110 repair or repair and upgrade to 140

Posted by: seagull on 28 February 2002

I have looked at previous posting regarding this topic and am not sure what to do.

I have sent my aging NAC42/NAP 110 in for long overdue repairs and service and just received a quote :

NAP110 - 133 GBP for repair or 299 GBPfor repair and upgrade to a NAP 140.
NAC 42 - 110 GBP for repairs/service

(I did say they were overdue!)

I've not heard a 140 - is it worth the extra?

I shall be investing in a new CD player soon and some new speakers (total budget about 1200 GBP to 1500 GBP depending on what I spend on the repairs/upgrade), any suggestions for a short list? My main source remains my faithful LP12.

I have been recommended the Rega Planet and B&W 600 series speakers.

Thanks in anticipation

Posted on: 28 February 2002 by Steve G

quote:
Originally posted by seagull:
I have looked at previous posting regarding this topic and am not sure what to do.
I have sent my aging NAC42/NAP 110 in for long overdue repairs and service and just received a quote :
NAP110 - 133 GBP for repair or 299 GBPfor repair and upgrade to a NAP 140.
NAC 42 - 110 GBP for repairs/service
(I did say they were overdue!)
I've not heard a 140 - is it worth the extra?

Tough one this - a 110 is probably worth £200 at best and a 42 (rather that a 42.5) less than £100. A recently serviced old style 140 would perhaps get you £300-350. In my system the 140 gave a little more control than the 110 but the improvement wasn't massive.

Hmm - in your situation I'd upgrade the 110 to 140 spec, get rid of the 42 and replace it with a 32.5 (getting that serviced if required).

quote:

I shall be investing in a new CD player soon and some new speakers (total budget about 1200 GBP to 1500 GBP depending on what I spend on the repairs/upgrade), any suggestions for a short list? My main source remains my faithful LP12.
I have been recommended the Rega Planet and B&W 600 series speakers.

You should be able to get a used CD3.5 and used Credos or SBL's in your budget, perhaps even with enough left over for an old style Hi-Cap.

LP12, CD3.5, 32.5/Hi/140, Credos should sound pretty good if you have a decent sized room. I ran with a very similar system (although I had a Thorens TD160 instead of an LP12 and a SNAPS2 instead of a HiCap) for quite a while.

Regards
Steve

Posted on: 28 February 2002 by Martinm

The Rega is a great little player but it's no 3.5. If i knew then what I know now I'd have the 3.5 and not Rega.

Martin

Posted on: 28 February 2002 by Eric Barry

Don't sink the money into the 42. Find another old-style pre (any of them is better then the 42), first choice being a 32-5.

Now, with the amp, I've compared a 110 with one upgraded to a 140 and the latter has a bit more bass and a bit more control. However, I don't think it's necessarily worth the extra vs. other improvements like black snaics, Nac A5, adding a snaps or hicap. Also, you won't get the 166# back on resale either--maybe--maybe 100 of it.

--Eric

Posted on: 19 March 2002 by seagull

Thanks for the advice. I am not intending to sell the amp or to upgrade it at present (I haven't felt the urge to in the previous 18 years so its unlikely now). I had the repairs and the upgrade done rather than looking for replacement s/h amps. At least I know where they've been.

I know that there are better amps in the range but they are not high priority right now.

With regard to snaics etc. I sent the amp down complete with its old original grey snaic - it was returned with a black one (result!)

I don't know whether it was the time without any hi-fi or whether the upgrade (power amp and snaic) made so much difference but I put on the first lp and just sat back and enjoyed (well that's what its all about isn't it?). I am looking forward to the amp being properly run-in.

I am auditioning cdps etc next week, I've not heard a Rega Planet yet so I'd rather form my own opinion. I'm not sure whether to risk an A-B comparison with a Naim cd5 because I know I shall want one! (I've searched for s/h CD3.5's but to no avail - I shall keep a look out for any and my ears open.) I'm not in any hurry to buy a cdp - I've waited 18 years so a few more weeks won't make much difference. (My initial recation to the launch of CD's back in the eighties was to buy an LP12, followed rapidly, when funds allowed, by my Naim amp).

As for the speakers, I think its probably best to get try them at home with all the compromises of space and position and having NACA5 running round the room. Makes A-B comparison harder unless I can get the shop to loan me more than 1 pair at a time.

The shop recommended I try B&W 603, KEF Q5 and Dynaudio Audience 62. Any experience of these? I am open to suggestions for others in this price range.