My Focal Clear MG headphones have an 3m XLR lead and a 1.2m 1/8" TRS jack lead which is too short to be of any practical use, but I can’t connect the XLR headphone cable to Linn DSM.
I have also read that the headphone amp on the DSM is not that great, so I’d like to use the output of the Linn Organik DACs into the amp in the Atom HE, so hopefully get the best of both for my headphones.
It makes sense in my head, but that’s no recommendation 
Does that make sense? and is it doable?
Thanks
I can’t see why it wouldn’t work, as there’s either an analogue or SPDIF output on the Linn. The Atom will digitise its analogue input so perhaps worth trying both of these options.
Cheers @ChrisSU
What’s in my head is this -
Use a phono lead from each of the mono DACs in the Linn- (the XLR outputs go to my pair of 350 monoblocks)
and plug the other end into the Atom HE input where the wavy line is-
Is that right?
That should indeed work, but I do think the volume will be controlled by the Selekt … so you would have two volume controls in series.
By using the digital out (SPDIF) of the Linn you won’t have this issue. This would be a neater solution IMHO
Yes, so a regular stereo DIN cable should do it as long as the split on the end of the cable allows it to reach both sockets on the Linn.
Does the Linn analogue out have a fixed volume option? If so you could try it, but my experience of using non-Naim DACs (not Linn) has been that dialling down the output level, then using the Naim volume control, has given better performance, but that’s using different equipment to yours.
Whether the SPDIF out would be any better, I think you’ll just have to try it and see. The fancy Linn DAC will no doubt change the character of the sound even though the signal would then pass through the Atom DAC too. Only one way to find out what you prefer!
That’s great - thanks guys!
I’ll try out both options over the next couple of days.
I had forgotten that the Atom re-digitizes everything.
I’d hoped I could just use the amp.
Be interesting to see how it works out
If you go the spdif route will need to use spdif port 1 and you may need to reconfigure it from input (default) to output. You can do this in the Linn app. This also bypasses the DSM’s DAC and volume control which should then be handled by the Atom.
Roger
Hi Pete. Been rereading your OP and wondering whether the most obvious and simplest solution wouldn’t be just to use your Atom HE for headphones and the Linn for speakers.
Or, if you wished to move the Atom to another system, could you get a longer lead with ¼ inch jack to use with the DSM? As for quality of the head amp, I’m only a very occasional and casual headphone user so not really tested mine, but reports seem to vary. What HiFi gave it a very positive review when they tried it with Focal Utopias.
Roger
Hi Roger and thanks for your replies.
Yes, on reflection I think you’re probably right.
I’d hoped to be able to take the output of the very fine DACs in the Linn to the very good amp in the Atom HE and hear sonic bliss!
I’d forgotten that the Atom re-digitizes audio inputs so my music is going to be going through the Linn DAC then the Atom ADC and then the Atom DAC which is a lot of processing of the signal.
I can get a suitable replica Focal cable made for the MGs for about £100.
I’ll have a good listen (or as long as I can bear with a 4ft cable) to the Linn on headphones (something I’ve not yet tried) and compare with the Atom.
I may try the SPDIF cable too just to see what it sounds like.
Cheers
Pete
I suspect you may hear something you like if you hook the Linn up to the Atom (assuming you like the sound of your Linn, which I’m assuming you do!) All you need is a standard RCA cable to try it.
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