Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition possibility to connect to an integrated amplifier and use it as a streaming DACas a

Hi-Fi Corner
1

Hi. Has anyone used Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Addition with Sugden IA-4 integrated amp and what are your thoughts? I am not sure if Naim HE functions like a streaming DAC when it is connected to an integrated amp or eliminates the preamp of the integrated amp and functions as preamp itself. Currently I am using a Gold Note DS-10 with IA-4 but would like to try Naim Uniti Atom HE. Gold Note DS-10 becomes a streaming DAC with a fixed volume output when connected to integrated amp and when there is no headphone connected to it. When a headphone connected it becomes a streaming DAC and headphone amplifier. Has anybody used Naim HE and Gold Note DS-10 with Sugden IA-4 and what are your impressions if you had tried both? Thank you

2

It would seem far better to get an ND5XS2.

2 Likes
3

There’s no fixed output on the atom he, only preamp output. If you want to use it with an integrated amp, then you have the choice of volume control; either set the atom half way and use the integrated amp volume, or the other way around.

1 Like
4

I use my ATOM HE with an nap100 and it sounds great. It powers some bowers 705 s2 speakers great setup. Id suggest just getting an outboard amp.

2 Likes
5

I agree that is the ideal arrangement. I use my HE with a NAD M23 (driving Magico A1s) and it works very well.

6

Thank you for the very helpful replies. I think it is ideal to use Uniti HE with a power amp but I really like my Sugden IA-4. I will try to demo HE with a Sugden amp at a local dealer here that sells both brands but I am not sure if they have them in stock. If I can do this I will write here again my thoughts. I am trying to get something like Gold Note DS-10 that does streaming, can be used as a DAC and have good quality Headphone output. I know Uniti HE is great as headphone amp as I listened to it with my Sennheiser HD800S headphones. Enjoy listenning to your music.

1 Like
7

I have played with using my Uniti HE with an integrated amp (Moon 600i). You have to listen pretty hard to find any degradation from going through two preamp sections imo. I had the Atom at 80% and used the Moon volume.
I think it messes with your head more than the sound…

The Moon 600i has a Bypass function to use the power amp section only. I could hear no difference. I guess it has a great volume pot setup.

One other thing - using the Atom volume control means you have volume on the App.

1 Like
8

If you want to use the Naim HE as a line out with 2v then set volume to 82 and just use amp volume instead. In order to not mess with volume at all I set max volume to 82 in the app and then adjusted volume to 100. In roon I changed setting to fixed volume so I couldn’t mess with it either. This way always get 2v going into my headphone amp. But even with this the remote and volume control on the Naim HE are not locked but at least can never send more the 2v out.

Originally I planned on using the Naim volume and leaving the headphone amp volume alone. But I let a friend test out my headphone setup and when checked later saw he raised Naim volume to 96. Not sure that can hurt the amp but that’s around 4.5v and may cause distortion.

2 Likes
9

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.