Technically excellent may not mean more enjoyable. This is why in every ‘what headphone’ thread I say you must demo (even without considering comfort) not buy on price or reputation.
I have three pairs, each quite different, plus a good IEM. What I think my expensive headphone amp (Trilogy) does is to get out the way and let each perform to its best level in its own style snd character rather than somehow moderating that to a fictitious ‘ideal’.
Blimey, that’s a bit profound. I’ll get my coat…
Bruce
Very good explanation Bruce and is what I am finding to be the case. The headphone section of my Naim amp seems to be neutral and I am not seeking a particular sound signature other than similar to my speaker sound.
I know headphones are different and that is why I will consider having two of them but I will no longer seek a separate amp - maybe a Mojo 2 to upgrade from my original for my portable system. Both headphones (Palma and Noire X) will sound great on Mojo and Naim.
If you visit a site like Head Fi, you will find there a quite a few people with large headphone collections. I have accumulated 4 sets of cans. each has a very different sound. Some albums come alive on a certain set of cans, or may sound limp on others.
My Sennheiser 800S seemed to be the headphones by which others are judges. Indeed they are very good, but lack bass for those tracks that need it.
I was torn between the 800S and the Beyerdynamic t1 Ver 2. I found a pair cheap on Ebay. These are my heavy bass cans.
I was fascinated by the Heddphone ATM technology. After reading lots of good reviews I found a B stock pair much cheaper than list. Brilliant allrounders. I am using these 90% of the time.
All the above headphones leak sound. I needed a good closed pair, to used when I am in the room with others. My Shure 1540 headphones fit the bill, even if they are less detailed than my main headphones.
It is easy to get caught up in this experimentation.
You are well sorted with the correct ‘tools’ for each album that you wish to play. However, I often listen to playlists in random order, sometimes covering different genres. This means that I need to find good all round headphones which I believe that the Palmas are.
Loved the DCA Noire X as well so I will end up with 4 including my 2 Oppos. Can’t see me using the Oppos much but would not want to get rid of them.
Really enjoying the Palmas with the 333/332 and am waiting for my DCA Noire X to arrive. These will be used when close to other people.
After much investigation and deliberation I decided to go for an Atom HE which arrived today. Main considerations were the all in one streamer/DAC/amp functionality, build quality and sound. Warmer and less detailed than the 333/332 but still very good.
After admittedly short listening to Topping, cayin etc. (can’t recall all model numbers), I found that the sounds were all different with their own flavouring but the Atom has more of the Naim sound that I like.
I will keep my excellent Chord Mojo for portable convenience.
I think the Atom HE is superb and a great headphone amp and with active speakers is a brilliant solution.
Enjoy
Gary
Thank you Gary.
An Atom HE could be a neat solution, but it uses essentially the same headphone amp as the 332, but obviously with an inferior source compared to your 332/300.
From a practical viewpoint, is your rack close enough to where you sit to allow headphones to run from it? If not, there are plenty of combined DAC/headphone amps that might be worth considering. A Chord Hugo or TT2 for example would be easy to position just about anywhere.
I use headphones for movies and occasionally music.
Here is my simple set-up.
OPPO UDP-205 > Naim DC1 > Naim NDX 2/XPS DR > Kondo RCA Interconnects > Niimbus HPA US 4+
Niimbus is part of Lake People of Germany - who also make Violectric products. The Niimbus is a no compromise product that, in my opinion, works well with Naim.
I have two headphones: Hifiman Susvara (planar magnetic) and Focal Utopia (dynamic driver). Both headphones sound wonderful!
I am a bit confused.
Are you setting up a 2nd system using an Atom HE as a standalone streamer and headphone amp or is it going into your main system alongside the 333 purely as a headphone amp? That looks like a bit of duplication seeing as the 333 has a good (better) headphone output, and is a better quality source.
Maybe I missed something
Bruce
Hi Bruce, originally I considered exploring the possibility of improving on the NAC332 headphone amp by adding a headphone amp to the NSS333. I quickly came to the conclusion that the headphone amp in my main 333/332 system is plenty good enough. This works well with my open/closed back Palms DHS-1 headphones and my Oppo PM2 and PM3s.
I then thought about a separate headphone only system for upstairs for use with closed backs (PM3 and DCA Noire X). My Mojo is great for this but a bit of a nuisance so I will use it as a portable system around the house as it fits in my pocket and I can listen when in the garden etc.
I determined that I wanted an all in one streamer/DAC/headphone amplifier that I could leave on a bedside table and just plug in my ‘phones. The Atom HE won out in the end due to build quality, sound quality (obviously not as good as my main system) and satisfies my Naim bias. I can play music on my main system and then just transfer it to the Atom and continue listening upstairs.
