Nac 112 vs. 152xs
Posted by: Arnaud on 28 December 2015
It seems the Nac 112 (which I own), is often considered as the weakest preamp Naim has produced, notably because it's dark sounding with its treble being rolled-off.
Does anyone know if Naim corrected that with its successors? And is today's Nac 152 xs totally free of those characteristics? (ie: is the treble produced by the 152 xs shining normally?).
Thank you for your inputs.
Best regards,
The NAC112 is a very good pre-amp. Its problem is that Naim make plenty that are even better. While it's something of a smoothie, and yes, it's even darker than usual Naim, although I wouldn't say it's treble is unduly rolled off.
The NAC112x brought some useful extra flexibility - it also introduced a new volume encoder necessitated after the original supplier moved their production and the consistency and reliability of the part suffered as a consequence.
The NAC122x lost the resistor ladder volume control, lost some flexibility (no more perfect balance or input level matching) but gained considerably in clarity. The NAC152xs continued the improvements, offering the useful facility to make the most of the Flatcap2/2x/2xs.
Thank you Richard, that's helpful. I just bought and installed a uniti 2 paired with Kudos X3, as a secondary system, and the punch and clarity I hear compared to my main system (112/150/FC2/Kudos C20) is kind of night and day, especially in the presence and details provided in the treble.
In your opinion, how could I enhance my main system in order to get more clarity and détail? Would a second hand 152xs/155xs do the job?
I'm not Richard but what do the Kudos X3 sound like in the main system? Does the punch and clarity return? And what is the source in the main system? Chris
The new system is in another house...in the countryside, so no possible swap there...
The source of the main system is a cd5
Arnaud, also consider that you are comparing a fresh and new Uniti 2 with what could be a rather tired NAC112/FC2/NAP150. These may well be in need of servicing by now. However you don't mention the source and this can have a profound impact, as well as different speakers in a different environment. So many questions and variables here.
The C20s are very nice speakers. The only time I've heard them is on the end of an NDX, 282, Hicap DR and 250 DR. That's the sort of system you'd expect with those speakers. The little 112/150 won't really be able to kick them into life.
Arnaud posted:The new system is in another house...in the countryside, so no possible swap there....
Too bad, I thought there might be the chance to learn something there with a straight speaker swap.
C.
Ah, OK, source is a CD5. Nice, particularly with a FC2.
It occurs to me though that the C20s are a LOT of speaker to hang off such system...
I bought the whole Naim gear 11 years ago I'd say...
It's clear that comparing 2 different gears in 2 different environments is far from being ideal. But nonetheless, my new setup is producing the kind of sound I've been looking for...
So maybe should I go the servicing route, as Richard suggests, or otherwise upgrade...but I would like to keep things reasonable in the moneyside...
Probably the most economical sensible option to go with the C20s is a used CDX2 and Supernait 2. You're looking at the best part of £4,500 though.
...and I understand you're suggesting that a beefier amp probaby would make the C20s sparkle more, am I right?
That and a much more capable source and better pre-amp, yes....
Ok got it!
Thank you all for your enlightning inputs!
Best regards,
Arnaud
11 years - needs a service
That would be a waste of money IMO because he can sell the lot and buy a better speaker matching combo/amp/source
I would not think the 152XS upgrade could be enough
A CD5/FC2 if serviced is a mighty fine source. Mine runs alongside a CDS3 ( never plugged in at the same time) into a SN2 and SL2. I had a CDX2.2 in there a couple of weeks ago out of curiosity, and in the end on balance i just preferred the CD5/FC2. Of course the CDS3 trumps the lot, but what i love about the CDS3 is in the CD5 DNA. In fact the CD5 has seen off a DacV1 and a Hugo in the same system. An NDac i tried was a class act and would possibly edge the CD5, or at least be a draw, albeit with a different presentation.