Nac 52 with a 100?

When I had the excellent 100 I did a comparison with a 155xs and thought it was marginally better, but not by enough to make it worth the upgrade. The 150x is not as good as the 155xs, so the choice is probably quite close. 

It seems to me that the 150x was never very well loved. I might be wrong, but it felt like a stopgap in the range. I would get the 100, which really is an over-achiever. 

There is something very synergistic in using a top of the line pre (well now the 52 is only third from the top...) and an entry level power amp. This is NOT the case when using a TOTL power amp and an entry level preamp. 

The smaller power amps have smaller, but more nimble and responsive power supplies and can sound very snappy and agile when not pressed too hard, whereas there may be a tendency for the larger power amps to sound a tad ponderous (I am thinking the non DR 250 here) . So, couple that with a preamp that swings like crazy-of which the 52 is a stellar example- and you are in for a fast paced ride with a sports suspension. 

I have used a 52 with a 110 and 140 with splendid results. Ditto a 552/150. But a 112/500 was horrid. 

I don't think 'Naim evenings' exist at dealers anymore...but in the day they would spend an entire evening taking you through every combination (which was easy when there were just two preamps, three power amps and a couple power supplies), giving you some idea where the true magic was. And 90% of it was in the preamps-and their power supplies. 

Someday, somewhere...someone will try out the S1 Statement pre with an old NAP120 and find out just how great the 120 really was. 

I rather like the NAP150x. With a top end preamp up front it sounded way more powerful than you'd expect and was agile as anything - great fun. As Ron alludes to above, a great fun demo was to compare a 112/500 with a 552/150; the latter was so far ahead in every musical, enjoyable sense, it firmly underlined the hierarchy. 

as an aside, I have been known to run my NAP110 on the end of the 552.  Sweet, agile, and rhythmic on the right speakers (in this case, n-sats, kans and SL2s). But I won't recommend the NAP110 to you as you say you aren't interested. In which case, a NAP150x would be a solid choice with your 52. I haven't yet heard the NAP100, so cannot comment on that.

I actually run a 52 with a 155xs and guru junior speakers currently. Sounds great to me.

I have run my 82 with my 'spare' 140 (instead of my usual 250), and its was rather good.

I am pretty sure that the same would apply with a 52. 

Personally I prefer the 150x to the NAP200 as I find the 200 to be a tad dry and unforgiving. I heard a NAP100 on the end of an NDX/200/HiCap DR and it sounded superb also. If I were starting again, I'd be seriously tempted to buy a NAP90 and put the extra funds towards the best source and pre-amp I could buy. The entry level power amps are surprisingly capable. Hopefully someone who has heard both can chime in.

Goat, I might just spend the small amount extra on a NAP110 over the NAP90 (good, but a NAP110 is so much more capable).  And yes, having examples of both, I have done the dem with a 552...

Thanks. looks like a 150x.

mikeybaby posted:

Thanks. looks like a 150x.

Even though the NAP100 "sounds smashing"?

C.

Thanks for the excellent advice. . After demos I chose 155XS.

I'd like to mention here that there is probably no Naim product having better value for money than the NAP 100. These tiny powerhouses trade second hand for around GBP 500, and it's all you need in a not-too-large room having not-too-demanding speakers.

I seriously consider to buy a couple of them, and store them somewhere because they can always be useful in any secondary system. When my kids go to university, I could give them one - together with a Dac-V2.

What a poweramp.

The NAP100 is seriously good value for money.  I ran one on the end of a Qute 2 into Guru Juniors and it was very good for the cost.  You need to spend a fair bit more to get a better sound.

Indeed. One thing I forgot to mention: if you buy a s/h NAP100, it is still pretty young, so no soon recaps needed.

I agree on the little NAP-100, I have compared it to a 110 and 140, and feel the 100 to be just as good, maybe a bit more refined/smoother sounding. Nice little amp at a reasonable price, providing you don't need the preamp power supply, which the 100 doesn't have.

Interesting if it can compete with Nap110/140

Maybe some will prefer the overall smoother replay from the 100

A 110/140 will in fact become even more expensive should one have it serviced before duty

I agree with all the NAP100 comments fantastic amp for the money, owned many Naim amps over the years 110/140/180/250/155xs the 110 was my favourite but for me the 100 just edges it.