Showing my ignorance!

Source selection on top. Record out selection buttons for the tape output on the bottom. You can be listening to one source (selected via the top buttons) and still record from another source (using the bottom buttons) at the same time. 

O ok, that sounds a bit old school! Surely the products would benefit without those circuits then in this day and age?

It is, but some people still need that functionality. 

Popeye, you're probably too young to remember cassette decks and reel to reel players which some of us still use and these function are still quite useful. 

james n posted:

Source selection on top. Record out selection buttons for the tape output on the bottom. You can be listening to one source (selected via the top buttons) and still record from another source (using the bottom buttons) at the same time. 

who use this second buttoms for recording ?  a minority i suppose.   I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

It gets plenty of use on the 282 when recording from the LP12 onto the B77 at 15IPS. 

French Rooster posted:

james n posted:

Source selection on top. Record out selection buttons for the tape output on the bottom. You can be listening to one source (selected via the top buttons) and still record from another source (using the bottom buttons) at the same time. 

who use this second buttoms for recording ?  a minority i suppose.   I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

With my old 82 and current 52 I used them a great deal.  I would not have bought either of them without them.  Though nowadays I admit I no longer use them, and am unlikely to do so.

French Rooster posted:

james n posted:

Source selection on top. Record out selection buttons for the tape output on the bottom. You can be listening to one source (selected via the top buttons) and still record from another source (using the bottom buttons) at the same time. 

who use this second buttoms for recording ?  a minority i suppose.   I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

All the commercial preamps I’ve had had record outputs with separately selectable input. But whilst I’ve used the record output many times over the years, I can’t actually recall ever having used the facility to record from one input whilst listening to another, though I can picture a few scenarios where I could have wanted to.

The supernait 2 didn’t get them though the first one did so maybe Naim agree they’re mostly obsolete though you can run a head phone amp off the tape output so they’re not completely redundant. There’s probably no reason to redesign the existing pres just to eliminate a row of buttons but new designs may do without. Before buttons there was a rotary knob or two.

I use mine on a daily basis.  The tape out is buffered & I use it to select a source & feed my Nait-2 in the dining room  

Very handy for multi-room setups, too.  Multi-room homes will not become obsolete anytime soon.

Nick

Perhaps the next generation of Nacs will keep this feature but from a touchscreen user interface ?

As others have said, it’s very useful for recorders, running a headline, and also allows nice features like recording in mono and defeating or even putting the record circuits to sleep for best overall performance.

French Rooster posted:

 I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

For you - correct.

For many (who aren't you) - no.

It was ever so.

I use mine for connecting my Nakamichi 582 and use the phono outputs to drive my Stax ear speakers

Innocent Bystander posted:

I’ve used the record output many times over the years, I can’t actually recall ever having used the facility to record from one input whilst listening to another, though I can picture a few scenarios where I could have wanted to.

You never used 3 head recorders and wanted to monitor what was being recorded?

Popeye posted:

Just a quick question.

looking at Naims more expensive pre amplifiers, like the 252, why are the channel buttons on the front all doubled up, but on the reverse it appears to only have single inputs for everything.

thanks all

I have historically used this facility a lot - recording radio to A77 etc.

Have used it a lot in the last year to record LPs to digital recorder, whilst listening to other music via streamer at the same time

Adam Meredith posted:

French Rooster posted:

 I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

For you - correct.

For many (who aren't you) - no.

It was ever so.

For me: correct

For many, not me: no

For a majority : i think it is useless, but just an opinion, i may be wrong.  

Like so many things, it's useless except when you find you need it.

Traditionally, output source control has been a feature of higher-end preamps.  I have never owned/wanted one without it.  

Nick

Eloise posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I’ve used the record output many times over the years, I can’t actually recall ever having used the facility to record from one input whilst listening to another, though I can picture a few scenarios where I could have wanted to.

You never used 3 head recorders and wanted to monitor what was being recorded?

In a word, no. But yes, that is one of the scenarios I picture.

Although I did have a 3-head tape recorder (actually a pair), I had them only for music creation, and sources via my preamp didn’t feature. My only recording of cassettes was for use in cars, Recorded using a cheap cassette deck (combined record/replay head) so no monitoring. 

There is definately no reason to change design just  to get  rid of these buttons! I have a headphone amp somewhere  rarely used, but nice to have if I need it at some time in the future.

Claus  

French Rooster posted:

Adam Meredith posted:

French Rooster posted:

 I think it is a cost a bit useless, no?

For you - correct.

For many (who aren't you) - no.

It was ever so.

For me: correct

For many, not me: no

For a majority : i think it is useless, but just an opinion, i may be wrong.  

You are absolutely correct, ie you are wrong !