Mixing New and Old Equipment

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Also, is a 150 a big enough step up from a 110 or should I buy a 200.
Also, is a 112 a big enough step up from a 62.

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I would hesitate as they are all about the same level of Naim gear just different vintages. However, they will all be different and the newer gear possibly better in some ways. If your budget can swing it try to jump up two levels, such as for a used 82, Supercap and 250 instead (perhaps not all at once) as prices for used olive gear have dropped surprisingly of late. On the other hand, I have no knowledge of your source and that may well be the weak link.

Paul

I have a 150 and think it's a great amp but sure a 200 is even better. I agree with Paul and make one big jump on one piece like the pre-amp (for me 92 -> 82.) Then think about the amp.

glenn

Life is analogue

A couple of comments

Until recently I had:
CDX2 / 112 / HiCap / 150

I saved my pennies and just got a new 282 as a substitute for the 112 in this system.

Result:
Excellent. Big improvements in detail delivered. The CDX2 has been hiding it's light under a bushel. Now a lot more is revealed. The sound stage got wider, deeper and taller. The bass line is stronger and tighter. The subtle fine details in the music come through and things are heard that I did'nt know were there before. The "speed" of the 282 is far superior. Give it complex fast tempo music and you hear it all with a great sense of confident control.

After all the glowing praise what else have I decided.
1) The 112 was definitely the weakest link in the chain.
2) The 150 is a great little amp, because I am hearing all this extra stuff through it and it does'nt sound under strain.
3) The music delivery is a little more rounded than I believe is heard from the "olive" kit, (though not compared by me), but in my opinon it sounds well positioned between the famous "prat" and sophsitication

So check out the new pre-amps. It's worth just doing that as a first step and waiting until later to deal with the power amp.

regards
GEOFFP

To call the 112 a "weak link" is, IMHO, a little misleading... Yes, an 82, 102, 202, 282, etc. is better and "if your budget can stretch that far" those are better preamplifiers. The same can be said for 180/200/250 as they compare to the 150. IMHO the 112/150 range is mind-blowingly good for the money. Taken alone, it is good enough that a person could stop there and enjoy it for a lifetime.

The naim sound has evolved from the 62/110 vintages and now provides much more insight into the musical expression of the performance. This is not simply a matter of better "soundstaging" and details. It has to do with all aspects of what the composer/artist/performer intended. These nuances are what the aesthetic and emotional aspect of the arts are all about and this is the reason for the existence of the CDS3. And all the new range. The new technologies are trickling down and the 112/150 are very worthwhile alternatives.

In some ways I think the points of view you will read on this board represent almost the extremist point of view, in that most writers here know the range well, have used the equipment for years or decades, and are willing to forego many other expenditures to secure the very best equipment they can afford. Within this context, counsel to "go for an 82" makes much sense, but may miss the tremendous vfm that the newer equipment at the "bottom of the hierarchy" represents.

Ultimately I think you must visit some dealers or friends who own various systems and listen for yourself. I think you'll find that Naim has evolved beyond the 62/110 and that the options presented (indeed, all the recommendations posted above) are all worthwhile. Then you'll probably go over budget. And be glad you did!

Markus
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[QUOTE] [/To call the 112 a "weak link" is, IMHO, a little misleading... QUOTE]

I agree my choice of words was perhaps too harsh.
I lived with my 112 for about 2 years. The first 8 months driven off the 150.
Then a 2nd hand HiCap was acquired and a further 16 months of listening followed.
About 6 months ago the CDX2 was introduced in place of a reasonable quality SONY (555ES) and 112 listening continued
The 282 has just arrived and will probably prompt a search for another 2nd hand HiCap fairly soon.

At each stage I was very happy with the sound and entertainment I got from my system. The 112/150 IS a very enjoyable and musical combination.

If my circumstances were different I would have been quite happy to continue getting pleasure from the 112. I am in the process of building towards probably the last HiFi system I will own (retirement is just around the corner)
It has been an enjoyable journey so far and I would not have missed out any of the "steps" along the way. Each change brings an initial excitement as your listening ear hears the difference and your music becomes revitalised again.

I am certainly very glad I did not come straight in at the top. Building towards higher standards overtime is where the main pleasure is for me.

regards
GEOFFP

Geoff's choice of words was not extreme at all - he was, after all, talking in the contect of his system, and the results of comparative listening. Given an amount of spare cash, open mind, a decent dealer and time to listen, Geoff correctly concluded that the next item to most effectively be replaced in his system was the 112. Good as it is, of course.

What's so extreme about that?

cheers

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Rico,

RE: "What's so extreme about that?" I simply meant that this forum represents the hardest core naim fanatics in the world.

As such, our insights are recommendations are the sharpest, our relative level of "caring" about what, to most other people, are relatively small differences in performance between mutually fine pieces of equipment are the greatest of any people in the world. A long way of saying we tend to care about stuff that other people may not even notice.

With respect to naim, it seems there are the two pathways, those of the "level headed, set it forget it" type of user and the "completely obsessed". Are they two pathways or is it one, with the first eventually leading to the second?...

Markus
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With respect to naim, it seems there are the two pathways, those of the "level headed, set it forget it" type of user and the "completely obsessed". Are they two pathways or is it one, with the first eventually leading to the second?...

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Markus
The terms "level headed" and "completely obsessed" are at opposite ends of a scale from Black to White. In between there are lots of shades of grey. I think we get the complete greyscale of views on the forum.

You are right about the first leading to the other.That is all Naim's fault.

The one lesson that any new atendee here must learn is the severe risk of addiction to the naim sound. There should be a bank balance health warning on every piece of naim kit.
along the lines of:
"Plugging in this black box and using it will lead to addiction to the purchase of further balck boxes. Naim is not responsible for any
damage to your bank balance or your family life that may result from this action"

regards
GEOFFP

Thank you all for your advice. The general opinion is that I should replace the pre amp with a 112 or something better if possible.
It a good job my wife doesn’t know much these boxes cost. She thinks my 62/90 cost me £150.00 and it costs £7.00 to get into Goodison Park

Fatcat

Yes, but does she tell you her perm cost a tenner?