This why being Roon Ready suites the product so well. Using Roons DSP you can create your own eq or their is a well known site that does reading on a lot of phones and provides ready made curves you can apply via parametric EQ or convolution.
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Great point; well made. Yes, Roon costs extra - but if you’re into ultra-specialist headphones, you’ve probably got the money 
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Not necessarily ultra-specialist though…
Below for instance is a comprehensive comparison of the “HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X”, which are all roughly in the 1500,- price range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgQ5ngY37a8&t=804s
The reviewer explains and shows with measurements that the Audeze LCD-X underperforms without any EQ, but is right up to par with the others when EQ’d properly.
The LCD-X is a very popular headphone i believe, and not particularly niche.
I used to handle UK Marketing & PR for Audeze, so know the range well. And yes, Audeze was one of brands we tested Atom HE with. Don’t worry, we know a tiny bit about this stuff! 
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Look forward to hearing what your opinions are
I didn’t see the Atom NE coming but it is it was a very welcome complement to threads discussing ‘where to go next’ or insulting naim software developers. Very promising for the post-272 era.
I used to hate listening on headphones (except for a period with Stax) but I discovered with high quality phones it is another approach to finding your way into complex music.
Another anecdote on this. I still do part-time mastering mostly special editions where you work closely with collectors/curators and the last years I have actually had requests to listen on headphones and “do what you can to adapt”. So far no requests for “hires”.
I have already had my purchase order for an NE to my little studio approved.
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Just to be sure: the Atom HE cannot use/connect Bluetooth headphones (like current models)?
(Not that it would make sense with regard to the inbuilt headphone connections and amplifier - but some people asked for such a feature recently. So maybe there’s a market for that as well?)
No, the Uniti Atom can receive Bluetooth and indeed is AptX HD enabled, but is not a transmitter. It’s about high-quality headphone use
You might be joking. You can use WXAD-10 for that at cost 100-150 euro new or less if used. Actually, I’ll give you mine if you need but after I receive my nd5xs2 or Atom HE.
Yeah, I’m so puzzled and Clare does not want to tell which RCA output performs better!
Just to clarify, can the RCA and XLR outputs be used at the same time?
Yes
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I currently run HD800’s using my NDX2/XPS DR into a Heed Canalot with the large Heed PS (similar to a Hicap) in my listening room. In the lounge I have a Nova. It would be interesting to hear how the HE compares to both of those options. Certainly the UI of the HE is very appealing if in the Naim eco-system, and can be plonked in the lounge by your favourite chair near the fire-place in winter. The HD800 like a lot of power though and the HE doesn’t provide an upper Ohm rating for headphones?
This looks like an excellent device for active speaker fans like me who also listen on headphones.
I’ve read the whole thread and noted that the RCA and XLR outputs can be used at the same time, so one set could feed the active speakers and the other set could drive a sub woofer. However, I’m also looking for bass management and the ability to set high and low pass crossovers, and also to have room correction software.
I realise that the HE doesn’t have this, and that’s not a criticism as it can’t do everything, but is the solution to run a pair of analogue outs through a MiniDSP or DSPeaker device first and then connect your speakers from there? I think the answer is yes, but I would appreciate if it could be confirmed. Many thanks.
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In the David Price’s Stereo Net review he quotes designer Steve Sells who says “When driving, say 600 ohms at full volume, the headphone amplifier will remain in Class A…" so I would take it that the HE should be capable of driving HD600s, 650s, and 800s at 300 ohms.
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That doesn’t sound like an ideal approach, since you would do D-A from the Atom HE to the MiniDSP, there do an A-D for the sound processing, and then another D-A to output to the speakers. That would be a lot of lossy processing, so probably not the best option for maximizing sound quality.
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Thanks Richard, I’d like to demo one when they arrive in NZ. It would be slightly odd to use one next to a Nova in the lounge. But the HE and a 250 would be an interesting option.
Actually, I’m currently using my SN2 as a power amp off my 252 in my main system whilst I wait for my new 250, and that is quite astonishing and the SN2 isn’t lacking in drive (proves how important the pre is). So the HE into the SN2 as a power amp versus the Nova would be an interesting head-to-head……
Clare’s employed by Naim. I.e. she might have an opinion herself, but unless it’s aligned with an official Naim statement, she can’t share it.
In other words, Naim should say which is better first. Or just wait until other forumites or reviewers have compared. Personally I doubt whether any difference would be audible.
It strikes me that Naim is not wanting to do this. Makes sense as well if my suspicions are correct.
If Naim goes “our product X is better than our product Y” it might affect the sales of product Y.
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Naim never go down that path, at least in my 35 year + history with them - each product has its merits
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Had Naim commented on whether they may support MQA full decoding or whether this is indeed possible at all in the future?
(Not wishing to start a MQA debate as I subscribe to both Tidal and Qobuz with a preference towards Qobuz especially for non-MQA DACS)