NAIT 5 as poweramp

I'm a little curious as to why you'd want to use it as a power amp.

I use mine to power my front speakers, and then also run pre-outs from my AV amp whilst watching movies. But that's whilst using the "unity gain" input, which by-passes the volume control.

To my knowledge, Naim power amps like to have the signal "cleaned and redied" by a Naim pre-amp, and won't sound as good if this doesn't happen.

If you already have a naim pre-amp, seems a bit pointless buying a Nait 5, as a Nap150 is a slightly cheaper.

ehh, I do not have a Naim yet. But, I am very interrested. My budget is small and because I live in Holland the second hand market is small (thus the pieces are expensive). So a Nait 5 looks a good step into Naim. But before I buy, I want to know what my upgrade possibilities are. In the manual of the Nait 5 they describe the possibilities of adding a CAP and/or a NAP.

But SOURCE FIRST!

And I have read on this forum that a better preamp is preferred above adding a CAP. So I thought of replacing the preamp of the Nait 5 by a better Naim preamp. Remember my loudspeakers have a high sensitivity (95dB/1W 1m). So a heavier poweramp is not needed.

Then I can later add a CAP or replace the Nait 5 by a NAP.

If the powerstage of the Nait 5 can power a Naim preamp then of course the preamp will be limited in performance. But is it then still preferable above adding a CAP first?

Before someone asks: my CD-player also needs replacement but that is another topic.

Greetings, Hans

Hans,

if you want to go seperate power - pre, it's much better to sell the Nait 5 and get a combo on the second hand market, which is bound to be flooded with interesting pieces soon. You'll never be fully satisfied with the kind of improv combo you're talking about here.

Herman

...I checked your profile but didn't see your speakers listed.

What speakers do you have?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Nice question. Why do Naim recommend adding a Nap150 first? The Flatcap2 is a major step by the way, I've got a few days on mine, lovely, main effect improving that terrible warbly Miles Davis trumpet.

John

OTD..Complete Davis Quintet Mosaic... Christ it's good!!!!!

I know you can use Nait 5 as a pre
Don´t know if it´s possible use as a power

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim CD 5,B&W 601 speakers,Naca5

"
Hans... ...I checked your profile but didn't see your speakers listed.

What speakers do you have?

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here
"

I have some VERY old (30 - 35 years) Cabasse Sampan 310's:
64 cm * 40 cm * 30 cm
30 cm paper woofer
13 cm paper mid with fase plug
7 cm paper high with fase plug
crossover frequencies: 900 Hz and 9 kHz
8 Ohm
95dB/1W, 1 m
-3dB: 60 Hz - 20 kHz
2 little holes (without tubes) as "bassreflex" or something
These are very fast sounding, no overhang, clear.
I like these very much!

---------

How do I make a signature?

ehh,

"fase plug" must be: "phase plug"

sorry, that was dutch,

Hans

...is how high up the Naim preamp ladder would you have to go to get a worthwhile improvement over the pre in the Nait? And don't forget that the pre in the Nait can be powered by a FlatCap2 or, even better, a HiCap. Either of the *-caps would be a good idea anyway if you do add a separate preamp and use your Nait as the amp.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

My friend drives his Cabasse speakers with a Nait 5/FC2. He feels no overwhelming desire to progress upwards. As you point out, the sensitivity of the Cabasse speaker will not tax the Nait 5 in the least. (His system achieves ear bleeding levels w/great dynamics)
I also run a Hi cap/Nait 5 driving Neat Pettites (much lower sensitivity than Cabasse), and my neighbors often compliment my choice of music!

Permutations

I have never contemplated the combo of Nait 5 plus Hi-cap. The number of permutations with Naim has widened yet again!

I was about to post a query of 202/150 vs 112/150/FC and now I'm faced with Nait5/Hi into my Credos. Would a dealer even dem that combo or is 112/150 the "obvious" minimum choice???

!!! There's always money somewhere for the next upgrade... !!!

