NAC52 front panel update

NAC 52 from serial number 125xxx upwards already have the discrete component front panel circuitry. I had mine updated a few years ago... although the fundamental qualities of the 52 remained the same, it was noticeably quieter and somewhat cleaner on the top. The US price for this conversion used to be circa $1200 at the time. That same $1200 may be spent elsewhere more effectively. In the context of the 6-pack DBL I was/am using, it was a cost effective upgrade. Your kilometerage may vary.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

I recently (within the last few weeks) asked Naim about this. Their reply essentially said that you do get some small sonic benefits, but not much, and the source up/down buttons on the Flash will become enabled. However it costs £962!! I decided it wasn't worthwhile, mybe I'll think again when the 52 is old enough to warrant a service.

I had mine upgraded recently my NANA. $1,600. Minor improvement in sound. I agree with Ron Toolsie, the money could be better spent elsewhere. I did it because my electric pots were not moving properly. Problem fixed now.

Arthur Bye

@Ron, Arthur & Neil

Thanks for your helpful comments. I will not
consider a front panel update at the moment
and may spend my money elsewhere.

@ Fred: Grüss Gott !
Ja, ich bin ein "echter" Bayer, obwohl ich mich
sehr wie eine "Hesse" anhöre (bin im bayerischen Nizza König Ludwigs aufgewachsen).
Und was die nordbayerischen Empfindlichkeiten (FRANKEN!)angeht ... Damit hab´ich nichts am Hut (Nürnberg kann ich aufgrund der örtlichen Sprache wenig leiden), näher liegen mir die südbayrischen Schwaben am Herz (bin ein grosser Fan des Allgäus und seiner Berge ...)!
Und Würzburg mag ich einfach so, bin vor 18 Jahren dort hängengebleiben.

We've met! A couple of weeks ago I came round to your house with the boys from Steiner Box.

Your system was sounding very good, I thought, and I see elsewhere (audiomap.com) that you decided to get the new loudspeaker cable: I'm very tempted to buy your NACA 5 off you, but it's a bit too short - I think I need at least 8.5 m

Hope you're enjoying the Fidelios.

Thomas

quote:

---

Originally posted by Harald:
Hello,

i have a 6-7 year old NAC52 (revision NA523/1, (serial number 105xxx).

---

Harald,

I would have expected this to be a revision 3 or 4 motheboard for a preamp of this age?

cheers, Martin

523/1 sounds like the phono boards....

Phil

Hi Martin & Phil,

you are right. My Typewriting and working memory are really bad ! My preamp board is revision 521/3, the phonoboard is 523/1.


Hallo Thomas,

hopefully I did not offend you by my statement about Nuernberg in my second post ... The guys at Steiner Box in Nuernberg and Erlangen are great and offer fine service !

And thank you for your stop in Wuerzburg after visitig the High-End in Frankfurt and your useful advice concerning the system setup in my living room. After a using the Audioquest speaker cable for a weekend and comparing it with the NACA5 I and two friends prefered the AQ cable. But I decided to get a New Lingo first and to stick with my NACA5.

May be I am just a little bit too conservative, but I really like the NAIM approach ("no choice") concerning the selection of cables for their gear ... And BTW, the Verity Fidelios sound wonderful with NACA5, too !!!

Harald

quote:

---

hopefully I did not offend you by my statement about Nuernberg

---

No at all. For one thing, I'm a heimatloser Heckenbrunser and Franconian by choice only. I sometimes speak something that resembles the Franconian dialect, but the locals frown at my feeble attempts at Fränggisch ... And I don't live in Nuremberg, but in Erlangen.

quote:

---

I decided to get a New Lingo first

---

I think that's a wise decision. I was quite astounded at the difference the new Lingo makes. Once it's settled I imagine the improvement is even greater than "cold from the box". And make sure it's properly supported (i.e. on a good stand, or if there's no shelf space left, at least on a board and some bits of cork) - this often makes a big difference with components that have transformers in them.

Thomas