For new cash .. please recommend..

Posted by: belsizepark on 28 October 2000

Hi people...

2 years ago i spent some of my hard earned cash on the following system.. all naim components

CD3.5
Nat?03 tuner
nac92r preamp
nap90 poweramp
credo speakers

Sound organisation stand...

I purchased it all new from a shop called Studio99 near where I live and they were very helpful. I recently went back there and sadly they seem to no longer be there....

I telephoned Grahams Hifi and on the phone the salesperson suggested I come in for a listen and said possibly upgrading the power amp to a 180 might be the initial upgrade worthwhile doing...

So i have a couple of questions.. anyone know what happened to studio99 or the staff who were helpful?...notably peter cole the manager.. any suggestions on other dealers in london worthwhile visiting?.. any views on what i should listen to if i went to Grahams?...Ive never done 2nd hand before but on 2nd hand any views on what i might do..

I thank you for your help and assistance...

Regards

Belsizepark

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Former member

My first thought was, get a flatcap or two (one for 3.5 and later one for 92)
Before anything else, or a 72, but I don’t know what 180 can do on Credo.
I think there are plenty of flatcaps 2.hand, and new 72 on special offer.

Per

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

You'll get far more satisfaction from a CDX/92/90 than you will from 3.5/92/180. Believe it or not, it will seem like a more powerful amplifier, even if you change only the CD player (except with the radio, of course <g> ). Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

If jumping to a CDX is too much money, then Per's advice is also good. Your minimum step is a Flat-Cap for the CD3.5. Then a Flat-Cap or Hi-Cap for the 92 is the next step. (Don't put a Hi-Cap on the 3.5, since it doesn't benefit as much as the pre-amp will.) Just as with the CDX, adding these power supplies to the CD player and pre-amp will make your system sound louder (if that's what you're looking for).

Later, if you upgrade to a CDX, then you can sell the 3.5/Flat to decrease the cost. You can replace the 92 with another pre-amp, and use its Flat/Hi-Cap on any other Naim pre (except for the 52). I would suggest that you do both of these upgrades (CD and pre) before changing your 90 to a bigger amp. Therefore, in small steps, do this:

1. Add a Flat-Cap to the 3.5.
2. Add a Hi-Cap to the 92.
3. Change the 3.5/Flat to a CDX.
4. Change the 92 to a 102 or 82.
5. Change the 90 to a 180 or 250.
6. Add an XPS to the CDX.
7. Change the Hi-Cap to a Super-Cap.
8. Change the CDX head-unit to a CDS2.
9. Change the 102 (or 82) to a 52.
10. Change the 180 (or 250) to two 135s.

Of course, you can always skip ahead at any time, or stop at any point and still have a balanced system. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 29 October 2000 by Eric Barry

Isn't the Flatcap2 designed specifically with this system in mind, as it will benefit both the pre and the cd? On the other hand, you might pick up two original flatcaps for the price of a new flatcap2.

I'd highly recommend either. Other options are CDX, and a used 140.

--Eric

Posted on: 29 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

Yes, the Flat-Cap2 could provide a primary supply to the 92R and a secondary supply to the 3.5. However, a Flat-Cap2 is not as good as a Hi-Cap (according to Naim), so the dedicated Flat-Cap and Hi-Cap would still be better. You could probably get both used for the price of a new Flat-Cap2. (I could also suggest that he trade in his 92/90 for a 32.5/Hi/140, which would be much better for very close to the same money.) Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Smilies do not a forum make.

Posted on: 01 November 2000 by Rico

quote:
anyone know what happened to studio99 or the staff who were helpful?...notably peter cole the manager.. any suggestions on other dealers in london worthwhile visiting?..

Michael

good to see you're still enjoying! S99 are 'in limbo' or so the story went when last I enquired... Peter Coles resigned way back in March or April, well before the rapid decline of Studio 99 (hey, how about that for a little assonance!).

Graham's do not have a monopoly on "good london dealerships" - Auditorium is certainly worth a visit, amongst others... and you might also consider (more) northern visit to the delightful location of Cheadle, outside of Manchester; you should find Audio Counsel worth the journey.

Rico - musichead

Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Frank Abela

If your main source is the CD player, I would recommend you demo a CDX. The CDX/92/90 is a very big step up from the 3.5.

However, the Grahams option is not to be dismissed. A 180 can bring about good gains since the Credo benefits significantly from having that kind of power behind it, and the 92r would benefit by having the 180's better (almost flatcap) power supply powering it.

Regards,
Frank.

Posted on: 02 November 2000 by Former member

Mike

I just gonna keep following you around telling you that IMHO the high-cap on the 3.5 is MUCH better than the flatcap. Get these guys to try it. I wouldn't bother with the flatcap on the 3.5.

However, I will own, I have not got a Naim amp - and therefore I cannot say that the difference on the amps isn't much bigger than on the 3.5. I must bow to your experince in this matter.

Man, Just don't put them off trying the hicap on the 3.5.

Catch you later, dude.

Jonathan

Posted on: 03 November 2000 by belsizepark

All your comments are most interesting, and certainly give me a number of options to try out. As I will likely go into a shop and get a salesman to demo me stuff, I am likely to purchase from the shop as I am not the sort of person who likes to receive great service then go and buy the same kit elsewhere 2nd hand. I have no objections however to buying 2nd hand kit out of the shop however as the salesman will not have had time wasted.. does anybody know therefore if Grahams or Audiotorium (where ever that is!) as suggested by Rico actually sell 2nd hand kit or ex demo kit (for info my credo speakers were ex-dem and I am very happy with them). I do not think I will go to Manchester because how good that dealer may be, because I am technically incompetent I need the dealer to install the product for me and I doubt they would be willing to travel down to London for that purpose.

I should be grateful if someone could explain to me what a flatcap2 is because when I purchased my hifi this did not exist. Is it just a better version of the old flatcap or is it like 2 flat caps i.e. one for the cd and one for the preamp..

Furthermore is there a current price list of kit on this website and where is it?.. Also if I were to trade in my 90/3 poweramp (purchased in October 1998 and in situ as installed by dealer, without box as I do not have storage space but with manual) how much do you think I would receive. Similarly on the CD3.5 (same story).

I thank you all again for comments so far ..

Regards

Belsizepark

Posted on: 03 November 2000 by Former member

As Rico suggested, the guys at the Auditorium on the New Kings Road near Parsons Green are very nice and helpful. I bought my CDS there and the service was excellent.