The Atom HE is a dedicated headphone amplifier. And the tech has been used again in the NSC222 (albeit integrated in a different and better overall architecture).
I used to have a Star and the headphone performance cannot be compared, the HE is that much better.
If headphones are an important part of your day I’d give it a demo.
The HE is also a standalone pre-amp so you’d get a better result plugging it into a suitable power amp instead of an integrated. I’ve got mine plugged into a NAP 250DR and that is pretty sweet.
Good to know that you’re impressed with the Kanta 2’s @maison00
I’ll put them on the shortlist - thanks.
Useful info - thanks @Kryptos - thanks.
I’m going to book a session at The Audiobarn in Harlow and do some comparisons, but I think the Atom HE with Focal Clear MG and Naim NAP 250DR sounds just the job!
I also note that they do stock the full range of Audiovector speakers so I can test them too and take their advice of what else I should consider.
Really appreciate the advice from this forum, it’s been very helpful - Thanks to all!
Hi @Kryptos I spotted an ex-demo NAP 250DR for £3000 in as new condition, so I’ve bought that already.
An opportunity too good to miss!
Speaking to the rep at Hifonix (who is ex-Naim) he said a special cable would have to me made to connect to HE to the 250DR.
He’s going to speak to one of the engineers at Naim on tuesday to ascertain what sort of cable would be needed. - Something about balanced/unbalanced inputs - but said it can be done.
Can I ask where you got your cable?
Awesome! I have no doubt you will enjoy the result all around. The headphone performance is really and upgrade and into the 250DR it should bury the Nova’s performance.
It’s basically a single XLR to double RCA. My dealer had one made by Chord. The 250DR has only an unbalanced input so using the RCA pre-amp outs on the HE is the way to go. Just make sure the message is clear, it has to have a single XLR on the amp side.
I believe Naim has released cables to do this as well with the introduction of the 222. However in don’t have more info about this. Perhaps someone else can suggest.
By the way, it should be said that the HE is not on par with the 250DR. That is a serious power amp. The result you will get is going te be really awesome. But with that power amp you can also upgrade the source in future if you want to without any worries.
You’ll need cable 5 here. One made for NSC222 to NAP250DR. The Atom HE has the same connectors.
So what I said above is not entirely correct. The RCA puts on the HE is not the suggested. Here it is double XLR for HE into single XLR for 250DR. But as the amp is unbalanced I doubt that there would be a difference between the two options.
Thanks @Kryptos - John at Hifonix just called and someone he knows at NAIM is going to make the right able for me no charge either They’ll ship the cable next thursday.
They also offered me the ATOM HE/Focal Clear MG bundle for £3198
So that and the NAP 250 will ship to me on tuesday
So I got the lot for £6197 rather than £8100
More to spend on the speakers!!
Could I recommend Spendor D7.2 I heard them during a demo yesterday along with Proac response d20. The spendors where in a different league but so they should be at the price. The soundstage and detail were very impressive.
Thanks @vinylMessi - The dealer I’m going to visit stock the full range of Spendors and I’ve read excellent reviews elsewhere of them. Also well within my budget
Def one to listen to - thanks!
Hi I like you mostly listen to classical and piano music forms a large part of that including Olafur Arnalds Nils Frahm Max Richter as well as other classical piano players. I use a pair of Fyne 501 SP s with my Nova and they just sound great. Much better than the Q Acoustics or the B and Ws I had before As they are are floor venting they have no problem being a little near the wall in my listening room. Headphones I have some great Grado sr 325x as well as B and W p8s for wandering around but I mostly link these with my Astell & kern for better Bluetooth.
Regards Nick.
Thanks @NickW
Unfortunately neither of the local dealers I’m visiting stock the Fyne speakers afaik.
I ended up buying the Atom HE with Focal Clear MG headphones.
I’ll use the Atom HE as a preamp and I’ve bought a NAP 250RD power amp.
Naim are making a suitable cable for me - at no charge!
Then I’ll go and audition speakers.
So I’m now in the process of re-ripping my ~1600 CDs in WAV format… should be done by Christmas!!
How about a pair of Naim SBL’s? They sit against the wall so no dog issues, they excel at the type of music you mention, they are relatively inexpensive and as far as I know Naim still supply the rebuild kits. I had mine for some years and were never out of their depth, even on a full 500 system. If you take your time to reseal them and replace the metal pads & gaskets I believe you would be hard pushed to better them based on what you have said. They perform very well at low volume as well.
Hi @pete84, I was going to start by saying that the Nova will sound very good with the Kanta 2s but it is not ideal. I had this pairing and it was very good but once I moved the SN3 and NDX2 onto the Kantas I heard what I was missing. Control, cohesion, bass, and all that.
Now that I see you have gone for the Atom HE and NAP250 I would definitely encourage you to try the Kantas. As you have gone with Focal headphones, the sounds should not be too dissimilar. The beryllium tweeters in the Kanta are fantastic. They play jazz, rock, electronic brilliantly, whatever you throw at them. Good luck with your search (I’d also audition PMC and Neat by the way).
A Nova will drive lots of good speakers, and pairs well with Neat (try Iota Alpha or Xplorers). Spendor A7 and D7 are both great speakers but might well want more amp than that.
A 250 (even a serviced old one) will make the most of any speakers that will work with a Nova and several that won’t. It would do nicely with either Spendor or with PMC Twenty5.23s, and is great with the Xplorers or even B&W 804s. Some here will also point you to a 250 with passive ATC SCM 40s.
The suggestion of old SBLs for a 250 is also a great one if you can put them against a solid wall - not the ideal place for either Spendor, Neat Xplorers or B&Ws.
Like you, I listen to a lot of classical music including piano and ATC speakers do reproduce pianos extremely well. ATC’s founder was a jazz pianist. But they really start to sing at a realistic volume so I’m not sure they’re really an ideal choice in your situation.
I’ve had a look at the pics of your room and your floor plan and I’d ask for a home trial of candidate speakers to check that they work at your place and not just at the dealers. You’re spending a good deal of money after all.
I also wonder if there is any possibility of moving the speakers to a near field setup with the speakers and listening position closer together than in your plan. That would reduce the impact of room acoustics and allow a lower and more neighbour-friendly volume.
Whatever you choose I hope it brings you many years of pleasure.
Cheers @Steve but I’d not be able to audition them first probably, then a lot off faffing about tbh.
I considered re-laminating, re-coning and replacing caps. the x’overs on my KEF 104-2, but it’s too much work- Im after an easy life now
Appreciate the idea though, thanks
What Roger says, at this level of investment any dealer worth their salt would do a home demo.
Speaker wise the choice is endless and my experience is matching speakers to your room is more critical than matching with your electronics…… I use ATC but that’s me and my room.
Do the dealer demo narrow it down to your top 2 and do a home demo and repeat until you find a good match.
Headphone wise the Meze 99’s are excellent and great value but again lots of choice so take your time and have a listen to a few - decide open or closed back first (open back will leak sound so if that’s an issue then closed is the way to go)
no charge either 
