The future for shoe box NACs

Loki posted:

Wugged Woy posted:

No one, I mean no one,  is getting their hands on my NAC72 ........... not even over my dead body.

Get the idea ?? 

Yes indeed I do! That's why I've stuck with the 32.5 since 1992. But, I am told that an 82 would be the next step up, but I can't afford to do it without selling my beloved 32.5, which my daughter (19) describes as 'adorably retro'.

Loki, a bit of advice. Keep the 32.5. Selling it would not bring in an enormous amount I don't think and for its value it delivers fantastic quality sound.

I wonder if the 82 is such a big upgrade over the 32.5 (which I see you have hi-capped), though if you want the convenience of remote then it may be worth it for you. Also, I don't know but,  the 32.5 may be better suited to your LP12 than the 82 - only your ears can tell you.

Regards. 

Hi Loki,
Like you, I have enjoyed my 32.5 pre-amps for many, many years (yes, I've had 2 of them).

What follows is based on the assumption that your 32.5 & hicap have been serviced and are in rude health.  If not, then get them serviced before looking to change any boxes.

When I eventually looked to upgrade, thoughts turned to a 282 or 252, each powered by a supercap.  I commented on this forum about it a few years ago.

Then my helpful Naim dealer intervened.  He said that several customers had looked to do the same as me, but ended up keeping their 32.5 or 72 but powering theirs with a supercap.  They were so happy with the improvement that the supercap brought, that they kept their half width pre-amps and traded in the hicap for a supercap.

He then said that if line level sources, rather than a turntable, were the main sources, then a 282/SC or 252 would be a logical next step. However, if turntable was the primary source, then he saw less of an upgrade by introducing a 282, which sort of implied a 252.  Except that I auditioned a 252 a couple of times and really didn't get on with any of them.  The 252 to me lets through a very different  character of sound to an olive pre-amp.

So far, all 3 options revolved around a supercap in place of the hicap, so I decided to build on that.  He then demonstrated a 52/supercap, both with internal phono cards for a Dynavector XX-2 cartridge, and also with an external phono stage.

To me, starting with a 32.5/Hicap2, the 282/SC was clearly better but not by enough for me to really feel the need to change.  The 252 was just a no within 20 seconds, both times and never recovered.  The 52/SC was an "oh no, I need one of those in my life", within the first few notes of the first track.

If I were in your shoes, what would I do?  Well, I must confess to loving the 32.5 and accepting its limited resolution and limited extension because what it does, it does so very well.  And I am not a fan of the 250.2.
So in the first instance, I'd keep the 32.5/hicap and either change to a 250DR (I am a definite admirer of the 250DR) via upgrade or trade-in, or buy a pair of NAP135s.
If you then want to go further, audition your 32.5 with a supercap and discover whether that floats your boat sufficiently.  If not, then listen to a 282/SC, a 252/SC and a 52/SC, then go for the one that you like the most.  These 3 pre-amps sound quite distinct from eachother and you will soon know which you like the most.

This process does take time (a few months), so enjoy the ride!

Hope this helps, FT

Foot tapper posted:

Hi Loki,
Like you, I have enjoyed my 32.5 pre-amps for many, many years (yes, I've had 2 of them).

What follows is based on the assumption that your 32.5 & hicap have been serviced and are in rude health.  If not, then get them serviced before looking to change any boxes.

When I eventually looked to upgrade, thoughts turned to a 282 or 252, each powered by a supercap.  I commented on this forum about it a few years ago.

Then my helpful Naim dealer intervened.  He said that several customers had looked to do the same as me, but ended up keeping their 32.5 or 72 but powering theirs with a supercap.  They were so happy with the improvement that the supercap brought, that they kept their half width pre-amps and traded in the hicap for a supercap.

He then said that if line level sources, rather than a turntable, were the main sources, then a 282/SC or 252 would be a logical next step. However, if turntable was the primary source, then he saw less of an upgrade by introducing a 282, which sort of implied a 252.  Except that I auditioned a 252 a couple of times and really didn't get on with any of them.  The 252 to me lets through a very different  character of sound to an olive pre-amp.

So far, all 3 options revolved around a supercap in place of the hicap, so I decided to build on that.  He then demonstrated a 52/supercap, both with internal phono cards for a Dynavector XX-2 cartridge, and also with an external phono stage.

To me, starting with a 32.5/Hicap2, the 282/SC was clearly better but not by enough for me to really feel the need to change.  The 252 was just a no within 20 seconds, both times and never recovered.  The 52/SC was an "oh no, I need one of those in my life", within the first few notes of the first track.

If I were in your shoes, what would I do?  Well, I must confess to loving the 32.5 and accepting its limited resolution and limited extension because what it does, it does so very well.  And I am not a fan of the 250.2.
So in the first instance, I'd keep the 32.5/hicap and either change to a 250DR (I am a definite admirer of the 250DR) via upgrade or trade-in, or buy a pair of NAP135s.
If you then want to go further, audition your 32.5 with a supercap and discover whether that floats your boat sufficiently.  If not, then listen to a 282/SC, a 252/SC and a 52/SC, then go for the one that you like the most.  These 3 pre-amps sound quite distinct from eachother and you will soon know which you like the most.

This process does take time (a few months), so enjoy the ride!

Hope this helps, FT

Excellent suggestions from Foot tapper.

Also, surprisingly ,  don't forget the possibility of a NAC72 sometime ..........  I know it doesn't sound like a big step up,  but the 72 is absolutely fab with an analogue source.