Nac202 of Nac112/FC2?

Hi Anton

I would second Tom's recommendation. I myself have a 112/150 combo and happy with it. But the 202 is worth the extra money if you have the funds available and are prepared to spend it. Should hopefully also keep the upgrade bug away just that little bit longer.

Jeroen

Hi. I haven't done the exact comparison you are asking about (202 v. 112+FC2), but I've done some similar demos and have two recommendations.

First, when I did my demos, the 202 trounced the 112 IMHO. I've heard the FC2 on a CD5, and I do not think the addition of the FC2 would tilt the balance in that direction. As others have advised, go for the 202. I have a 202/NA PSC2/202 combo and am extremely satisfied.

Second, if you do decide to upgrade with a PSU down the road, don't buy the FC2 until you hear the HC2. I know it is more money and can only power one component, but the HC2 really is a remarkable product. I recently demo'ed a CD5, CD5+FC2, CD5+HC2 and CDX2. IMO, the addition of the HC2 was significantly better than the FC2, and well worth the extra expense. The CD5+HC2 combo is stunning, and I would have gone for it had I not heard the CDX2 .... I hope to one day add a HC2 to my 202.

Good luck. MBM

Anton,

I will second to most of the advices you got here...and totaly agree with MBM:
get a 202 preamp
get a HiCap when you can afford it...why not a second hand....
...you'll try then 202-HC or CD5-HC...and ma

Anton,

I will second to most of the advices you got here...and totaly agree with MBM:

1/ get a 202 preamp

2/ get a HiCap when you can afford it...why not a second hand....
...you'll try then 202-HC or CD5-HC...and make your choice...
...of course another Hc could be added latez on

3/ don't buy a flatcap...

good luck

Edouard

quote:

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Originally posted by Tom Alves:
MBM? Please translate for an old duffer

Don't forget the Napsc. Small cost, big improvement.

Tom

Actively enjoying it all

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Tom - Unlike "IMHO" and "VFM" and all the other cute acronyms used on the Forum, "MBM" are just my initials. Sorry for the confusion.

BTW, I agree with you re the NA PSC2. While the improvement is not nearly as great as, for example, adding a Hi-Cap, the PSC2 was a great value-for-money upgrade. Due to a shortage of funds after springing for the 202/200 combo, I added my PSC2 at a later date and have no regrets about the purchase.

Mike

Hi

202/150 is the way to go and as Tom has said the NAPSC2 is a good upgrade.
After this fitting a Hi-cap to 202 or changing the 150 for a 200 but fitting a new Hi-cap2 to the CD5 is not VFM. If you have £900 for a Hi-cap a better move would be to sell the CD5 and buy a CDX2 (second hand or ex dem).
If you are buying new I feel fitting a Hi-cap2 to CD5 or 112 to be poor VFM. A better move is to trade up to reference range.

Colin

Hi guys,

Forgive my ignorance as a proud Naim virgin! What improvement will it bring by adding the argued cost-effective NAPSC to NAC202?

Thanks!

get the 202 get the 202 get the 202....the napsc adds a nice improvement for short dollars. get the 202 yes I am repeating myself big upgrade over the 112

Spot on Tom.

Colin

Thanks guys! I'm actually picking up my 202 tomorrow. A "steep" upgrade from my weird 112 & 200 combination. Am thinking to get the NAPSC soon too!

Any advice on speakers? I'm thinking Dynaudio Contour 1.1 to replace my Epos ES14.

quote:

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Originally posted by vampyriaerotica:
Thanks guys! I'm actually picking up my 202 tomorrow. A "steep" upgrade from my weird 112 & 200 combination. Am thinking to get the NAPSC soon too!

Any advice on speakers? I'm thinking Dynaudio Contour 1.1 to replace my Epos ES14.

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Hi

I don't think you will need to upgrade your speakers yet the 112 to 202 will be a big move.

Enjoy

Colin

Cheers Colin!

Can't wait to actually install my 202 and power it up! How much do you think I can get for my approx 2 yrs old 112 to finance my new pre?

quote:

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Originally posted by vampyriaerotica:Any advice on speakers? I'm thinking Dynaudio Contour 1.1 to replace my Epos ES14.

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LOVE your display name.

Have you heard the 1.1? It sounds very, very different from the ES 14, and it is highly debatable if it would really be an upgrade.

Hi Markus, I like your's too as we have the same name apart from mine "c" and your's with "k"...

No, I haven't heard the 1.1 but dem Audience 52 with 112 & 150 before. Quite deep and tight! What about the very difference from ES14 to 1.1?

The ES14, by virtue of its bass driver being run without a crossover, sounds "more free" to me, it breathes more naturally and has better boogie than the Dynaudio. The Epos tweeter, however, is seriously worse than modern tweeters in general and certainly than the Dnyaudio tweeter. I used to own the Epos and it was a fun speaker.

The Dynaudio is much less coloured than the Epos and has better highs thanks to its better tweeter. I used to own the bigger sister of the 1.1, the 1.3Mk II, and liked it a lot, but I believe the 1.1 has advantages over the 1.3 in the area of integration between the drivers.

The Epos plays louder, if that's important to you. Depending on room size, the leaner bass alignment of the Dynaudio might be a curse or a blessing.

Before switching, you should try to hear the Dynaudio in your system for a while.

Exactly! The Epos's tweeter is just crap even compare to my old Mission 773e. It does play loud I have to agree but my room is not big to benefit from this.

I'm seriously thinking about switching but just can't shortlist some speakers owe to 2 factors. First being "no idea" and second being financially wise.

I saw a pair of 2nd hand 1.1 for £400 in a local store. I should be able to get around £300 for my Epos to finance this but then, the speaker stand!? Thinking about cheap Atacama Nexus 6 for merely £60. Well.

First of all thanks for all the respond.

Reading the comment a question raised within me.
What is the sonic difference between putting a Hicap or a NAPSC on a 202? And am i right that a Hicap can also power a CD5 and a NAPSC not?

Greetings AnTon

Bonjour Anton,

to cut it short...HC will bring a big improvment to your 202, you'll get more dynamique and refined sound...it's quite a big upgrade and the 202 really deserves it!


The NAPSC is a more subtle but wothwhile upgrade but the price is subtile too...sthg like 5 tome less I think...

you're right NAPSC cannot power a CD5!
Cheers

Bon courage
Edouard

The NA PSC2 only works with a 202 (optional) and 282 (comes with it). It is not a substitute for a Hi-Cap2. The Hi-Cap2 will bring a much bigger improvement, but at a much higher cost. (I haven't gotten there yet myself.) Given the (relatively) inexpensive cost of the NA PSC2, most on the forum consider it a very worthwhile upgrade to the 202. If you wind up with a CD5 and 202, a Flatcap2 could power both, but a Hi-Cap2 only could power either the CD5 or 202. However, the Hi-Cap2, in my opinion, brings a much greater improvement in the sound than the Flcatcap2 (albeit at a higher cost; damn, it always works that way!). Opinion is mixed as to whether you would get a better improvement adding a Hi-Cap2 to the 202 or the CD5. If cd is your only source, the CD5 might be preferable. If you listen to other sources (vinyl, tuner), you probably would be better off hooking it up to the 202, where it could improve everything.

Hope this helps, although you really need to do the demo to make the best decision for yourself.

Mike