Nato3 - real heaven
Posted by: Arye_Gur on 04 May 2001
For the last 3 month I upgrated my system -
I bought a s/h Hicap to replace my flatcap to run my 72. (The Hicap was belong to Omer who bought a Supercap to run his 82). I bought a s/h QS stand
and I bought a s/h Nat03.
The best improvement of all above is the Nat03, and for those who are not familiare with Naim tuners I suggest to make any afford to get one.
I have no words to express the unbelievable difference between this tuner and the Nad.
Several weeks ago, I could upgrade the Nad tuner to an Arcam tuner. The Arcam was better but I didn't think that its performances justifying to add money to replace the Nad with the Arcam.
But the Nat03 is a totally different story. Also much more expensive, its value for money justifying every Shekel I paid for it (and its many Shekels...)
Arye
Posted on: 04 May 2001 by Rockingdoc
Glad you like the 03.
Has anyone been through the Naim tuner hierarchy?
I have a Quad and an upgraded Leak Troughline at present, both do the job but I would never use as prefered source over vinyl or CD.
I have never found a Naim dealer able/willing to do a decent dem. on the tuners. So where to start; an 05, 03, 02, 01?
Posted on: 04 May 2001 by Mick P
Rockingdoc (how did you get a name like that)
I ran a NAT03 for 18 months in my main system and was really satisfied with it.
Despite having a CD player and a TT, most of my listening is on the tuner. So I kept my eyes open for a second hand 02 or 01. I even fancied having a 101 which is now obselete but rated between a 01 and an 02.
Two month ago, I got the opportunity to purchase a two month old NAT05 for £400 and I bought it.
That was a great decision, the 05 sounds a lot better and I am content. The 03 is in my secondary system and I gave my old Pioneer tuner to my son.
Both the 03 and 05 are great tuners and you will get a lot of enjoyment from them.
Enjoy them.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 04 May 2001 by Rockingdoc
Some of the time I work as a Radio Doctor on 'phone-in' progs. At one stage I had a music show on a small indie station and the DJs there gave me the name.
Thanks for the tuner info.
Posted on: 04 May 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes
What NAD tuner did you use previously?
I have an old-ish NAD402 (same internally as 412) that I rate VERY highly, I've also just recently bought a Denon TU260L mk2 as I needed a tuner for a second system (and the UK's biggest Hi-Fi(?) retailer was selling them for <80 ukp.
I still rate the NAD as more musical than the Denon, and listen to it a lot, but am seriously considering saving for a NAT05, as it will match the rest of my gear and hopefully sound better into the bargain.
The problem with demming tuners is that most of the higher quality output in the UK is broadcast late at night, making a home dem essential - I would hope that most dealers would make this option available.
Andy.
Andrew L. Weekes
alweekes@audiophile.com
Posted on: 05 May 2001 by Rockingdoc
Yes, my dealer's argument being that the signal in London is too crudy for them to even bother putting up an aerial. But, I am reluctant to part with £2K for a NAT01 when I've never heard one.
I was promised that the Troughline with GT Audio upgrades (£600) would rule the world, but it is fairly average.
Posted on: 05 May 2001 by Arye_Gur
Andrew,
I don't remember the model, it was an old tuner with 5 bottoms for preset stations and am/fm bottom, and a bottom to set automatic/manual search.
I agree with you that it is a very good tuner and it was very cheap when I bouaght it. Its value for money is great.
Arye
Posted on: 05 May 2001 by Arye_Gur
Omer,
I'm happy with the Hicap and he sends you regards !
What I said is that upgrading the flatcap to a hicap to run the 72 was less valuable to me than upgrading the NAD tuner to a NAT03.
Arye
Posted on: 06 May 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes
Sounds like a different model to mine.
The tuner often surprises me, I've found some excellent late night programmes that have introduced me to music I'd probably never have discovered by any other means.
Enjoy,
Andy.
Andrew L. Weekes
alweekes@audiophile.com
Posted on: 06 May 2001 by Mick P
Peter
I have never heard a Nat02 so I cannot accurately comment on your statement. All I can say was that the Nat03 was a very good tuner but the Nat05 is definately a lot better. The sound is more fluid and everything just seems that edge more realistic. I really enjoy listening to it.
Of course you have the advantage of pre sets etc.
There will be a few more second hand Nat03's on the market and I would recommend them to anyone.
Basically they are both good tuners.
Regards
Mick
