Extending NAIT5i 2 channel to AV

Posted by: RogerRoger on 01 February 2008

Hi

My current hi fi is NAIT5i, CD5i and Dynaudio Audience 52 SEs.

I also a completely separate AV system - Yamaha DSP 492(?) processor, Arcam Alpha 8 and a 12 year old Kef speaker system.

Given the quality of the Naim I'm thinking of adding the Yamaha processor to the Naim mix and want to know if this is possible (I simply can't afford the Naim AV amps).

I'd keep the Dynaudio 52SEs as front speakers and was wondering what would make good additions for centre and rears - the cheapest Dynaudio's seem to be the Audience 42 but at £400 for rears seems overkill...

Your suggestions would be most welcomed.

Roger

Posted on: 12 February 2008 by james n

I had the same sort of setup before my n-Vi. I used a Marantz AV receiver. Front channels ran into my Naim 2 channel system (a 72/140). A 90.3 with a custom Chord cable biamped the centre channel and another 90.3 ran the rears. Worked very well. 90.3's are pretty cheap now and make good surround amps.

James

Posted on: 12 February 2008 by PJT

quote:
Originally posted by james n:
I had the same sort of setup before my n-Vi. I used a Marantz AV receiver. Front channels ran into my Naim 2 channel system (a 72/140). A 90.3 with a custom Chord cable biamped the centre channel and another 90.3 ran the rears. Worked very well. 90.3's are pretty cheap now and make good surround amps.

James

As per James, except I still run my Denon AVR, with a pre-out to my naim for fronts, and a pre-out to an old NAP140 to run the n-Cent.
BTW, my dealer and the NZ distributor did not recommend bi-amping/bridging the 140 , so I am only using 1 channel.
The Denon runs the rear speakers good enough for movies - and will do so until WAF dictates the speakers be changed.

Posted on: 12 February 2008 by james n

I can understand the caution on bridging as the amp is not designed for this. Can't see the problem with using both channels though as that is the normal configuration. Seems a waste not using one of the channels especially if the centre channel speaker can run in biamped mode ?

James

Posted on: 13 February 2008 by Macker

Use the front Lft & Rht pre-outs from the Yami to run into the AV input of your Nait5i with the "unity gain" feature turned on.

The volume control on the Yamy will then control all channels at the same time. Simple solution and exactly why Naim have the unity gain feature....

Posted on: 14 February 2008 by David Dever

Though this will not apply in your case, I've found that an AV2, when connected to a NAIT5i at unity gain, needs to have the L and R channels dipped -20 units (about -10dB) to match the voltage gain in other Naim amps, say, a NAP200.

This will vary with respect to the Yamaha processor–but I'd start the trims for the front L & R channels at -10 units (or dB, better, if the processor allows for dB increments).

Posted on: 27 February 2008 by RogerRoger

quote:
Originally posted by Macker:

"unity gain" feature

Huh ? Where, what how?

Posted on: 28 February 2008 by AV@naim

quote:
Originally posted by RogerRoger:
quote:
Originally posted by Macker:

"unity gain" feature

Huh ? Where, what how?

RT-M....

http://www.naim-audio.com/download/man_amps&psu.pdf

page 18 (section 20.3)

Posted on: 29 February 2008 by RogerRoger

quote:
Originally posted by AV@naim:
quote:
Originally posted by RogerRoger:
quote:
Originally posted by Macker:

"unity gain" feature

Huh ? Where, what how?

RT-M....

http://www.naim-audio.com/download/man_amps&psu.pdf

page 18 (section 20.3)

Thanks!! That helps...

Posted on: 29 February 2008 by domfjbrown

...and IIRC, the Yamaha IS in dB units

My old one's doing nicely in a mate's system.

Posted on: 06 March 2008 by RogerRoger

Any thoughts on centre and rear speakers to match the Dynaudios ?