Why so much volume on 202?

Posted by: okyknot on 21 February 2004

Greetings,
I have just purchased a used NAC 202. I am using a Nait 5 as power amp, waiting on the arrival of a NAP 150.
The volume control on the 202 is way more sensitive than the Nait 5. I can only turn it up to about 9:00-10:00 before it becomes too loud, I am listening in a very small room (10'X 12'). The Nait 5 used to go up to about 12;00-1:00 before it approached the same level.
The amp is still the same, only pre has changed. The point of this is I listen late at night and cannot find an acceptable level witout disturbing the others in my family. to low and the music doesn't all come through and a little bit of volume is too loud. Any recommendations?
System:
NAP 202
Nait 5 as power amp, about to be NAP 150
CD 5
Flatcap 2
NAT 05
Stageline
Rega P 25
Neat Petites
Thanks for advice,
Dan
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by Wolf
9 is really loud on my 82, in fact it was the same on my 92 when I had that. So I think what you experience now is normal 6 being silent and 9 being pretty loud. I usually listen at around 8. I'd like others comment too.

glenn

Life is analogue
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by London Lad
I had the same when I went from 112 to 252. I think the five series stuff has a digital control rather than a true potentiometer and 'spreads' the volume in a liner fashion over its whole travel.

As for a 'cure' for your problem, I can’t help.

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by Manu
The 5 serie has ajustable input gain. The default seting is lower than the standard Naim preamps gain. So if you have never adjusted the inputs level, you have to set the volume pot higher than other Naims. What you experience with your 202 is the standard Naim level.

Emmanuel
Euphonie

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 21 February 2004 by prowla
10 o'clock on my 82/250 is bloody loud!

Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 22 February 2004 by J.N.
Hi Dan

It's a pisser - not only is there less spread of volume on the analogue pots of the good pre-amps - You will also notice that the remote volume adjustment works better on the Nait 5.

It's too fast for CD on all the pre-amps bar the 112 - the 'double-click' slow speed ought to be the default setting.

I keep hoping Naim will acknowledge that it's a design flaw and offer a 're-chip' to fix it.
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by timster
I've a 202 and find the double-click tricky to get right, particularly on increasing the volume. Interestingly, It seems easier when lowering the volume, but maybe that's down to me and my sticky fingers.

Anyway, why not just "nudge" the volume up by simply clicking on the button? It increases in very small increments and permits fine tuning.

Must admit though, naim could (should) swap the default fast behaviour to the double-press slow-er behaviour. I mean, it is programming after all...

tim
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by okyknot
Thanks to all who replied. I am starting to get the hang of the remote. It is just such snmall increments of adjustment to get such a great amount of volume. The sound of the 202 makes it worth the minor aggravation. I can't wait until NAP 150 arrives this week. Hopefully in the not too distant future a NAP 200 will be in order.
Cheers,
Dan
Posted on: 27 February 2004 by CharlieP
My NAC112 has adjustable input volume on all inputs (resistor ladder). I hit "program" with remote in preamp mode, and adjust input volume up and down, then exit "program". My LP, CD and tuner all adjusted to same level. I listen between 12:00 and 3:00 (where amp complains and the cat wants to go out).

Check your manual to see if the 202 can do this.

Does anybody know if I am paying a penalty for this? Noise floor?

Cheers,
Charlie
Posted on: 27 February 2004 by J.N.
Hi Charlie

I use a 112 myself, and the volume adjustment (remote and manual) has a much better spread and feel than the 252 that I also use.

Sadly; the analogue pots used in all the pre-amps other than the 112, can't do clever digital tricks.

The upside is that they apparently sound better.
Posted on: 13 March 2004 by ben r
Hi I have a 202/250 normal loud but not ear bleeding is around 10-1030 9 0clock is medium for me,thanks Ben r
Posted on: 13 March 2004 by Peter C
Try adjusting the volume manually, rather than using the remote.

This might help set the volume at a level that suits you. It worked for me when I had an 82 preamp.

8.00-9.00 is the range you should be considering.

You mentioned the music not coming through at low volume, that should improve when you get the 150 in place.

[This message was edited by Peter C on Sat 13 March 2004 at 23:53.]
Posted on: 14 March 2004 by Richard Paget
If you use a t/t especially with a low output cartridge the extra bit of the vol control is needed.
Richard
Posted on: 14 March 2004 by Peter C
Okyknot

On another thread somebody has suggested you trade in the Naim 5 towards a better poweramp.

That is a good idea as the Naim 5 poweramp section is a weak link in your set up. A 150 or 200 would be a good match.

Another option would be to part exchange the Naim 5 for a hicap which would bring about a noticeable improvement to your system.

All Naim preamps benefit from using a hicap or supercap.

As you have a 150 on order I would recommend part exchanging the Naim 5 for a hicap, after the arrival of the 150.
Posted on: 14 March 2004 by Geoff P
On the 112 (and presumably the Nait 5) not only is it possible to set input gain but I was told that the resistor ladder is designed so the first 1/4 turn of the pot is "streched" so that there is more resolution on volume. Once you get past that the volume increase speeds up.

I agree with the sensitivity thing on the reference series. I know have a 282/Supercap/250mkii and the room starts to vibrate if I go past about 9 to 9.30 on the volume. The thing to console yourself with that the "resistor ladder" was apparently a experiment that proved OK but not as good as hoped, a producing "zipper"noises in operation etc. Naim claimed in one maggy they returned to high quality motorised pots on the reference series to get higher better purity in the ond path.

regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 14 March 2004 by okyknot
Thanks to All,
I now have the 150 in place, and have added a Hicap 2 to the 202. I am getting quite used to the volume adjustment on my remote, (adjusting manually works well also). I was just used to the way the volume control on myy Nait 5 worked. When I made the change to a 202 it was a bit of an adjustment, pun intended Wink
Cheers,
Dan