Naim amps

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by DavidF, May 19, 2006.

  1. DavidF

    DavidF

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    Hi,

    Have just purchased a Naim 140 power amp and wondered if any one can suggest (from a sonic point of view) which of the more affordable pre amps I might buy to go with it? eg NAC32,42,72 or other.

    The NAC42 is tempting to get started (price wise) but is limiting because it I think it has only 3 inputs.

    Anybody got any strong views on the matter?

    The rest of my system is Mission DAD5 cd, and Mordaunt Short MS20 speakers (for now).


    Thanks,

    David
     
    DavidF, May 19, 2006
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  2. DavidF

    johnhunt recidivist

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    johnhunt, May 19, 2006
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  3. DavidF

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

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    a 32.5 is the classic naim shoebox pre. a 72 is top of the shoebox tree. if you only have a digital source why worry about 'only' 3 inputs?
    cheers


    julian
     
    julian2002, May 19, 2006
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  4. DavidF

    zanash

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    A lot depends wether you want the naim sound ..or more of it also budget.

    you can pick up an ok chinese pre these day for about £100 some are even pretty good!
     
    zanash, May 19, 2006
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  5. DavidF

    julian2002 Muper Soderator

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    to be honest the old olive / silver edge amps sound better when paired together, naim poweramps can be quite fussy needing a conditioned signal input and speaker cable with certain electrical characteristics otherwise they tend to get unhappy.
    i'm a big fan of chineese hi-fi - i swapped a naim 82 / multi hi-cap / 250 for a pair of chinese monoblocks. i briefly ran the 250 with a non naim 'pre' (well it was an audio synthesis dax decade) and although it worked it wasn;t at it's best.
    probably the best thing about naim kit is it's rock solid residuals. if you buy sensibly then you can usually sell for little loss (maybe even a profit) which makes trying different stuff out very easy.
    i must say i've often thought of a 2nd system using some kans, a 32.5, a 140 and my old squeezebox 1 but something always crops up that uses the money.
     
    julian2002, May 19, 2006
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  6. DavidF

    monst

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    Nac 62

    hiya

    a friend of mine is selling a Naim NAC 62 which i think has been serviced and that would go very well with your NAP 140, a match made in heaven! he's got it advertised on pink fish media at the moment.

    cheers

    john
     
    monst, May 19, 2006
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  7. DavidF

    neurobassist

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    Nac62k

    HI there, as my good friend says above I do indeed have a Nac62K for sale. It was serviced in Feb 2001. It has black and grey snaic leads with it.

    The Pre amp is pritty much mint and boxed. Id go with very very good contion tho. Just because iam fussy.:JPS:

    Hope this is some help to you. I can deleiver if need be

    :D
     
    neurobassist, May 19, 2006
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  8. DavidF

    zanash

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    Some good advice and a nice offer !

    How can you go wrong !
     
    zanash, May 19, 2006
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  9. DavidF

    DavidF

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    naim amp

    How indeed?

    Thanks very much everybody. :)
     
    DavidF, May 19, 2006
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  10. DavidF

    DavidF

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    Hello again,

    To answer Julian2002, I don't just use the cdp, I just quoted that for the sake of simplicity. I very occassionally use an elderly (but not at all bad) Technicks tuner, Thorens TD 160 Super turntable and sometimes hook my Humax PVR through the amp as well.

    So the inputs would be useful.
     
    DavidF, May 19, 2006
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  11. DavidF

    lordsummit moderate mod

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    The 62 is a 42 with more inputs. The 32 was top of the Naim tree in it's day, some say it sounds a little edgy with digital, I don't know about that. The 72 is an upgrade of that
     
    lordsummit, May 19, 2006
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  12. DavidF

    RobHolt Moderator

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    72/140 is a classic Naim combo and sounds superb.
    Add a Hicap or DIYCap when funds allow.
     
    RobHolt, May 19, 2006
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  13. DavidF

    DavidF

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    The 72 would seem to be favorite, but the word is its best not to mix chrome bumper with olive. My 140 is chrome bumper and (apparantly) you can't get the 72 as chrome bumper.

    I gather that Naim matching can be tricky so I'm a little bit wary.

    It would certainly look better if they are matched but the sounds the important part.





    D.
     
    DavidF, May 20, 2006
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  14. DavidF

    RobHolt Moderator

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    The circuits in the chrome bumper and olive amps are very similar - IIRC identical in the case of the power amps and the difference in sound is minimal. It was first and foremost a stying change.

    If you remove the screws securing the rubber feet on your 140 you can slip off the case and reverse it - no longer chrome bumper and a better visual match with the Olive 72 :)
     
    RobHolt, May 20, 2006
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  15. DavidF

    DavidF

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    naim amp

    Thankyou.

    David
     
    DavidF, May 20, 2006
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  16. DavidF

    Murphydog

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    Hi, I have a 32.5 advertised on Pink Fish at the moment. I'm asking £125 but am open to an offer. Also have MM or MC boards available. Cheers,Paul
     
    Murphydog, May 20, 2006
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  17. DavidF

    DavidF

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    Paul,

    Thanks for the offer.

    I'm looking at the options at the moment!




    regs,

    David
     
    DavidF, May 21, 2006
    #17
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