preamp

Townshend Allegri. I will let others discuss the best vfm for naim devices!

Some context would be useful but I would say the 272 is the best value, it is very good and includes a streamer.

Otherwise in the current range the 282 is good value in terms of its performance and flexability with regards power supply options.

Richard

Alba1320 posted:

As TRICKYDICKIE says, context would be useful, but:

Nac 72  or 52.

Aceone posted:

happy new year to all members on here. What is the best vfm preamp in your opinion.

nac 112x

112x has a great bass very valve like into a 150x and flatcap 2x.  Speakers BW1800..nice wide soundstage ' good footapping stuff..

ACEONE

Happy new year to you too

Depends what you want from it? A good second hand 32.5 would be a great preamp. 282 is very good too but will cost a lot more.

VFM probably second hand any from 32.5, 72, and upwards. New...well that depends on what else you're putting with it but 282 or 272 if you're thinking of streaming

I think the 202 is very under-rated and IMO great VFM.

Allan

You may as well ask which tinned tomatoes people prefer - the question is probably more useful. 

Well if OP intend to purchase a preamplifier based on answers here, I find the question perfectly valid

Your comment is however not very useful, maybe you are bored

Bored of silly questions, yes. 

Aceone posted:

 the best vfm preamp in your opinion.

Perhaps a 72, 32.5 or 62

As these could be free hifi keeping their value until a resale is due

On the contrary, just about worst vfm must be 102/202 as these fetch nothing near original retail, vfm for new owners not vfm for original owners

Used Nac72.

Napolina Tomatoes also very good tinned

Karl

All of Naim preamps make perfectly sense, at least any I've come across which are lots of.

But to me the serious stuff, well the turning point for a grown-up system starts from hicapped  72 or better 202. The new hicapDR makes this latter a jewel and a keeper in the right system. 

Dozey posted:

Townshend Allegri. I will let others discuss the best vfm for naim devices!

Will it match any or some poweramp beeing passive ?

S1

best vfm no preamp DAC > monoblocs

It is not passive - it is a transformer volume control, therefore provides ideal matching regardless of power amp. Does not require a power supply or a power lead. Costs less than a super lumina interconnect. A no brainer really.

Dozey posted:

It is not passive - it is a transformer volume control, therefore provides ideal matching regardless of power amp. Does not require a power supply or a power lead. Costs less than a super lumina interconnect. A no brainer really.

It is passive. There are no active components in it - as you quite rightly point out, it has no power supply. 

Please do not post if you think a thread is pointless or if you have no opinion;

please show some respect to the OP;

let readers form their own opinions;

some interesting issues can come up in these threads.

Allan

Good point Allan but to be fair, the OP did ask a rather open ended question. A bit of context would probably help generate useful responses if that was what the OP was really looking for...

ok, iagree; so enquire politely ... some members may be very limited in their knowledge and/or experience and be looking for some kind of absolute/definitive answer where there may not be one without context.

Allan

Ask a silly question, get a silly answer? How can the question generate anything useful - it's not even clear whether it's about Naim or all brands, new or secondhand etc etc? 

It's like posting 'what's the best value wire?'  How can it be answered? What are the best value speakers? What are the best value tinned tomatoes? 

And just calling the thread 'preamp'. It's simply lazy. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

What are the best value tinned tomatoes? 

Any suggestions Nigel - i noticed we were running low. I'm thinking Napolina but am open to other options ?

Clearly it must be an S1 

No preamp at all is the best vfm, easy if you don't have analogue sources.

i.e much as Andyl saidAC with volume control direct to power amp. Less electronics as well!