I am really happy it doesn’t, as my HE is in a cabinet and I use it both as a preamp (sub via RCA and active speakers via XLR) and as a headphone amp with my balanced headphones always connected to the rear XLR headphone connection. I read somewhere that the XLR headphone connection does not support ‘auto sense’ where the jack and pentacon connections are designed that way. Hence they decided to have the XLR headphone connector at the back so you can leave your headphones connected, which is how I am using it.
The Atom HE is a dream to use and the sound is simply stunning. To me the exact right balance between detail and musicality. Both when playing through my loudspeakers as well when listing to my Focal Elear of Focal Elegia headphones.
I believe you can leave any headphones connected the whole time. You just need to press the headphones/preamp button on the front to toggle between the two. It’s just with the front jacks it will automatically switch off the headphones setting and turn back in when inserted. You see several people think unit is broken when first get it and insert XLR headphones. They don’t know about the button.
The XLR on the back is minor complaint and keeps the unit looking better. But having in back can also eat up about a foot of your length having to feed it from the back, so something to keep into mind if have short a headphone cable.
The outputs have symmetrical options but internally its electrical layout is not. Whether that’s necessary is something people will debate forever. (It’s too much to expect for the price though)
I guess for that matter you can argue about its balanced output not being truly balanced. In the end, it’s the whole package you’re paying for and whether you think the some of its parts are worth it.
The crazy thing is I’m stuck with just a Grado SR60 that sells for about $70 and it sounds wonderful out of the Naim HE. Sure it’s lacking any real sense of depth but has a fun liquid sound. Didn’t think this could hold me over until the Caldera get here but surprised I’m enjoying them as much.
Edit: Is your definition of symmetrical the same as balanced? Still not quite sure what you’re taking about?
Its a streamer with a high quality DAC built in , why would you want to use USB and by pass all the streaming bit , makes no sense.
I use it with a single Ethernet cable and XLR out , but my layout requires it be in a closed shelf unit so the back exit works great for me it adds to the neatness. The only issue is having to switch the XLR on and off to feed my sound bar AUX but that is a rare occurrence ,I am 95% + Headphones
As an aside , I hate WiFi with a passion but we just redecorated the lounge where the HE normally lives so its been running in another room fora week on WiFi without a blip , very stable even on 24/192 file
To my mind a neat and tidy good sounding good looking device 5* (after 4 months)
Sorry, but what I’ve written are only some objective points about which someone csn think about, before buying the Naim Unity Atom HE.
Now here the arguments are like from the Naim marketing…
Why it can makes sense to use the item as USB DAC:
Are you shure, that Naim will support all the wished services (with changed APIs) in the future? If not, than it can be, that you’ve in ten years or so a nice brick at home…
I wanted Roon Ready but DLNA compatability just in case (my JRiver server is still current).
Streaming services may come and go but i am confident that Roon will survive, I stream maybe 10% if that.
If all else fails the HE is still a high quality headphone amp fed from any analogue or digital source.
My alternative was the Sennheiser HEV800 but that would have needed a streamer unit, i was also trying to retire my RPi and my old CXN V1
I doubt it will become a brick, at 72 its probably the last real hi fi purchase of this sort. The one box suits my needs and probably my future needs as we downsize at some stage.
What more do i want a NUC, a HE and a good pair of headphones HD800 in my case. I must confess a want want want for the Focal Clear MG maybe Xmas is coming
I’m not sure what you mean here. I was referring to the absence of USB input, not output. Input would take input from a USB source (e.g., a computer) and the signal path would be USB (In) → DAC → Pre → Headphone Jack. Are you saying that it would make no sense to be able to flip between streaming and using the same setup for computer audio?
Not sure many all in ones like this come with USB DAC inputs, it’s really not there design purpose but they do have coaxial and optical should you want to connect some other digital source. Naim are not alone in having an absence of a USB DAC input perhaps space and cost are taken into account.
Of course the outputs are not truly balanced if it isn’t internally. However, the attached cables are, and that’s the point - allowing for long cables without problems
Editing the previous version of my post down. There are example of similarly functioning units that do have USB stream inputs and I tend to think that it’s just another (and more compatible and contemporary) digital alternative to coax or optical.
But not a necessary subject for any sort of extended conversation or debate, I think At least not for me. It’s late here, I’ve been listening to this Atom for a few hours. Even without an extended break-in, it’s a pleasure. Time for bed.
This video is a great explanation of how headphone “balanced” cables work by Amir of Audio Science Review. I find it entertaining how Amir, in this video, says that even when the inputs and outputs are balanced, it’s really none of his business how the internals are engineered. It’s the input/output contracts and the measurable performance of the device that matter.
No I meant that the absence of a USB input makes sense , its a streamer expecting a network package to process via its own DAC.
To have a USB input would by pass the whole streamer hardware and be a direct input to the DAC , it already has Optical and Coax inputs to allow that , presumably from things like TV or CD transports.
Its a Hi Fi component , not a stand alone DAC so I wouldn’t expect it to be connected directly to a PC , it is indeed its own computer.
I originally thought it was strange but on thinking about it it makes perfect sense.
The 2 existing USB inputs is designed for a USB HDD or memory stick , not digital input from a PC
I just meant I didn’t see it as a stumbling block. I use mine literally as a headphone amp , Ethernet in Headphones Out
Glad you’re happy . I am not a believer in “Burn In” but I can convince myself that a month in it sounded better mines now 4 months old I couldn’t be happier .
Personally I have no interest in connecting a computer to my HiFi, but for anybody who wants to, I can see no point in buying a Naim streamer, as they have never added such a USB input to any of their products, and more than likely never will. The exception being the V1 DAC which was something of a one-off in that it catered specifically for people who wanted a USB DAC for their Mac or PC.
I guess the problem here is that the Atom HE is a very popular and capable headphone amp and streaming preamp. If it fits the bill in that respect and you still want to connect a PC just get a USB to SPDIF converter and you’re done.
