Musing on the NAC282

A 282 was my first Naim pre-amp. I used one input and never touched the balance control. I enjoyed it immensely for several years and can heartily recommend it to you. Best VFM pre in Naim's range. Oh, and it boogies.   

I only ever used one input and never used the record out on my 282. The additional input and record out will be a small part of the cost of this pre and I still maintain it is the best VFM pre Naim produce and I have owned 202, 282 and now 252.

With the ND5 XS, 250.2, ATC SCM19s and the addition of a 282, you will have arrived at a nicely balanced system. Other might suggest you move to a NDX first but I am pretty sure you won't regret a move to the better pre.

As an aside... leafing through the preamps manual to look at PSU options for the 282 (should I decide to chuck another bundle of credits at someone), I noticed a small paragraph on the 202 page.

Improve the sound and reduce power consumption by hitting recording monitor mute. Hadn't noticed it before. All this time.

D'oh!

Mmmmm, beer.

I ran mine with a HiCap DR and was perfectly happy with it. I’d ditch the fluffy toy and go all Naim.

The 282 is a significant upgrade over the 202, more so than NAP200 to 250.2 although that is substantial as well.  It is the largest upgrade I have made in my current system since returning to Naim.

You've really done this the wrong way round, for many the 202/250 is not an ideal combination and a 282/200 is a better match so it's good you are hearing the benefits, no doubt the demand of the ATC's make this a better upgrade for you than some others.  

I wouldn't get hung up over the facilities you won't use as what you will use is the substantial upgrade over the 202, that is easily worth the difference in price especially if you go used.

The only thing is that your source is now not up to the standard of the rest of the system, maybe a DAC or NDX could be added as well... where will it ever end!  

Another consideration could be the 272 route, especially as your current pre-amp may not be powered in the best way to optimise performance so you could drop 4 boxes down to one and use all the facilities the 272 has to offer, add an XPS if the itch to upgrade beckons and DR the 250.0 when it needs a service.

Richard

Mike1951 posted:

As an aside... leafing through the preamps manual to look at PSU options for the 282 (should I decide to chuck another bundle of credits at someone), I noticed a small paragraph on the 202 page.

Improve the sound and reduce power consumption by hitting recording monitor mute. Hadn't noticed it before. All this time.

D'oh!

Mmmmm, beer.

Yep. Have always done that.  Mind you, I've never done an A/B listening test to ascertain whether I can hear a difference.

I nearly went for NDX/202/200, but decided to push the boat out a bit and go straight for the 282. No regrets here, despite all those (to me) useless inputs and buttons. I do think you should consider an NDX as well - alternatively, if you can cope with more boxes, keep the ND5 as a transport into an external DAC. Your amp will be more than capable of showing off the merits of a source upgrade.

How do you know if you don’t need a balance control knob if it’s not availble on 202? 

‘Record’ buttons are equally useful when using headphones via Headline.

On a 202 I think you adjust the balance from the remote.

Absolutely the 202 balance control is via the remote control .. the internal  balance pot is controlled by a servo.

If buying new, and I suspect you won’t, I think you can order one without the PAC for a small discount, since you already have one.

yeti42 posted:

If buying new, and I suspect you won’t, I think you can order one without the PAC for a small discount, since you already have one.

Did you mean NAPSC?

The 282 has always irritated me, needing at least 2 extra boxes to function at all, and with all the extra buttons etc. I was waiting for Naim to come up with a modern equivalent for years but bit the bullet in the autumn. Bottom line it sounds great, even powered straight off the 200 - and got even better with a hicap dr. No regrets

Fueller posted:

The 282 has always irritated me, needing at least 2 extra boxes to function at all, and with all the extra buttons etc. I was waiting for Naim to come up with a modern equivalent for years but bit the bullet in the autumn. Bottom line it sounds great, even powered straight off the 200 - and got even better with a hicap dr. No regrets

There will always be those who want to use multiple sources, record to tape, etc, and for them, the current range of preamps will be ideal. Like you, though, I choose to run a single digital source, and I'd welcome the addition of a trimmed down preamp designed to maximise performance by eliminating all but one of the inputs, and getting rid of the dual row of buttons.

I used to use all the inputs and now just one. indeed patterns change and flexibility is important. Given that more and more sources are digital only and converge into a DAC or streamer digital inputs, 6 analogue inputs seems a lot today. 

But I also doubt those inputs make up a large chunk of the production cost. It doesn't keep me awake at night. And who knows how I'll use it in the future. Maybe aliens will send us holographic crystal analogue storage technology and digital sources will become obsolete. 

By the way, a 282 fed by any PSU (even a FCXS) is superb. A 282 is at home as the extravagant heart of a lower end system surrounded by ND5XS and NAP100. And equally at home being stretched to its limits surrounded by an NDS and NAP300 without embarrassing itself. It can easily be the most long lived part of a system.

Not that it really matters,since you don't use it but the 202 does have a balance control also. It works from the remote only and the light on the volume control flashes when you reach the centered "balanced" setting when you use either L or R balance on the remote. I've also been considering moving from 202 to 282 but health,wealth and timing have meant using 202 with 250dr -up from200(originally).250 is a nice move up.Rest of system harbeth M30.1,linn lp12/lingo,cd5 and tandberg td20,tandberg tcd-340- the tandbergs are (mostly) display only. Enjoy the music.

Yes, in my case the move to the 250 gave significant benefits due to the demanding speakers I've recently acquired...

Mike - as Trickie said I went the route of 202/200 to 282/200 which is a really good balance - 282 is a great pre amp - love mine and the detail it brings to the system over the 202

I know you have only just brought in the 250.2 into your system but another consideration is to get the 250.2 DR, just another pondering thought

Just been offered a 2003 NAC282 @ £1858.

What does the team think?

Mike1951 posted:

Just been offered a 2003 NAC282 @ £1858.

What does the team think?

Has it been serviced? I’d expect to pay around £1500 for a 2002/3 unseviced model, even less. You can have it serviced then for £249.00. 

mike -

your choice but the 282 will certainly add detail to your system and i would also suggest NAPSC also, i think the 282 is over 4K new

282 will give a lot more detail accross the music and make that 250.2 sound even better

welcome to the world of upgrades.....................

Fluffy Toy and NAPSC already...

The NAPSC is included in the regular price of a 282, as it won’t function without one. So remember to check that the seller is including it, or you are being short changed. As you already own one, you could then sell yours. 

feeling_zen posted:

I used to use all the inputs and now just one. indeed patterns change and flexibility is important. Given that more and more sources are digital only and converge into a DAC or streamer digital inputs, 6 analogue inputs seems a lot today. 

But I also doubt those inputs make up a large chunk of the production cost. It doesn't keep me awake at night. And who knows how I'll use it in the future. Maybe aliens will send us holographic crystal analogue storage technology and digital sources will become obsolete. 

By the way, a 282 fed by any PSU (even a FCXS) is superb. A 282 is at home as the extravagant heart of a lower end system surrounded by ND5XS and NAP100. And equally at home being stretched to its limits surrounded by an NDS and NAP300 without embarrassing itself. It can easily be the most long lived part of a system.

When I was first interested in Hi-Fi amps were often criticised for their limited functionality.   I like the flexibility offered.  

The price is about the average market rate for this vintage.