Hello to all, I' m new in the forum and a long term naim user with nac 62, Hicap and nap 250 cb, all recently serviced.
For what I understand the nac 52 has multiple multiregulated power supply for all stages of the preamp as main difference.
I now that the topic is been allready discussed, but I am mostly interested in the differences between nac 62 and nac 52 as schematics of buffer, line stage, phono are concerned.
Are they very similar as a friend of mine told me?
Thank you very much.
Kind regards.
Tube
Posted on: 18 October 2018 by Richard Dane
In there basic fundamentals, I guess all Naim pre-amps are similar, however the NAC52 is a big step up on the NAC62 sonically, particularly in the way it handles the frequency extremes and in it's ability to reveal more of what the source is doing. The NA5xx Phono boards in the NAC52 are broadly similar to the older NA3xx boards (albeit incompatible due to different mounting arrangement). However, the NAC52 provides a powered socket with dedicated transformer windings, regulation and power rails for an off board phono stage - either a Stagline, Prefix, or Superline. The latter two are a big step up on the internal boards. The Superline is up there with the best.
Posted on: 18 October 2018 by tube1960
Hello Richard,
thank you for the info, my understanding is that the performance of the 52 is due to better power suply, but I am woundering if the line stage is the same or very similar, and in this case what are the differences.
Thank you
Tube
Posted on: 19 October 2018 by Loki
Apropos the Superline, I have it on very good authority that the Prefix offers extremely good vfm. I have not heard the two compared, but the coviction of said dealer was such that I left with the impression that the Superline was an unecessary expense and surpassed by offerings from Linn and Rega. Many folk like the Dynavector phono stage,but I found it very thin- sounding. The Stageline was considered inferior to the Prefix, and essentially the same boards, but in a box, without the advantages of closely mounting the phono stage to the source. Of course, the Prefix is only available second hand now.
Posted on: 19 October 2018 by Richard Dane
There's a lot more to it than just a better power supply - as you would see by comparing the internals! Of course, the power supply is definitely a key part, with all the dedicated supplies and regulation.
Basic differences; the NAC52 is dual mono with audio circuitry arranged on two separate motherboards. The circuits contain Naim's time-aligned filter buffers. Control circuitry is mounted on its own separate board and has its own dedicated power supply. All functions remote controlled. Switching is done via optocouplers for lowest noise and interference.
That's the basics, and bear in mind that the NAC52 underwent some changes during its life, but if you want anything more technical than this then you'll need someone with more technical knowledge than I.
