Question: Olive Series Pecking Order & Hierarchy

The pre-amp numbering - the first number is order of design and the second number is the number of channels.  Therefore, a NAC12 was the first design of 2-channel preamp, and a NAC102 was the tenth design of 2-channel pre-amp.  Things went slightly awry with the reference/classic range where a 2 was added, hence NAC82 became NAC282, NAC52 became NAC252, and NAC102 became, er...  NAC202.  

The Power amp numbering is the power rating into a 4 ohm load times by 2, hence the NAP250 has a 125w/channel into 4 ohms power rating and a NAP110 has a 55w/channel into 4 ohms power rating.

The eras were "bolt-down" (1972-1979) starting with the original NAP160 and NAP200 (nee NAP250), through the NAC12, NAC22, NAC32, SNAPS, and NAP120. Then the "chrome-bumper"era arrived in 1979 with the extruded case design of the NAC42 and NAP110.  This lasted until 1989 when the cosmetics changed, losing the linished edge to the extruded case and gaining an olive green polycarbonate fascia, backlit logo and improved knobs and switches.  The "Olive" era came to a close in 2002 with the current look range.

That's for starters...

Preamp quality order, best to worst:

52

82

72/102 (Extensive debate on which is more musical)

32.5

42.5/62

92R

32

42/92

12

While some might quibble, as a general guide the above hopefully will help.  I've owned all of them at one time or another.

Bob Edwards posted:

 

72/102 (Extensive debate on which is more musical) 

Nah, no debate, Bob . The 72 is obviously MUCH better .

Wugged Woy posted:

 

Nah, no debate, Bob . The 72 is obviously MUCH better .

You are, of course, exactly correct.  

The designer of the EPOS ES14 used a 32.5/hicap/250 to drive it during the latter stages of development

As a result, the 32.5 (or its successor the 72), hicap, 250 and EPOS ES14 sound truly wonderful together.  This, together with a Linn LP12/Ittok/Karma was my music system in the mid-late 1980s and fabulous it was too.  

Hence, a 250 is not overkill for the ES14, rather they were destined to go together.

In terms of pre-amps, it does matter if you want to use vinyl as a source.  If you do, and an 82 is over budget, then go for one of the half width pre-amps (72, 32.5, 62, 42.5) and ensure that it is serviced by Naim or one of its authorised agents such as Class A servicing in Sheffield.  All the chrome bumper and olive pre-amps are well past the age of needing their first service, with many needing a second or third service by now. 

There is much discussion about which of the 72, 32.5, 62 and 42.5 sound the best.  Everything else being equal, the 72 should be the best, but everything isn't equal.  There used to be a degree of sample to sample variability in those days and servicing/general condition matters a great deal too.  So, go for one that has the right number of inputs for you, is in the best condition/recently serviced and comes from a reputable source.  

Beware to the many, many examples that have been "improved" with non Naim daughter boards, wiring or connectors. "Improvements" impact both sound quality and potential resale value, so buy the genuine article if this is your first foray into Naim.

Hope this helps, FT

you have to consider PSU options in there too. 

I think it depends on what you are doing a bit.  If you use the 72 for analogue (lps) and remove the tape out boards the quality level is simply incredible.  Musically it is at or near the top.  However, for digital I really don't think it is anything that special.  The newer black series of preamps sounds better for digital to me.

jverlen posted:

I think it depends on what you are doing a bit.  If you use the 72 for analogue (lps) and remove the tape out boards the quality level is simply incredible.  Musically it is at or near the top.  However, for digital I really don't think it is anything that special.  The newer black series of preamps sounds better for digital to me.

That's just an old hat idea, probably put about originally by CD-hating vinyl die-hards  

In practice the 72 is equally as superb with digital as it is with analogue. Aways has been : )

Debs

Running a Nait 1 with a CDS3 and it sounds magnificent. Not even a thought that my Supernait2 is a better match..... 

jon honeyball posted:

you have to consider PSU options in there too. 

Yes indeed, this is why it took so long to make the decision to go down this path. Adding a Hi-Cap and full servicing will see the costs creeping up, as a Chartered Accountant and business analyst I'm super sensitive to cost blowouts

gary yeowell posted:

Running a Nait 1 with a CDS3 and it sounds magnificent. Not even a thought that my Supernait2 is a better match..... 

This is the impression I got, it seems once you have Naim, you could never leave.

You guys and girls are so nice and so helpful, thank you so much.

Debs

I respect your opinion but I've never got my 72 to be as good on digital as it is on analogue.  Maybe your experience is different.  On analogue perhaps some of the other Naims do more of the hifi stuff but on a musical basis the 72 absolutely swings.  I don't hate digital although I do readily admit to preferring LPs.  I do find digital very persuasive when I hear it at the dealers on the new black series.

Luz posted:

jon honeyball posted:

you have to consider PSU options in there too. 

Yes indeed, this is why it took so long to make the decision to go down this path. Adding a Hi-Cap and full servicing will see the costs creeping up, as a Chartered Accountant and business analyst I'm super sensitive to cost blowouts

Regarding cost you might as well go for lower amp, say a 62/140 or 102/180

No need for hicap as a start, you can allways ad one later waiting for the right one

Both combo's will run your Epos fine but not to disco levels

Any Nait will play but some of them has become quite expensive

Class A Naim servicecenter are supposed to be a cheaper service solution than factory, meaning you could purchase a 25 years old amp getting it fresh serviced for duty next decade or so, no other brands to my knowledge have this kind of support.

jverlen posted:

Debs

I respect your opinion but I've never got my 72 to be as good on digital as it is on analogue.  Maybe your experience is different.  On analogue perhaps some of the other Naims do more of the hifi stuff but on a musical basis the 72 absolutely swings.  I don't hate digital although I do readily admit to preferring LPs.  I do find digital very persuasive when I hear it at the dealers on the new black series.

There are reasons that can explain it, your 72 may simply be exposing a better quality source component as your turntable.

In the past i've enjoyed a Rega Planar 3, a fairly basic LP12 in the early 90s, a later blinged out keel/Aro LP12, a CDI player, CDS 1, another CDI player, a CD5X currently here in 2nd system. The 72 performs fabulously with Naim CD players.

Put a CDS3/XPS2 on a 72/hi-cap/135s & SBLs for a very satisfying music making audio system : )

I've never understood why people suggest the 72 can only swing on turntable, seems very biased to me 

Debs

Debs

OK you definitely have tried more digital sources on your 72 than i have.  I use a Naim CDI for digital.  It is elderly now but even in its prime it never reached my analogue source. The LP source is Linn Sondek "traditional" (pre Cirkus, pre keel, pre kore, pre trampolin, pre etc).   Lingo power supply (plugged into a different circuit so it doesn't screw the sound of the system).  Naim Aro tonearm.  Dynavector 20-2L cartridge.  The CDI sounds good; in fact when you first listen it sounds better than the Linn.  But...the effect doesn't last.  More tiring.  Can't listen for hours like the Linn.  Not as open, not as much swing, not as organic.    

But I think you make a very fair point.  My comparison point, while fair (the two front ends are similar cost although the Linn is a bit more), is probably not extensive enough to draw the general conclusion I'm drawing.

If Apple or Spotify or whoever would come up with a 96/24 streaming service at $25 per month or less I would buy an NDX streamer...and maybe prove you right after all!  

Jas

Er...didn't JV say all the shoe box preamps were basically the same - differences were only in  sample variation.

Sister xx

Indeed, the 72 introduced the time alignment boards, which is why it should have the highest sound quality, everything else being equal (which it isn't).  Hence my comment in a previous post.

Foot tapper posted:

Indeed, the 72 introduced the time alignment boards, which is why it should have the highest sound quality, everything else being equal (which it isn't).  Hence my comment in a previous post.

Around the time the 72 was introduced Naim made the “time-aligned boards” (my dealer’s term) available as an upgrade to your existing Naim preamp. The claim was that putting these in your CB amp (mine was a 32.5) would get you three quarters of the way to a 72 for a fraction of the full upgrade cost (IIRC, the boards were around £90). I went for them and, in retrospect, this was one of the best VFM upgrades I ever made. When I later traded in my souped-up 32.5 for a 72, the improvement was relatively minor.