Advice for 72,102,HiCap,Prefix

Posted by: Arye_Gur on 28 October 2000

Hi all,

Mike Hanson adviced me to buy a 72 and use my Nait3 as a power amp. When Paul S. said few days ago that the 72 will vanish - I asked Naim dealer and he agreed to sell a 72 in a special price to me and gave me a used 140 instead of my Nait3. My amplification now is Flatcap/72/140.
Althogh it sounds great and a substantial improvement to the Flatcap/Nait3, I asked myself and the dealer if I'm not mistaking and maybe it will be better to go directly to the 102.
the dealer gave me few days to decide so that all the money I paid for the 72 will go to a 102.
The dealer gave me these options and I wonder what do you think.

1. To go to the 102 which is better then the 72 he says, but if I do so it is better to buy the power supply for the digital with the 102 because as he says this power supply is very important to the sound quality of the 102. He also says he doesn't know how the 102 will function with the Flatcap.
I have to add 700 $ for the 102 and 300 $ more for the power supply (I can buy the 102 only).

2. To buy a HiCap for the 72 and keep the Flatcap for adding a prefix to the LP12 and use the Flatcap with it later on. A new HiCap costs 1000 $ too.

If I do so, I can wait for a used 102 to buy instead of the new 72 and I'll have to add the same money for the 102 because my 72 will be as a used one then.

My system now is Cdi/Lp12 Ittok/Flatcap 72 140/IBL

Thanks,
Arie

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

I've heard the 102 and 72 many times. Although the 72 is good, the 102 is much cleaner sounding, and has much better control of the entire frequency spectrum. The 72 is fun, but sounds quite muffled compared to the 102.

BTW, my own system used to be 3.5/Hi/102/NAPSC/Flat/140. (I soon discovered that the Hi and Flat should be switched.) I've also run the 102/140, with no NAPSC or Flat-Cap. The NAPSC definitely improves the 102, but most people say it's necessary because it's cheap compared to the cost of the 102! There's no problem running it without, and you can always add it later. The 102 will also work fine with the Flat-Cap. (As I just mentioned, you can run it directly into the 140 without any power supplies.)

Also, I can't recall your source. If it's a 3.5, then you should use the Flat-Cap on that before you use it on the 102. Later you can add a Hi-Cap to the 102. (Don't use the Hi-Cap on the 3.5, as it doesn't provide enough benefit compared to the 102.)

Ultimately, you'll have to listen to the two combinations to know whether it's worth the extra investment for you. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 30 October 2000 by M. Brandstetter

So, the old 72 defender changes opinion

<br>

It realy depends on where you wanna end.
If you know you wan't get further up the ladder then 102 go for it NOW. It's a realy great pre. Forget the napsc first, you can add it later at any time you wan't. The improvement is important, but it can wait. Far more important would be a hicap for the 102.

You can keep and enjoy the 72 for many years, and if funds allow add a hicap, or even a supercap, then you can jump to 82 or 52. Without big loss.

For the time beeing, i would keep the 72 as it rocks and later upgrades would be payable. And also big jumps.

The 102 i wouldn't take as an interim step, knowing i will upgrade it in a few years. It hints you to what the big naims can do, and so is always a i want more scenario.

But you have to choose....:)

Hope this helped a bit.

Regards
-mb