Disappointing NAC 52 + PS

Chris--

Have it serviced--the difference is really something and a 13 year old 52/PS definitely needs one. It should blow a 62/Hicap off the map.

Bob

Chris ...what is it about the sound you do not like?

Laurie S

Chris -

IME, what you should have heard at the very least (based on move from 82 to 52) was:

1. More extended bass
2. More detail
3. Better PRaT and dynamics.

These improvements are not small and 99.99% of all who upgrade to a 52 report them. Many feel they are more profound than (eg) CDx-CDS2.

Something is wrong...

Tim

ChrisM

The Keilidhs are a weak link IMO. Look out for some Kabers which look very similar but are so much better. They can be obtained for around £4-500 or so, the Ku Stone stands are obligatory.

You can have the PS upgraded to Supercap for around £1100 or so if that takes your fancy.

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and happy

IMHO the power supply and preamp both need to go back for service. This is not the first time that I've heard of a vintage 52 being underwhelming and in the previous instance a service was required. Just like you'd do with any piece of equipment that was 10 years old or older.

$ ouch $ !!!

Markus
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Thank you to all who have helped me with very welcome suggestions.

Laurie, the sound appears to be dull, flat and without any emotion. The detail is there but the foot tapping enjoyment is not (very quickly becomes tiresome).

I had thought that the sonic improvement would exist over my 62/Hicap even with a service pending, but its not. I was keen to hear everyones suggestions before I dig deep and splash out either £630.00 to Naim or, £330.00 to one of their trained, approved alternatives.

Regards

quote:

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Originally posted by Laurie Saunders:
Chris ...what is it about the sound you do not like?

Laurie S

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half price service from a trained approved alternative? Wow, is this in UK? I didn't know the faccy had such a program.

If I was in your position I'd use the factory, assuming you are in UK - you are talking about a former flagship bit of kit.

definitely needs a service. Martin had his 52/PS serviced a little while back, was grinning like a cheshire cat for months afterwards such was the difference. Try the search bicycle.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Sounds like something is wrong.

Firstly, the 52 needs about a week to "loosen up" if it has been left turned off for some time

It COULD be that what you are getting is a cleaner top end....IMHO the CDS does have a rolled off top end, and the 52 may just be exposing this.However, you have acclimatisee to the CDS, so this might not be the cause. I would suggest that a 62, by comparison is "harsher".....this MAY be easy to confuse with "clarity".

When I went through the preamp upgrade path 72-82-52 at each step I thought the sound "leaner".. with less bass...acclimatisation soon showed that by comparison, the previous preamp was in fact more "woolly" with less control

See if you can do a swap with A N Other who also owns a 52.....if you are in my area, drop it in and we can quickly see (hear) what it is doing

Laurie S


If the 52 is more than 10 years old it likely neds a service.

I had Keilidhs during the period I upgraded from 62 to 72 to 82, so you would certainly notice the difference and they're not a bad speaker. Sounds like servicing/cable problems.

ChrisM

I have a 1990 52 running off a 2000 supercap. I have been a little underwhelmed of late and when reading your post decided to dig out my old 62 and Hicap and give them a blast. i had on occasion plugged in my old Nait 2 and been surprised at what a good job it did. Frankly the 62 is better than my old 52, especially when running of the Supercap, but even off the Hicap the life has returned. the sound is less smooth than the 52 but the life and PRaT is there in spades again.

All I can say is thank you for airing your 52 problem. My 52 is straight off for service though I think I will give the Flash upgrade a miss. Meanwhile I'm enjoying my CD collection better with my 62!

Cheers

John

It's not just the 52 head unit that gets stale--the power supplies also need a recapping. Like a hicap does. Amazing to think of it but there are 52's out there now that are old enough to require this! And I still think of it as the "new" preamp! I'm out of date!

So don't overlook sending those power supplies in for evaluation/service also...of course, a year 2000 supercap doesn't need a service, it just needs to be flogged off, to me, at a bargain price! ;>

Markus
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Nice try Marcus but right now its doing great things with my 62. Music is great again, got the emotion back. could send you a picture to salivate over?



John

quote:

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Originally posted by Rico:
definitely needs a service. Martin had his 52/PS serviced a little while back, was grinning like a cheshire cat for months afterwards such was the difference. Try the search bicycle.

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My 52 was serviced about five years ago, together with 135s & NAXO. Very big upgrade. I think I described the pre-service gear as "broken" by comparison, or some such. This was probably on the old forum. With a 1990 vintage 52 I'd expect really big gains from a full service.

Although the 52PS was serviced with the rest of the gear, the caps were not changed as they were OK. I had the 52PS (and CDPS) re-capped August 2001, and really noticed some big improvements. With hindsight, I believe quite a bit of this was to do with moving the LP12 away from the system when I re-assembled it, although I wasn't aware of the effect at the time.

I couldn't say how much was due to the 52PS' re-cap.

Why did I have the PS's re-capped? Basically, I wanted the gear to last me for another 10 years.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.

Thank you to everone who has offered help. I have taken it for a full service at one of Naims trained companies.

I am also looking for a new Burndy as the one I have is tatty at each end. The specialist suggested it may be a cause for some of the problems I'm experiencing (grey sleeving has split and revealed the inner cables). This looks due to the previous owner bending the Burndy at a very tight angle.

The 62/Hicap is back on and sounding wonderful by comparrison to the 52 (wide open soundstage, weighty sound and smooth).

Will let you know how I go on.

Regards

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisM:
I am also looking for a new Burndy as the one I have is tatty at each end. ... This looks due to the previous owner bending the Burndy at a very tight angle.

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I had my 52 too close to the wall for a while, and eventually the burndy failed (sound came & went erratically on one channel). Had to be replaced.

cheers, Martin

E-mail:- MartinPayne (at) Dial.Pipex.com. Put "Naim" in the title.