Hi Linds

A good Naim dealer will demo any combination you want to hear. Not putting the Nait5-Cap down but going for a pre power combo still gives you a upgrade option.
The query about 202/150 or 112/150 has been asked many times, I have demed all these combinations before buying my 202/200. The 150 is a great power amp let down a bit by the 112, it really needs a *cap on the pre to make it sing. The only combo I have not heard is 202/Hicap/150 which may better the 202/200 combo but has not the upgrade possibilities.

Colin.

RE: Nait 5 w/Hi - Used Hi's are available on a regular basis. Having a Hi never goes to waste, you can use them for anything anywhere along the upgrade path. With high sensitivity speakers, you may find a less compelling need to upgrade.
As for the differences a Hi makes v bare or v an FC2 on a Nait 5, I think it goes back to the quality of ones' source.
For my ears, I find the Nait 5 Hi to be an incredible combination. At "new" retail, it doesn't look that good. At "used" prices, it is an absolute steal.
Stroling through the fourm, it appears that the most complaints on the Nait 5 are it's power limitations and appropriate speakers. If you have that knocked AND can accquire pieces used----

Can't tell about the Nait5 but a flatcap or hicap on the Nait3r simply transforms the amp. I would be surprised if the improvement is only minimal with the Nait5. If you don't need a more powerful amp a capped Nait is good enough in my opinion and excellent value for money.

quote:

---

Originally posted by bjorne:
Can't tell about the Nait5 but a flatcap or hicap on the Nait3r simply transforms the amp. I would be surprised if the improvement is only minimal with the Nait5. If you don't need a more powerful amp a capped Nait is good enough in my opinion and excellent value for money.

---

I must agree with you Bjorn, I took my NAIT 3r for conversion to Flatcap use and I am in music heaven. I'm driving KEF Q35.2's & a REL sub with a sensitivity of 91 and I have yet to push the volume knob past 11 o'clock. I found that the flatcap gave a new assurance to the NAIT when it was called on to handle choral poeices like the ode to joy from Bheetoven's 9th. Personaly for earbleeding levels I prefer to use my Headline with a set of Sennheiser HD585. I lsitend to the latest PINK FLOYD live album and spent 2 hours in bliss. Unless you have a detached house (which I acknoledge anyone who can afford a big NAIM system probably does) this combination of Nait and Headline doesn't feel like a budget compromise, it is just the best real world NAIM combination.


PS still want a 6 pack of 135's and some DBL's, I'll just sell my first child.

PPS, loads of stuff including a HICAP and a NAIT 5 on e-bay at the moment.

How is the Nait 5 use as pre amp?is it good pre amp?

MY system : Naim Nait 5 amplifier,Naim cd 5 ,Epos M 15 speakers,Naca5,FC2

Hello all,

nice to see this topic back. I have bought the Nait 5. But funds do not permit me to upgrade at the moment, maybe next year. Within a few years I want to have:

NAC202 + HiCap + NAP???

I want the NAP250, but it is very expensive (I want to buy new) and I do not need the power. Thus it will be a NAP200 or NAP150 (the NAP200 looks better with a NAC202, but the NAP150 has already enough power). I want to upgrade 1 component at a time and I want to go as fast as possible to my goal (thus I will never buy a NAC112 or FlatCap2 as a "component for the time being"). Thus my first buy will be a NAC202 or a HiCap. Then I have:

NAC202 + Nait5 (as poweramp)
or
Nait5 + HiCap

My next upgrade (another year later) will be the other component. And then I have:

NAC202 + HiCap + Nait5 (as poweramp)

And another year later I sell my Nait5 and buy a NAP??? (I can think a few years about which one). Then I have what I want and I have sold (and lost some money on it) only 1 component (Nait5).

You see that my original question is very important:

Can a Nait5 be used as a poweramp?

And another question:

Which combination will sound better:
NAC202 + Nait5 (as poweramp)
or
Nait5 + HiCap?

Greetings, Hans