Cost-effectiveness of upgrades to older equipment

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With a 32-5/Snaps2 (recapped, dual railed)/140 (1988 vintage) which would be most cost-effective...

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The 72 boards are excellent value, they make the pre sound far more controlled, dynamic, and detailed. Did you get the 32-5 recapped at the time your Snaps was? It makes a hell of a difference once it is broken in (consider it a new amp). Many of the really negative comments made here about the 32-5 are obviously due to the amp needing a good service. A re-capped one with 72 boards really sounds pretty good, and certainly provides absolutely stunning value for money.

The black Snaics are also very much worth the cash, again they provide a cleaner, tighter, and more detailed sound.

Re-capping the 140 is also a very good move. How old is your 140, as they changed the output transistors after about a year of production - I had one with the original ones, though I believe the new ones are quite a bit better. Don't know if it is cost effective though (don't even know how much it costs).

Tony.

I bought the 72 boards for the 32.5 about 4 years ago (I think) and they improved every area of the amp’s performance. It’s difficult to tell you exactly what the improvement was because it was just so much better at everything.

I had my 1986 Nap160 serviced a few months ago and the improvement wasn’t anywhere near as great. I know nothing about the black snaics.

My suggestion is that you ask a dealer for a home loan of the 72 boards and black snaics to judge the effect both have on your system. If you think they’re worth it you could buy both the boards and the snaics in whatever order you have decided is best, having done the audition. If the improvement is such that the system is able to perform better at higher volumes, then you should keep the Nap 140 and get it serviced. If not, sell the 140 and put the $325 towards an upgrade.

If you do deicde to audition the boards versus snaics please post your views.

Bri

Edited to put in a 'line feed' to improve readability.

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With a 32-5/Snaps2 (recapped, dual railed)/140 (1988 vintage) which would be most cost-effective:

Black Snaics (ca. $220?)
72-boards ($175)
Recap 140 ($325 from NANA)

I'd appreciate all manner of improvement, but my main complaint about the system is that it gets shouty at loud volume (though a 250 may be the most effective way to solve that).

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Eric-

Perhaps you should save for something newer, rather than trying to over-extend the capabilities of your current system...

New amplifier boards (utilizing the NA 001 transistors) for the NAP 140 would not be cost-effective in an amplifier of that vintage, as it would be cheaper to purchase a newer used NAP 140. As for capacitor service, that would only be marginally effective, as the smaller ALT20 sized capacitors tend to have a slightly longer lifespan anyway.

I was the person who re-capped and dual-railed your SNAPS, so that I know that's not strictly the limiting factor {BTW, your speakers are...?]

As for the preamplifier, the boards actually cost $325 for both pairs (as supplied from the factory-the output boards ALSO are necessarily changed) but would, at best, only take the level of the system close to that of a NAC 72 (ask Philb about the difference between that and the newer preamplifiers).

Hope this makes sense.

Dave Dever, NANA

Actually, I was thinking exactly along the lines you are. Why spend $325 on a 140 that would probably bring at least $600 when for that or a bit more I could get a newish 140, a 180, or an old-style 250? I didn't realize the 72 boards were quite so much--but for $325 and the sale of the 32-5, I could get a 72. And potential upgrade money could go to a cd player (currently Rotel 955). Speakers btw are B&W Matrix 805.

--Eric

Of course, secondhand Hicaps are easier to find here than in the USA. Probably outside budget.

As far as value goes,servicing my 250 and Hicap is the most cost-effective improvement I've ever done.

Cheers,

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

As far as value goes, servicing my 250 and Hicap is the most cost-effective improvement I've ever done.

Cheers,

John Schmidt
"95% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon