audition of nac 152xs v my 122x with flatcap 2x

Why? it's something of a sideways step.

Spotify seem an odd choice of source for a demo too.

If you are using Spotify anything will sound rubbish. What on earth was the dealer thinking?

yeti42 posted:

Why? it's something of a sideways step.

Spotify seem an odd choice of source for a demo too.

I thought that the 152 xs was deemd to be better than the 122x..??

Hungryhalibut posted:

If you are using Spotify anything will sound rubbish. What on earth was the dealer thinking?

Think he was trying to sell me a ND5..??

Hungryhalibut posted:

If you are using Spotify anything will sound rubbish. What on earth was the dealer thinking?

Aparantly it was a paid for servie that gives better sound reproduction..??

Garry posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

If you are using Spotify anything will sound rubbish. What on earth was the dealer thinking?

Aparantly it was a paid for servie that gives better sound reproduction..??

That'll be Spotify Premium which is still 'only' 320 kbps compared to full fat CD's, etc.

HH is correct, for this level of equipment you should have the best sources feeding it so you can see what effect the equipment is having. The Spotify source will be confusing things

 

I thought that the 152 xs was deemd to be better than the 122x..?? 

Views have differed on this. Many consider 122X/150x as one of, if not the best entry level combo of the range. Have you tried 152x without FC2x? 

Chag -

I ran a 152xs for a while with a 150X. It sounded very good. It is actually what got me hooked on the naim sound. 

I used a 122/150x with flatcap 2x for about three years and it was excellent. I'm not sure I'd swap the 122 for the 152. 

I have a 112x/150/Flatcap2. When I next have an amplifier upgrade I think it will be a NAC202/NAPSC, I will use the Flatcap to power my Stageline. I would consider 152x a 'sideways' step?

Garry posted:

Went to Preston today to audition a 152xs on my flatcap 2x and found it thin and grainy compared to my 122x ..Power amp was a nap200...

Not sure that was wise. Did you use both outputs of your FC2x on the NAC152XS?

C.

Chag... posted:

 

I thought that the 152 xs was deemd to be better than the 122x..?? 

Views have differed on this. Many consider 122X/150x as one of, if not the best entry level combo of the range. Have you tried 152x without FC2x? 

Chag -

yes found it a bit sharp sounding...but could have been the Kef speakers , was not keen on them...Maybe it is that aspect that threw the whole audition..

Was the NAP 200 yours?  It sounds like the audition was really of everything except your flatcap.  Way too many different pieces of equipment involved to tell you much at all about the preamp comparison.  And all in unknown states of run-in etc (which can make equipment sound thin).  Together with a dealer who may not have been having his best day when he tried to make out that Spotify was an adequate source.  Obviously it's fine for some uses and, especially if you're planning on listening to it a lot, has a valid place at some point in the session.  But it's not the way to really tell what you think of two grand's worth of streamer.  Well known lossless tracks on a USB stick would be more like it.

Ideally IMO it needs doing again with more familiar gear, either by taking more of your own gear (basically everything) to the dealer's, or by a home trial of the preamp OR ND5 (not both at once, at least initially, because that would obscure what thing is doing what to the sound).  Wallet firmly in pocket until then.

Garry, it might be an idea to say what you have now, and what you are considering doing. 

I Have nac 122x / nac 202..  switch between these as I like them both.. ( I do not have a nap 200 Dave.)

nap 150x ' flatcap 2x ' dac V1 ...computer ...Linn LP12.. ( LIKE THIS WITH THE NAC 202 )

Wanted to see how the nac 122X Compared to the nac 152xs..Did not feel that the sound was any betterwith or without flatcap..

Ended up looking at a new front end ' discussed the dac v1 and other streaming devices..

As said before will be putting 2 systems together ... 

Garry posted:

Wanted to see how the nac 122X Compared to the nac 152xs..Did not feel that the sound was any betterwith or without flatcap..

Did you use both the outputs of the FC2x, or only one?

C.

one to the 152xs as far as I know

Thanks. Just seems a shame that the NAC152XS wasn't maxxed out with both supplies from the FC2x.

C.

Does the 152xs have capacity for both channels to be powered separatly...???? 

My understanding is that it's analogue and the switching bits, not left and right. But I can't find anything about it on the main site, 'products' etc.

C.

Christopher_M posted:

Thanks. Just seems a shame that the NAC152XS wasn't maxxed out with both supplies from the FC2x.

C.

maxed out..???

Christopher_M posted:

My understanding is that it's analogue and the switching bits, not left and right. But I can't find anything about it on the main site, 'products' etc.

C.

I thought the flatcap was designed to  help pre amp and power a source..That would be its job..????

Garry posted:

Christopher_M posted:

Thanks. Just seems a shame that the NAC152XS wasn't maxxed out with both supplies from the FC2x.

C.

maxed out..???

 

Utilised to its full potential.

C.

Garry posted:

Christopher_M posted:

My understanding is that it's analogue and the switching bits, not left and right. But I can't find anything about it on the main site, 'products' etc.

C.

I thought the flatcap was designed to  help pre amp and power a source..That would be its job..????

In the audio world before streamers, yes. When Naim's entry level streamer came out it accepts a power supply (no surprise!) but not a Flatcap power supply. Meanwhile the preamp from the same XS range can take both of the feeds from a Flatcap XS, or 2X, or 2.

TBH your dealer has done you a disservice if any of this is news.

C.

Sticking with the 122x it seems to be good at everything I need..popular opinion is theat the 152xs is a sideways step..? I just did not like it ...Think the dac v1 and computer are great thro the BW DM1800 ' Speakers.. The 202 gets swapped i from time to time ..I do  not have its power supply but use the flatcap 2x ... not a lot of difference to my ears digitally but better with vinyl ...

Would love to move up the ladder with more expensive gear ' but think I will listen to music for a while..After all that is what it is all about..Onwards untill the next upgrade..

Thanks for all the comments