How to upgrade from here...

Posted by: Thomas Breding on 19 January 2004

A question asked by so many people before, but here we go again:

I currently have NAIT5, FC2, CD5, NAT05 and ALLAE. I love this setup, but I obviously need more power for the speakers I just bought, after moving to a bigger place.

I also need a Headline (well, my girlfriend claims that I need one and will even buy one for my birthday (See what different musical taste can give you!) so that complicates things a bit.

Tagret system (and this could be 5 years away) is 200, 202 (or 282), HICAP and CDX2. My plan is to start by adding a 200 and use the NAIT5 as a pre for a while. Next step is probably to switch the NAIT5 for a 202 (or 282 if a get a jackpot).

When adding a Headline I need a power supply, and if I buy a Hicap for the CD5 I could use one of FC2:s outputs for the Headline. Buying a NAPSC for the HEadline feels like a side step as I could use the FC2 instead. Or?

HICAP could then be used for the pre, once I buy the 202 or 282.

CDX2 will then be the final purchace (I hope...).

Have I missed something? Am I doing something wrong? I guess someone will say "get thecCDX2 first" but I feel that I will not give 200 justice by using the NAIT5 as a pre so as soon as possibel I need a better pre.

Anyone done the same thing? Suggestions? Different solutions? Please enlighten me!

Cheers from Snowy Stockholm

:-) Thomass
Posted on: 19 January 2004 by Geoff P
Thomas

Your carefully planned route has merit but don't damn the performance of the Nait 5 as a pre-amp on the 200 to start with. If you could arrange to demo it you might be surprised how good it sounds. You can aslo add a Hicap to the Nait 5 which will give it extra strength.

Where this is going is to say that the CDX2 is a great CD player and brings it's quality to any level of Naim system. I ran mine intially through a 112 which is only a step above the Nait 5 and was very happy with the music it made.

Whilst you are saving for the 202 (if you can hang out for it, the 282 really matches the CDX2) you will get a lot from the CDX2. Then of course if you get the Hicap it will start you off on the 202 or 282.

Sorry if I have made it worse.

regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 20 January 2004 by joe90
I would go in this order:

CDX2
202 or 282

if 282, Hicap and 250

if 202, 200 power amp.

Listen carefully and you will find a 202 pre over-reveals a CD5.

Source first. It's a rule carved in stone.

Joe90
Posted on: 20 January 2004 by Thomas Breding
Gents,

Thanks for the advice. I was expecting the "CDX first" advice...

The only issue I have with that is that by doing that I will have to wait for quite a long while (saving up) before bying the 200. And I feel that the NAIT5 don´t really is enough do drive Allae´s.

More questions:
I understand that I could run the 202 from the 200, or do I need a CAP for it? And will the FC2 work? (It´s not listed as a PS for the 202 in the catalog)

And finally, is there anyway of running the Headline WITHOUT a PS??? If not, is the FC2 a better PS for it than the NAPSC?

Confusion... Why didn´t I keep my old NAD setup? (hahaha)

Thanks in advance!

:-) Thomas