With reference grade headphone such as Utopia that is able to resolve the smallest of micro-details and capable of stunning performance, a one box solution such as the Naim with an "OK" but not "stellar" DAC and an OK but not stellar headphone amp will yield "OK" but not stellar results.
I find the Violectric V281 amp and Schiit Gungnir Multibit DAC to drive the Utopia right on the money in terms of full resolution but with a tonal balance that is neither dark nor bright but weighty, fully extended and uncompromised.
These are not romantic or lush headphones by any stretch of imagination and pairing them with anything that "colors" the sound too much by either lacking full frequency extremes and drive capability or a lesser pairing that sounds lean or grainy will not yield pleasant headphone listening experience.
The Utopia deserves and requires top notch amp, dac and cabling.
