What are the differences between the 42 and the 42-5?

Posted by: DeonC on 01 October 2003

Hi guys

I got the 42 today. The serial number is 9163, and that makes it a 1983 vintage.

What I would like to know is what are the differences between the 42 and the 42-5? I know the 42-5 works off dual supplies and the 42 off a single rail supply, but how does one go about upgrading from 42 to 42-5? Is it a total replacement of the PCB and internals, or are there smaller differences (i.e. things that I can DIY)?

I must say that it is very impressively built. A solid metal chassis, and it looks MUCH better in-the-flesh

Thanks for the comments so far.
Deon

PS. I got an LP12 hybrid too (it seems to have the heavier AR platter), and I will start using that at some stage too- I first need to have the armboard drilled to fit a tonearm, and she needs a PSU. Now if I could only pick up a pair of Naim amps 2nd hand...

__________________________________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
- Author unknown

Posted on: 02 October 2003 by Geofiz

I beleive 1983 was when Naim made the .5 upgrade kit available. If memory serves me correctly, the 42.5 kit came with a new circuit board and a new DIN plug for the dual rail PSU connection. The wiring harness remained the same, one only had to unsolder and reconnect as required. May want to check with Naim directly to see if the upgrade kit is still available. The upgrade to .5 spec was and still is worthwhile IMHO. There are similar mods available from some other sources, but I haven't had the opportunity to listen to one of those mods (yet anyways).

The boards used in the 42/42.5 are the same as those in the 32/32.5 and 62/72 series of preamps. You will want to obtain the more recent versions of the phono boards if you still have a turntable.

Cheers

Posted on: 02 October 2003 by DeonC

Thanks for the info. I'll contact Naim and ask them. I wonder if they ever had a distributor\dealer here in South-Africa. If they had maybe they have the upgrade boards, who knows.

>> You will want to obtain the more recent versions of the phono boards if you still have a turntable.<<
I do actually. Three of them

I am going to build valve phono stages (yes, that swear word

) for the Technics SP10 (for norman RIAA) and SP15 (for 78RPM eq), but I also scored a LP12 from the same swop that I got the NAC42 from, so I might use these together.

Speaking of phono boards- can the phono-boards in the 42 handle MM cartridges, or are they speced for MC? And another question- is there supposed to be two of them? I have two identical plug-in boards in the pre-amp, but only one pair of phono inputs

Thanks,
Deon

__________________________________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
- Author unknown

Posted on: 02 October 2003 by Mr Perceptive

Each phono card does one side of stereo, ie seperate left and right.

The 322 boards were for moving magnet

Hope that helps

Mr Perceptive

Posted on: 03 October 2003 by Geofiz

The 323 boards are for MC. Early versions were matched for Linn cartridges. Not sure what brand the MM boards were matched for. If you want multiple phono inputs, may want to look for a 32/32.5. Plenty of the 300 series phono boards show up on eBay at usually reasonable prices. I believe the final iteration of the 300 series boards was the 32*/7. 1983 vintage preamps typically came with 32*/2 boards.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,