Best bargain rig?

Yes it would and can I have your Nait when you've finished with it??

Give it a good home (promise)

ET

Cosmetics: the 90.3 is in the sqaushed-flat 3 series case. The 72 is shoebox style.

The Nait 1 is awesome, a really cracking musical little amp. If I were you, I'd spend my $1000 on a better source - either a used LP12 in place of the Rega, or a Naim CD player (whatever you can get for around a grand - say a used CD2?)... you'll be far better off, musically, than increasing the resolution of your amplification to expose in greater detail the weaknesses of your sources. More money to spend later? Find a pair of Linn Kan I's or II's.

Welcome to the madhouse, BTW.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Tim,

If I were in your position I would probably look for an old, half-width case 90 amplifier. That way it would visually match the 72. As pointed out above, the 90.3 is in the full-width, slimline case. Not quite a visual match with the 72.

For what it is worth, if possible I would suggest you wait as long as possible (say at least six months) before upgrading. By that time there should be a fair number of vintage 72's and perhaps 140's on the market. You might be able to get a 72/140 combo, which would be significantly better than the 72/90.

Personally I think your rega equipment is quite good enough to benefit from the upgrade to the 72/whatever amp. IMHO the upgrade would be audible and musically important. In your budget you could probably find a used cd3 or cd3.5 without much effort but I doubt that you could find a cd 2 at that price. I don't tend to hold fast to the source first rule--I'm more in the "fix the weakest link" camp.

Since you are in Seattle, you are virtually surrounded by used Naim gear and should be able to find almost anything you want...

Best of luck,

Markus

thanks for all of the feedback.
I realized that the boxes were different widths between the 90.3 and the 72, and was wondering about the front plates matching, although I hadn't considered the height diffences too. It seems like the 90.2's are holding their prices a little better than the 90.3's due to being the half-width boxes? I have a lead on a $500 NAC72, with MM boards at the moment. So I am torn as to whether I should what for everyone to upgrade to the new gear and have some trickle down for me, or lock in now. Of course as soon as I get the NAC in my house, I will have to go get an amp to go with it. Do the 90 and the 72 mate well together, or to ask another way, is there any of the older/cheaper amps that the 72 or a 32.5 don't go well with

As a matter of fact, you could keep you eyes peeled for an old 110. this would be a chrome bumpered piece that was the precursor to the 140 and should have a fair bit more grunt than a 90, of whatever vintage.

A 72 around $500 is a GREAT preamp. Bet you could get a couple of hundred for your nait. had you already factored that into the budget for your pre/power combination? At present you can expect to pay somewhere around 700 for a 140. Soon they should be less.

Markus

I've never heard a Nait 1, but given its reputation, do you need to sell it? Of course, its rep includes rolled off highs, flabby bass, and very irregular volume pots....:-)

I 2nd the suggestion to go for a 110 or 140 over the 90.x.

A 72 @ $500 sounds very attractive if it's the new style, with 1 BNC set (2 BNC connector - early 72s had 2 sets of BNCs). If a hicap is far in the future, though, you may need some way to keep your ears from burning out with a bare 72. If no hicapo is in your future, I'd go for a 62 or 32.5.

Phil

NAIT1 was my first 'proper' amp. Bliss.

If you're not hankering after more volume, I'd feed the best signal into it that you can afford, whether that be LP, CD, or whatever.

NAIT might need a service, though.

cheers, Martin

I think the 72 is an older one with two BNC's. To fully display my ignorance, what are BNC's? I assume they are inputs, but what kind. I love getting all of these inputs, but assuming I understood one post, I am not planning on going to a vinyl only rig, although given enough time to clean all of my records and no kids, it does sound nice. I think the Nait sounds great, and it does give me plenty of volume, sort of funny since I bought it to use in my shop, and it is the only one of three integrateds I have left. Thanks for all of the help.

Late model 72 with one set of BNCs:


With these, Naim users have to get their phono plugs replaced with BNCs. A pain in the arse best left to your dealer.





PS what were the other 2 integrateds?

ET

if you want a primo condition NAC72 1996 model never raced rallied or rolled (one set BNC's, S MC boards, all original packaging and connections, stored for 4 years) for around the price you're looking at FOB NZ drop me an e-mail.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio