Upgrade Path for simple Naim System

Posted by: George White on 28 December 2015

OK, I am new here but I am looking for advice. I want to progress from my current configuration where I listen to vinyl almost exclusively. I feel that I have the right system for my listening (room) situation, which is combined with our living room where we entertain guests and sometimes have non-audiophiles in to listen to old and new vinyl tracks. I am not very interested in "trading up" to more power and bigger speakers  because I am happy with what I have in the room size including the compromises that I have made. The music, furniture and art combine to create the environment that I want. But, I would like to optimize the Hi-fi footprint that I have. My current pathway is to isolate everything with good platforms and vibration isolation stuff, and for my Rega P3 I have added a better subplatter, platter and record clamp. My next project is to have an isolation platform constructed for the Rega. This will be made from a solid piece of ebony that I have imported from Madagascar. As I said, the esthetics are important to me so I want to improve the appearance of the TT at the same time as I do the isolation. The fact that the ebony was purchased on a recent trip to Madagascar also adds to the whole situation. SO now comes my question. I think I should stick with upgrades at the source  so first would be to move to a Moving Coil cartridge for the Rega. I can also replace the tone arm with a custom  one and I will need a MC phono pre-amp and an external power supply.  SO , considering the Naim entry level system I have, what is the best preamp, tone arm, MC phono amp and power supply for my system. And what is the upgrade sequence. Am I correct in concentrating on the source and how do I make sure that I don't go overboard?  Budget is not the issue.. blance is.  I would be interested in comments from this community. My closest Naim dealer is 2,200 km away  so I don't get in there to discuss very often and the salesmen probably do not have the insight available from this group here. They always want to upsellme or move me into DAC stuff.  My system components are listed on my profile.

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by Christopher_M

Welcome George,

I'm gonna be brutal. Don't mess with Rega decks. Sell the P3 and associated ephemera and buy an RP8/ Apheta/ Aria phonostage, since budget is no prob.

Abandon the ebony shelf idea and get the Rega wall shelf, on the wall under the left hand 'Holbein'. Put the stack under that, away from the speakers.

So, yes, I agree, do something about the source. Nice electronics btw.

Cheers, Chris

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by Foot tapper

Hi George,

A lovely, simple, balanced system there.

I would tend to agree with Chris though. If you want to keep it simple and clean, a Rega RP6 or RP8 on a wall shelf with a Rega Aria phono stage would be my choice too. I would think long and hard before putting a MC cartridge on to a Rega Planar 3, even a tweaked one.

Hope this helps, FT

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by varyat

I agree with the wisdom offered by Chris and FT. The P3 is not worth "modifying". Enjoy it for what it is or move on up the Rega ladder to obtain best VFM.

Your gut telling you source first is a good one-follow it!

ATB,

Mark

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by fixedwheel

You'll prob get a crescendo of agreement on this one!

The P3 is a great budget deck, but I wouldn't expect it to get anywhere near the best out of a decent MC cartridge. So, sell it and go up the Rega ladder, or move to something else.

I'm biased towards a Michell Gyro, and at least you can do everything easily if you have any mechanical aptitude at all, just take your time. Important if you have no close support.

I'd also add a shelf so the Rega PSUs can get off the Naim boxes, that isn't helping.

You don't say what speaker cables, but I'd investigate "F" connectors on NACA5 rather than silver links.

Just my tuppence worth, hope it helps.

John

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by Adam Zielinski

If Rega is your preference go for RP8 or RP10 with an Apheta and and Aria phono stage.

or....

Linn LP12, starting with an Akurate version and a Radikal, perhaps with a Urika built in.

My personal prefernce is for the Linn.

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by hungryhalibut

If your dealer is miles away, don't bother with a Linn. Similarly, don't bastardise your Rega. Don't bother with alternative arms and power supplies. Just get a better one such as an RP6 or 8. Don't put it on a big slab of wood when it needs a nice light shelf. The 122x is a super preamp and quite good enough to do justice to a really good Rega. 

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by Adam Zielinski

I actually run a Rega RP6 with an Aria on my second system - a good Naim starts to show the limitations of the RP6. So I would go up the chain - RP8 or RP10.

Posted on: 29 December 2015 by George White

Thank you all for the comments.. I am researching again and will stop the P3 progression!