Pre-amp problem

Posted by: Rich Cundill on 24 July 2003

My ancient NAC 42 has just developed a crackly selector knob. Whenever I change from phono to tuner (which my CD player is connected to) the left channel sometimes crackles, sometime doesn't, sometimes goes off altogether. I can solve it temporarily by plugging the CD player into the tape socket as that seems fine. 2 questions:-
- I know it needs servicing - but could it be something a non-DIY inclined idiot could fix in the interim?
- Is pluggng CD into tape socket a problem at all - i.e. will i be getting a theoretically worse sound (it sounds just the same - i.e. as when tuner socket doesn't crackle!)

Thanks in advance

Rich
Posted on: 24 July 2003 by Justin
Plugging cd into the tape outlet is no problem at all. The pre-amp has no idea what you are feeding it through which socket. It treats them all the same.

Your problem is simply a bad input selector. The 42 is going on close to 30 years, no doubt. Stuff begins to die at that age. 42's are not much more than a cup of coffee these days, and so my advice is to simply find anotehr sample rather than pay to have yours serviced--unless of course you don't mind using the cd player through the tape input or you can put a new switch in yourself.

Seriously, $75 or so finds you a nice 42 these days.

Judd
Posted on: 24 July 2003 by Rich Cundill
Justin

Thanks for that. CD through tape input actually sounds better than through tuner input (pre-crackling) - I guess tuner was on its way out for a while? Its not a problem for now as I only use vinyl and CD so can live with 2 inputs only.
Will look to buy a 'serviced' pre-amp sometime in the non-too distant.

Rich
Posted on: 24 July 2003 by novelty
quote:

- Is pluggng CD into tape socket a problem at all - i.e. will i be getting a theoretically worse sound (it sounds just the same - i.e. as when tuner socket doesn't crackle!)

Thanks in advance

Rich


i have the older 72 with bnc so i use tuner for cd..it has been suggested to me that using tape is acceptable..

i have tried both and the sound is night and day to me the tuner input being the preferred input..the tape sounds 2 dimensional..

i don't know why this is the case but the specs on the rear panel indicate the 2 inputs are 'different'..don't know the technical reason though..

if anyone has experience with this i would love to know if i am hearing real differences?

"So what ya gonna do when the novelty has gone.."