Now I know how @InTune felt like… I can feel the tension building! Can’t wait for them to arrive
Don’t forget, the M Scaler will work with the TT as well with one BNC cable. Should be an interesting test to see how much it elevates the TT as well as the Qutest with dual BNC!
The TT trade has definitely been a good deal… it makes a big difference being able to listen to excellent quality music while working… although, I do find I keep stopping to listen more than I used too!
Today, I tweaked the speaker position slightly… moved in from 48" to 42". It sort of goes against the desire to move the speakers further apart but it actually made a good improvement again. Soundstage width was the same but both the depth of soundstage and instrument imaging was improved. You get a real sense of front to back depth, especially with live music. I’ve now marked speaker positions as even small adjustments can make a big difference… covers against accidental moves.
I trialed the LCD 3 & HD800S headphones but came to the conclusion I just wouldn’t use them at home as I prefer NFL setup. They sounded great but just left me wanting to go back to the speakers for the extra soundstage, imaging and surprisingly detail. The HD800S had incredible detail but felt confined in comparison… which is unfair really but as I was intending to use them at home a lot I felt I would gravitate to the speaker system and they’d receive infrequent use.
I think I’ll still get some headphones for my travels but a bit lower down the scale a level as they’ll only be used a few times a year… no hurry though as they’re not needed until Nov and I’ll be upgrading BNC cables first.
To connect the TT2 to a 200 you need a 2 x RCA to 4 pin DIN cable. It’s slightly non-standard, so you may need to get one made up. Flashback can supply a reasonably priced one, and they know Naim gear well. If you use a cable supplier who isn’t familiar with Naim gear, send them a picture of the back of the 200 with a diagram of the pin layout.
I’ve tried this with a 1st gen. Hugo (which kind of worked) and Dave (which worked well enough to persuade me to sell my 282). Not sure how it would work with the TT2.
They both have their pro and cons… I have discovered that a set of cans suited to how you listen and a good amp can be phenomenal… in kind of lays the recording bare… and huge musical and creative insight. However there are so many headphones that just don’t work for me. I do like HD650s… but after a session with the Empys then listening to the HD650s quickly after before your brain has adjusted the sound is so constrained, flat and artificial…
Near field is good for stereo field, but the frequency extremes and slam/sub bass are not as resolved… but some music seems to work best with near field, others with cans… it’s good to have the choice…
But right now my best immersive experiences are with cans … specifically Meze Empyreans … however they need a very good headphone amp… and the TT2 (High Gain) seems to be a good match… alas my lesser amps and even Hugo Original leave some of the performance slow and in distinct with a lack of presence and air.
Oh yes the other thing with good can and amp is the distortion is so low it can be tempting to turn up louder and louder… to probably verging on unhealthy levels, so I have had to watch that… certainly if there is soft clipping in the recording, as you don’t notice your natural hearing distortion.
A good track that really shows the differences in styles to me is Glory Box by Portishead … works far better with cans, whereas Blue Lines by Massive Attack probably sounds better near field… headphone listening shows up production errors or inaccuracies and can sound a little crude, but near field seems to gloss over this and you simply enjoy the groove.
Me too. I thought I’d prefer headphones over NFL. More immersive etc but I found I enjoyed being in front of the main musician and surrounded by other instruments rather than the feeling of the main focus being between my ears… if you know what I mean.
Yes, I would like the option of headphones… I just think I’ll not invest as much into them given I seem to gravitate to NFL. I did really enjoy the HD 800S… probably more so than the LCD 3’s. I’m thinking maybe keeping an eye open for some new or pre-loved HD660S. Seems a more balanced price point given it won’t be my main listening option.
Yes you do need to spend more on headphones for them really to jump ahead in performance. So if only ever going to be occasional I guess it’s not worthwhile to get higher end performant phones… but it’s addictive if you do
I note you have tried two extremes Audeze LCD3 and the Sennheiser HD800s … the former is not really renown for its transparency and detail… more it’s warmth and mellow response. You might want to try some of the higher end Hifiman or Meze models which chart a path between those two extremes… but for a price… so again can’t recommend if it’s only for occasional use.
I agree. Finding a place that stocks a wide selection is tricky. There is one place that’s near me that stocks Audeze, Sennheiser and Focal but not Meze or Hifiman. I’d prefer to try them first ideally.
Funny… just checked Meze stockists and Richer Sounds stock them… as with most other brands. That is the last place I’d have thought about trying. The only issue would be whether they have them in store or just to order. Might well be worth a call to see what they hold when it comes to buying. They list all the brands mentioned plus more.
I found the HD800S sounded very similar to my PMC Twenty5 22’s that I have TQ Silver II cable. Very tight bass, not boomy plenty of detail with very clear mids & bags of detail in the highs but not harsh.
When I get round to it, I’ll probably just go in with an open mind and go with what I like best rather than thinking too much on price point or brand etc… within reason.
Yes bass should never be boomy in headphones in my opinion… if it is unless really poor headphones or not run in I would always look to the amp…
And indeed smooth upper mids and treble without any obvious hot spots or smearing is important… and yes it’s not totally flat, and many higher end phones these days follow the Harman curve to varying extents to match how we hear so it sounds more natural … this is one reason I prefer planar phones and less fond of dynamic phones… but planars in my experience need many many hours run in to tighten up
I don’t see any competition here, it is what works for you. I am taken aback by how much I enjoy NF listening, even using a rag tag of old equipment i have to hand, plus the Hugo TT.
Like Toon I find my headphones somewhat constraining, but hear all sorts of detail and playing insight that is not to hand via my main or NF systems.
I am enjoying cycling between listening choices - brings a smile to my face.
Indeed there is no competition… that is what I was saying and you appear to agree , I enjoy both, both have their pros and cons… it’s what it’s all about…
With my current system nearly at a point of completion… for it’s current room, upgrade cash will go to a pair of headphones or two in the future.
What’s really taken me aback with this Chord DAC thing, is how I ended up with a much smaller (physically) system but yet it sounds so much better. Feels a little emotional selling my SN2 & HiCap etc but I can honestly say I’ve never been in a better place HiFi wise with the Aries G1, TT2, M Scaler and 25.22 speakers.
This will be a great platform for headphones as well. I have a great camera bag with padding that will just take the TT2 & M Scaler when we travel around
Haha… I dragged my wife to listen to it. She complained about the hassle… then proceeded to sit there for an hour listening to it. When we buy the next house, we’ll have to make sure the layout better suits a hifi setup in the main living room!
When we bought our current house I was tucked up workwise and so my wife did most the looking, the only thing I insisted upon was a room that would work for the HiFi. OK, we CALL it the living room, and occassionally I have to allow ‘guests’ in there, but we ALL know what it is really for.