72 vs. 82

It is cheaper.

And I suspect, that is about it!

Mike

The 82, if functioning properly is considerably better at everything than a 72. (Except lightening your wallet.)

I've owned both, and there really is no comparison performance-wise.

Best,

Bob

It tries to do less (dynamics, frequency extremes).

In compromised situations, this may reign in the performance enough to stop a system from exciting nasty room problems.

cheers, Martin

There is no comparrison, The 82 is a much better pre-amp.

The 82 opens up the sound considerably and add's bass weight and depth.

If your finances can strech to the 82 then go for it you wont be dissapointed.

Regards

NB

How about that combo? Similar money wise.

John
Shore

Hi,

Tried 72 + super less than 2 weeks ago. And it's considerably better than 72 + Hicap. I could easily live with that, that's for sure.

However, even if I couldn't compare directly, having lived with 82 + Hicap for some time I'd say this is better. The 72 simply can't give you the feeling of "rightness" that the 82 does. And adding a second hicap, which you can have s/h for almost nothing, raises the level very considerably. A no-brainer upgrade for anyone with 82 + 1 hicap.

Cheers,
Claus

I have 32.5 and a 72 and also 2 HiCaps, Naxo and 2 250's into SBL's.

I was going to go 72 but now I am thinking of staying with the 32.5 and going the route Mr Tibbs did with his 102, ie modifing it. The 32.5 internally is very similar to a 72. And I recon with a new pot, the balance pot removed and some internal mods (6 reg supplies) will sound better than a standard 72. I will aim to do a similar thing in my Naxo...

This also means I will save money in the long run as I will be able to stay silver edged ;-)

John
Shore

Quote:-

72 + Supercap vs 82 + Hicap
___________________________


The 82 + hi-cap is still going to sound better than the 72 + supercap as the 82 is simply the better pre-amp.

The 82 has a clarity that the 72 just cannot match no matter the power supply and the 82 has a bass weight that is just simply beyond the capabilities of the 72.

It is simply a no contest.

Regards

NB

A friend who used to work at my local Naim dealership ran an active system with a 72 in preference to a 52.

He felt that the 52 had an intrinsic 'sound' that he didn't like.

The 72 has a 'simpler' sound and may have been the reason why.

Martin Payne raises the relevant old chestnut here of the famous Gilbert Briggs dictum from the fifties:-

"The more you open the window, the more the muck flies in".

Yes; the 82 ought to be better, but if it excites something you don't want to deal with, it could have a negative effect.

The bottom line is (in a non-perfect system and room) 'A more expensive model isn't automatically better'

Isn't this fun?

Its all a matter of personal choice isn't it!!

I agree with what you say about opening a window lets more of the muck in, but could you really say that an active system is mucky??

Regards

NB

It is not that simple. The 72/Super relative to a 82/Hicap allows you to hear how much better the Supercap is and provides supreme coherence and sweetness that the 82/Hicap does not approach. The 82/Hicap, however, opens a wider window into the music--the 82 extending farther into especially the treble and somewhat farther into the bass.

My experience has been that a 72/Super provides a clearer but more band limited presentation of music, while an 82/Hi provides a wider but slightly less compelling view of the music. I think in terms of absolute quality (insofar as absolute quality can be defined) they are roughly equal and different people will have different preferences.

Best,

Bob

What's your goal in bringing this up again, onlythat?

It's not the cost per se; rather, it's value for money.

The 82 is a better preamp, but does it provide better music? And is the improvement commensurate with its cost at the retail price?

I'm not convinced. I went for an 82 when I REALLY wanted remore control and when I knew I could get a hicap if I felt I needed it. In other words, I wanted a toy.

With the 2nd hicap, it's a lot more involving than a 72/hi. With one hi, as I said, it didn't seem to be worth the cost, especially when compared to the 52.

Different isn't better. Better hifi isn't better music.

Regards.

Phil

I bring this up is because now and then I read that the 82 is where "real top-line NAIM performance begins." Not wanting to be out of the "real top-line" with my 72 and wondering how far I am from said line is my aim here.

That plus the remote control of course!! (Toward which end I could use the one from my CDX--- or from the CDS2 I MIGHT be idiot enough to buy second-hand and use with my 72/hi/140 for the ultimate INVERTED MULLET!!!)

Also known hece forth as --- The POMPADOR (think Elvis) system. (Unless-- that is-- we already got a name for this kind of thing.)

quote:

---

Originally posted by onlythat:
Also known henceforth as --- The POMPADOR (think Elvis) system. (Unless we already got a name for this kind of thing.)

---

What you're looking for is SOURCE FIRST. (Thinking Elvis is easy; however, have you spotted him lately by any chance, pumping gas, or something?)

Herman

I've owned 72/hi, 82/hi, 82/2xhi, 82/sc and 52/sc. I was never a great fan of the 82.

Originally when I moved from 72/hi to 82/hi, I was impressed by the extra resolution, particularly in vocals. However, over time, I came to feel that the 82/hi doesn't quite flow as well musically. To me it sounds like it's pulling the threads apart - there was a distinct sound of bass, mid and treble all doing their own thing - I also found the 'recessed' sound, lost the fun factor. I thought it the product to sound the least like Naim. This wasn't resolved until you get to 82/sc level. However, at this price point, the 82/sc looks poor value for money though as I'd say the 52 is significantly better.

David

FCOL, onlythat!

You're in New York, and Innovative and Dave Wilson are close to you - go listen (especially if you can get to Mt. Kisco's Dave Wilson). Or maybe you'll find they don't stock the 82 because they feel it's poor VFM (a la my dealer).

There's clearly controversy over the 82, and the ONLY way to know which way to go is to listen.

I was happier upgrading from 72/hi/140 to a 250 than an 82. An 82 with 2 caps is special, though no where near as close to a 52 as it should be, given the cost.

Phil

CDS2/72/hi/140 rocks!

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

The 82 offers a wider view of music and more detail than a 72, however it doesn't come into its own until used with a supercap; then you get to hear what it really can do.

I found the 72/hicap like the 52/supercap in that it has the ability to find the beat and makes you listen.

I found that music didn't seem as involving using 82/hicap.