112/150 vs older naim electronics such as 32.5/140 or 62/140
Posted by: ken c on 26 February 2001
what are your views on how the new naim stuff 112/150 compares with 32.5/140 or 62/140, say, driving a pair of Kans, or any other compaticle speaker -- but i am primarily thinking of Kans. can add hicaps/flatcaps to either if you like --anyone actually compared??
grateful for any viewes, especially those based on actual listening.
enjoy...
ken
quote:
what are your views on how the new naim stuff 112/150 compares with 32.5/140 or 62/140, say, driving a pair of Kans, or any other compatible speaker
I have not heard the two compared, though my gut feeling is that they are really quite different. I recently heard the 112/150 with a CDX and Intro 2s and am very impressed with it - my only criticism of that system is that I don't really get on with the Intro's slightly over ripe bass end, but that system certainly played music very well.
The 112/150 struck me as sounding well balanced with no real areas of weakness (other than no phono stage!), whereas the limitations of a bog standard 32-5/140 are quite obvious, even though it is a great little amp and stunning value (and lets face it we are only talking about a second hand value of 350-450 UKP for this combo compared with way, way more for the new kit). The 112/150 has certainly impressed me in a way the 92/90 never did. I also suspect the CD5 is very good.
From my perspective the stock 32-5 (or 62) powered from a 140 is over warm, mushy, and quite grainy - it misses a lot of important detail though can certainly more than carry a tune. Stick 72 boards into the 32-5, get it recapped, and power it from a Hicap and it is a very different beast altogether. It would be far more interesting to compare this 72'd 32-5 / Hicap combo with the 112 as they can both be had for about the same price second hand (if you could even find a S/H 112). I have no idea which I would prefer.
Tony.
thins question is interesting enough for me that may be one of these days i will borrow the necessary equipment to do a comparison.
many thanks for your response tony --- any more thoughts -- keep them coming... anyone else with views, very welcome indeed..
enjoy...
ken
quote:
instead of spending money getting 72 boards into a 32.5, why not just get a 72??
Purely price - I run a recently Naim serviced, recapped, and 72'd late model 32-5 (i.e. as good as a 32-5 gets), and when I eventually sell it I would be lucky to get anything over about 250 quid for it. Likewise my old style Hicap is probably worth less than a new look one even though it has been fully serviced and recapped - its probably worth 350 or so, that means 600 quid the pair vs. about 800 quid+ for a good condition serviced 72 / Hicap. Whilst this is high for a 72/Hicap, significantly cheaper ones probably need a quite expensive service and recap to bring them up to spec.
quote:
this question is interesting enough for me that may be one of these days i will borrow the necessary equipment to do a comparison.
Would be interested to know what you thought.
Tony.
enjoy...
ken
enjoy...
ken
It is certainly not the CD5!
Nic P
quote:
The 72 seems to have become highly unfashionable.
When I sold my 72, I could've sold 5 given the number of inqueries I had about it.
And yes - the 72 and the 140 are microphonic. Try the 140 on glass if "warm and fluffy" are not to your taste.
- GregB
Former 72-hi-140 Owner
When did you sell yours? I am trying to sell my Dad's 72 with MM boards (having got him a 52/52PS)and thought I was asking a very reasonable £320 on Loot (second time of trying) and had not a single enquiry. Looking at prices on Loot, 72's seem very cheap, hence my comment about unfashionable.
Nic P
--Eric
thomas.sian96@cableinet.co.uk