Naim Naha Headphone Amp Troubleshooting

Hey all…first time Naim owner here. I bought a Naim Naha w/ i-Supply Power Pack. Device powers on but I can’t get any sound from it. I’ve tested different headphones, different DAC’s, different connectors and even different plug converters (I’m in the US). I’m completely stumped. I’ve seen different threads about newbies like me missing something obvious, and I’m hoping this is the case. Would greatly appreciate any troubleshooting tips that I might have missed. Thanks :.)

1 Like

Is it an RCA Phono or DIN NAHA (Headline)?

1 Like

What are you connecting it to? If you put your system in your profile, rather than just stating ‘many’, it makes it easier for people to assist.

1 Like

My current setup is computer connecting via USB to either Musical Fidelity M1 Dac or a Music Hall 25.3 Dac (which are the DACs currently on my desk) to the Naha. I used a DIN to RCA connector to connect the Naha to each of the DACs.

Ah, ok, so a DIN Headline. In which case you probably have the wrong interconnect/adaptor. You’ll need a custom one so the rec out pins of the din are connected as the Din is designed to connect to a tape in/out din on a preamp. See the faq on connecting headphone amps.

Alternatively, if only using it to connect to non-Naim lit, ask your dealer to change the DIN to a pair of RCA phonos.

1 Like

Thanks Richard…I found this earlier explanation in another thread (which I’m referencing).

My 5 Din Male Naim Connector was connected to a 5 Din Female to 2 Pin RCA Male Connector which was connected to Audio Output RCA Jacks on each device. Am I reading that I needed to buy the 4 Pin RCA Male Connector even if I only used 2 of the 4 pins? Also, is it possible that my DACs aren’t “powerful” enough and that I need to attach the NAIM to a headphone amp or pre-amp?

1 Like

A regular off the shelf adaptor won’t work here as the DIN on the Headline is wired to take the signal out from the REC OUT pins of a tape in/out socket. Any adaptor would need to be custom wired accordingly.

Yep, so I built my own adaptor cable. About 10 metres long, as it had to cross from the 82 on one side of my office to the NAHA1/2 on the other. IIRC, VdH microphone cable & PREH connectors.

So building my own adaptor cable is out of my skillset, but let me ask this (and apologies if it’s a slightly ignorant question since I’m completely a headphone guy)… if I were to get an integrated amp

and plug the adaptor into the REC OUT Socket, would that solve the problem? Or, am I missing something?

If connecting a headphone amp to the integrated amp then yes, you would take signal from the tape REC OUT sockets. However, unless your adaptor is wired correctly (any off the shelf adaptor will be wired for PLAY, not REC OUT pins) then it won’t work. Your best bet here is to either make an appropriate adaptor with the correct pin connections at the DIN end, or have the DIN plug on the NAHA replaced with a pair of RCA Phonos. Your dealer should be able to do this for you.

1 Like

Thanks. Since I don’t have a “dealer,” who (preferably in the US) would you recommend that I reach out to? Also, I’d like to confirm that there is no magical Google / eBay / Amazon search that I can make that will allow me to buy the right cable off the shelf.

I would guess it’s something that anybody can do who is a bit handy with a soldering iron.

Or buy a DIN to 4x phonos and use the appropriate pair.

1 Like

Really easy to find these on a well known shopping site

No good with a DIN Headline on a non-Naim amp.

1 Like

Presumably this is because the Headline has a captive lead. So it’s a matter or an adaptor, or replacing the captive din with a pair of RCAs. Just as you write.

Yes, exactly.

Understood. If I go to Ebay, can I assume that any Naim Amp or Pre-Amp that I see will work to solve my issue? Or, are there any exceptions? Plus, can I assume that the Chinese knockoffs will not work?

Quite apart from any discussion of same being strictly forbidden here, please, do yourself a favour and avoid these like the plague.

Just find your nearest stereo or electronics store and ask them to fit a pair of RCA phonos in place of the DIN socket. I would guess it should only take about 10 minutes or so and cost less than 50 dollars, if that.

1 Like