I am using a NAC122x with a NAP 250.2 plus Hi Cap. Can anyone with experience tell me if a better pre-amp - 282 or better would really make an audible difference. Auditioning is not possible for me as I live in Vietnam. I would have to get a friend in Singapore to buy for me and hand carry to Vietnam.
Oh yes! With a NAP250, going to a NAC282 from a NAC122x will make a very big difference for the better. Of course, this will depend on whether your source is up to it. A better pre-amp opens the window on the source - for good or ill!
Hi Richard, Many thanks for that news re NAIM in Vietnam. I will contact them for sure. My sources are Pioneer SACD/CD Player, RAVEN One TT and iMac Computer. I am reluctant to buy a new CDP as (1) Nearly impossible to buy non pirated CD's in Vietnam ... this is not as good as it sounds. And (2) I am really enjying the use of the iMac as a source. It is so convenient and sounds as good as my Pioneer CDP anyway.
How about givin a significant performance lift to your existing digital audio sources with the help of a Naim DAC? IMO, it should match up very nicely with a NAC 282.
Just researching info on costs to upgrade. I was pretty surprised at the price difference between what the NAC122x cost me (Around USD1,100) and the current price of a NAC 282 (about USD5256) It looks like it will cost me around USD4,500 to upgrade after my trade in.
Just for my own curiosity can any forummers give me an outline of what's inside the 282 compare to the 122x. I thought the 122x was pretty good so intrigued to see that a preamp can cost so much. I've just downloaded the 2010 UK NAIM price list. Wow, some of the upper end pre amps go way above the NAC282. Intriguing stuff.
Ong Gia, as a rule the further you progress along the Naim path the internal components become bigger, better and more expensive. It can be noticed that the construction of the case also changes as it becomes stronger & better isolates the inside from the outside environment. All this costs a fair bit and that can be seen in the price list but can also be heard when demoing the full range of kit.
Not sure what speakers you use, but another way round a better balanced setup is to downgrade the poweramp to older Nap 250 or even a Nap 200/150/140 if speakers are quite easy to drive and if you don't demand high listening levels - this might finance a better pre for overall better performance (72,202,82,282,52 etc..)
It is usually more benefitial to invest in the preamp compared to the poweramp. The nap 200 is often seen partnered with preamps like 282 or better. Some even prefer the 200 over the 250.2... In line with the source first strategy, the greatest upgrade/money move might actually be to trade the 250.2 in and get the naim Dac... And then later head for the 282 or a XPS2 for the dac
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