Power amp choice. I need your thoughts

Posted by: S-Plade on 10 July 2018

I’m looking for a new amp and a Naim has been my dream for many years.

My Current system

Turntable: Rega RP8 with Ania MC cartridge
Riaa: Rega Aria
Amp: Rega Brio
Speakers: Audiovector SR3 Signature
(Impedace 8ohm / Sensitivity in 8ohm = 91.5db)
 
My room is 5X6 m2 and I play rock and pop music
 
My Rega Brio can easy drive my speakers and i use it between 8 and 10 o’clock. 
I love my Brio but it hums too much for me when the music i quiet. 
 
I’m pretty sure I’ll choose a NAC 202
 
But when it comes to power amp I’m not sure what to choose
 
Option 1
A normal choice would be a NAP 200 DR
 
Option 2
NAP 100 and then add a HICAP power supply for the preamp.
(is this possible or do I need a NAPSC as well?)
 
Option 3
Two NAP100 used as mono blocks
 
Does Option 2 and 3 make any sense? Please let me know what You think?
Thank
S-Plade
Posted on: 11 July 2018 by yeti42

The current Brio has no earth connection, only two pins in the socket in the back, double insulated.

Posted on: 12 July 2018 by NickSeattle
S-Plade posted:
NickSeattle posted:

I did have hum on all of my Naim gear, until I isolated it from everything touching CATV.  Not a big deal — easy to do with a $50 isolating-cable.

Nick

I'm not 100% sure I know what you mean?

My TV does gets power from the same power outlet but I don't have any cable tv only a ground antenna directly into the tv. 

Do you suggest a isolating-cable to the amp or tv?

A Isotek Evos3 Corvus is on my wish list

Your original post does not say you are playing AV sources through your Brio; if you do so, grounding issues at your Cable TV service may cause hum in your speakers.

I had no hum doing so until I added a CD5X, so initially, I blamed the CD player.  Naim informed me their CD players are earthed for ultimate sound quality, which can REVEAL earth/grounding issues in a system.  

Disconnecting CATV where it entered the house would resolve the hum; so would disconnecting my AV system from the NAC.  Replacing the interconnect between the AV system and NAC with a ground-isolation interconnect RCA to RCA was the best answer, in my case.

Nick

Posted on: 12 July 2018 by NickSeattle

S-Plade,

I like your 202 plan.  What makes that your determined choice?  Special opportunity?

Nick