Nac 52 phono boards

The K board was optimisedfor Linn's Karma MC, which was the classic cartridge in a Linn/Naim system of the time. In my view the boards are better than something like a Stageline - they are a good value price because they have no case, wiring or associated gubbins. 

Thank you. So leave them in?  The boards do not take a little bit away from my cd input like in the nac82 power supply set up.

thanks

I have the 52's baby brother - the 82 - and have 'N' type 522 boards fitted, which I do use used. Remember the 'N', 'S' and 'K' boards were Naim State of the Art at that time - !! Can they compare to a Phone Stage - err, which One..? Probably not a Superline, but I would think they would give a Stageline a good run.

But - if you are not using them, you could remove them - and maybe sell them...? Getting them out could be fun - be warned. If they are mounted like in the 82 they are a bit tricky. If in doubt, dont.

I can't help you as to whether to leave them in or not. All I can suggest is that you see if it sounds better with them out. If it doesn't, leave them in. At least you won't lose them. 

Sounsfaber posted:

While I've got your attention these K boards can they compare to a seperate box phono stage? 

What are you planning to use them with? If you don't have a suitable cartridge now are you ever likely to? If not then have a listen and decide whether or not you want to keep them out.

If you are never going to use them then you could of course sell then, but I wouldn't as  I feel they make the 52 a more attractive proposition should you ever decide to change 

I had a 52 with S boards in - removing them did IIRC make a difference. Given the way in which powering a stage line/prefix off the powered input degrades the other inputs, this seems to make sense (to me anyway).

Sounsfaber posted:

I've got an end game idea to travel the vinyl journey, however at the present time its step by step.

When the time comes, buy a record player fitted with a Linn moving coil cartridge. Job done.

C.

Hi Sounsfaber,

A fellow 52 owner here.  If you don't need the phono boards, by all means take them out.  There is supposed to be a small improvement if you do so.  But I did say small, as in marginal.

Equally, you can leave them in and enjoy a magnificent pre-amp.  If you have your 52 serviced, then Naim are more than happy to revise the phono boards to match the characteristics of your cartridge.  The K boards suit some moving coil cartridges, whereas the S boards suit other moving coil cartridges.  Naim made a similar alteration to the phono boards for me when my old 32.5 was serviced.

Hope this helps, FT

Chris Dolan posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

While I've got your attention these K boards can they compare to a seperate box phono stage? 

What are you planning to use them with? If you don't have a suitable cartridge now are you ever likely to? If not then have a listen and decide whether or not you want to keep them out.

If you are never going to use them then you could of course sell then, but I wouldn't as  I feel they make the 52 a more attractive proposition should you ever decide to change 

Well I've been thinking about an LP 12. I have a friend with a tolrick??? (Sorry can't remember)  cart  on his lp12 With some other mods. He swears by it... well not that he's got it going ATM lol. Anyway LP 12 on a mana ref table seems to be the go. I know another dude with a Michelle turn table olive SC for the motor and a £5000 + cart all into 500's. Wow sound great but I can hear the cracks of the vinyl he he 

Christopher_M posted:

When the time comes, buy a record player fitted with a Linn moving coil cartridge. Job done.

Indeed, the obvious solution  The Krystal is excellent and very good VFM - imho

Alba1320 posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

Chris Dolan posted:

Sounsfaber posted:

While I've got your attention these K boards can they compare to a seperate box phono stage? 

What are you planning to use them with? If you don't have a suitable cartridge now are you ever likely to? If not then have a listen and decide whether or not you want to keep them out.

If you are never going to use them then you could of course sell then, but I wouldn't as  I feel they make the 52 a more attractive proposition should you ever decide to change 

Well I've been thinking about an LP 12. I have a friend with a tolrick??? (Sorry can't remember)  cart  on his lp12

Would it be a Linn 'Troika'?

Yes you got it. He swears by it.

Sounsfaber posted:

Alba1320 posted:

Would it be a Linn 'Troika'?

Yes you got it. He swears by it.

Linn Troika fits with "K".
Troika is a really good pick-up in my opinion.
It has some similarities to Krystal but Troika is more rock and roll and less hifi. 
I'm running with Prefix and I have removed the phono boards, for the better, from my NAC 52.

Alba1320 posted:

 @MNn

^ Yes, 'K' boards for the Troika, which remains my favourite cartridge, though I've not heard any of the most recent 'contenders' (including Krystal and Kandid) - there does seem to be a bit of a buzz about the Lyra Delos amongst some Flat Earthers?

I notice that you have a pre-cirkus LP12 - Is it a deliberate choice to stick with this?

My limited experience with Cirkus suggests my preference for pre-cirkus, though much as I would love to have an LP12, I don't really have enough vinyl to 'justify' getting one.

Wonderful looking systems you have, BTW, classic Flat Earth (apart for the newfangled NDS! )

Thanks

Most of the time I'm streaming but LP is  so much more fun.
I can recommend to start, even with just a few LPs, and enjoy
At the moment I think I stick with Pre-cirkus because it has a bit of "something" that I like, lets call this rock and roll also.

Sorry for OT.