32.5 or 42.5 with a 250? A nice pair of 135's???!?

David,

I run a very similar system, cdx/42.5/HC/250/briks. I upgraded my 110 to a 250 last year when I got my briks. The 110 just didn't have the power. The 250 does a great job pushing the the briks specially the huge bass drivers.

The whole system runs fine. An 82 is on the shopping list but is in no great rush. I kept the 110 so it can become a second system when I get the 82.

good luck
Gus

Well, the 32.5 is better than the 42.5 by, IMHO, a considerable margin. I use a 32.5->HiCap->250 and I think it works superbly (I'm not using 'briks, tho').

So, personally, I'd say whether you need to upgrade the pre-amp is up to you. I think that a 250 is a good amp to match with the 'briks, so go for that. Stick the 32.5 on the system, and listen - if it sounds good, then there's no rush to upgrade the pre, if it doesn't, you can consider it.

Chris L

Thanks for your responses. No violent objections so far... Anybody think I'm nuts for going that way given my "bottom heavy" system?
There are things on the front end I should do too, or maybe put my money towards a good CD player...
I'll have to give these preamps a serious listen again, but with the 110 I'm probably less able to hear what's happening than with better amplification.
This is a great resource. Thanks!
David

Interesting that some others of you out there are using 250 with cheaper pre-amps.

As per my post a few days ago and for what it's worth I have just switched to 92/Hi/250 from 92/Hi/90.3 as when auditioned against 82/2*Hi/90.3 I got a more pleasing result, i.e. more weight and improvements top to bottom than with the 82 and the 90.3 combo which although very transparent was definitely lacking in the bottom end dept with my Royd abbot speakers.

From other posts many people think the 42.5 and 92 are quite similar pre's.

To my ears it all sounds great and am in no massive rush to upgrade pre although will at some point and go for 82 and use my spare Hi-cap

Cheers

Boz

David J Bostock

I'd be surprised if a properly operating 42.5 was less confusing than a properly operating 32.5.

Phil

BOth the 32.5 and the 42.5 will be wuite old by now (going on 15 years at least, no?), and so any given sample may not be up to snuf both mechanically and electronically.

I owned both the 42.5 and 32.5, both having been serviced while in my possession. When both are working properly, the 32.5 is better. They both make music in that same Naim way (a way, by the way, that in my opinion 5 series stuff does not--500 excluded), but the 32.5 is a bit more insightfull. More detailed and open in its presentation. It has better bass as well.

I like the older Naim pre-amps (particularly the 72) and generally prefer them to the more expensive stuff. I think the 32.5 is the cat's ass, and if you don't need new cosmetics, it's a killer. For me, I like the green boxes, and so I use a 72.

Judd

I RECENTLY CAME UPON AN OLD 250 WHICH I SLOTTED INTO MY 112 HI 150 ,SOUND WAS MUCH CLEARER AND MORE MUSICAL IF A BIT LACKING IN BASE OUTPUT (NOT CONTROL)DECIDING TO THUS SELL150 I THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO PARTNER IT WITH A PRE AND I MANAGED TO FIND CHEAP 32.5 (£125)PUT THIS IN PLACE OF 112 AND WHOA SUDDENLY FAB SOUND WELL BALLANCED WITH PLENTY BASS SO SOLD 112 150 IT JUST PROVES TO ME THAT RANGES IN OTHER ERAS WERE DESIGNED TO WORK TOGETHER , I NOW HAVE CD5 HICAP 32.5 HICAP AND BIAMPED 250S

DAVID

JUST below YOUR tab BUTTON is A caps LOCK button