N-Vi in naim system

Posted by: mickey on 22 January 2006

Hello forum


Can a N-Vi be used in a Naim stereo system…i.e. go though my 82 250 kans for front channels and use the N-vi DVD player and internal amps for centre and rear channels, is this possible?

Thanks
Mick
Posted on: 22 January 2006 by Jonathan
Looks like you can - download the n-Vi manual from the Naim website and you can see an example of what you describe.
Posted on: 22 January 2006 by AV@naim
Yes, there is a left & right DIN output on the rear of the n-Vi
Posted on: 22 January 2006 by Dev B
Dear AV@Naim,

A couple of questions:
1) Does the switch mode power supply mess up the sound of the main naim system?

2) Should the N-Vi be connected to the same mains spur as the main system (and off one hydra?)

thanks

DB@London
Posted on: 22 January 2006 by Don Atkinson
quote:
Yes, there is a left & right DIN output on the rear of the n-Vi



Does this mean that L/R DIN output goes to the pre-amp and needs to be controlled by the volume/balance on the pre-amp. And does it mean that a bit of "tweaking" of the pre-amp volume control is needed to get the pre-amp driven L/R channels to "integrate" with the n-Vi?

And does this all mean that you "could" drive seven (7) channels of dvd music/sound (plus the sub) even though the front L/R will be duplicated?

Or is the L/R DIN output really meant as a "by-pass" so that you can put a cd into the n-Vi and route it through a "better" pre/power stereo amp and a "better" pair of "music" speakers?

Or.....?

Cheers

Don
Posted on: 22 January 2006 by Manu
Dev,
It will be one of the first test i'll perform, when i'll receive mine... very soon, i've been told.

Emmanuel
Euphonie
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by AV@naim
Don,

1) If you have an older style 52/82/102 pre amp then unless you get a unity gain mod for them, you will need to adjust volume.

Later 202/252/282 etc preamps have a unity gain selectable input already

2)You could I spuppose, but why would you want to duplicate the LR channels again?

3) the audio out LR on the n-Vi means you could play a CD on the n-Vi and route it through your existing 2-channel system.

dev, your answer will be posted shortly... Smile
Posted on: 23 January 2006 by Don Atkinson
quote:
2)You could I spuppose, but why would you want to duplicate the LR channels again?



I was only theorising..........

Presumably you can suppress the front L/R that would normally be delivered by the n-Vi and instead use the (superior?) sound delivered via the (unity-gain) 252/300 of your main stereo system? Again, only theorising.........ie trying to understand whether the n-Vi is essentially a "stand-alone" item, or whether it can be integrated with other items to provide an improvement.

Cheers

Don
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by AV@naim
On the AV2, the fronts are selectable with "large" or "small" only (so there is no suppression)...even though you can pipe the L+R's through to your 2-channel system...so having not really taken much notice of this setting when playing around with the n-Vi, I can't actually anser this at the moment. Frown
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by David Dever
On the n-Vi, one can set the fronts to large external (i.e., out the DIN and into the two-channel preamp, front amplifier chip disabled), small external (bass-managed, but same as above). large (built-in amp) or small (bass-managed, built-in amp).

If you think of the n-Vi as a bolt-on AV system for a Naim two-channel setup, you're probably not far off.
Posted on: 24 January 2006 by AV@naim
Thanks Dave,

Will have a play around will one later
Posted on: 25 January 2006 by AV@naim
Ah..and I should have thought this through..the AV2 doesnt have built in amp, so its pointless having an "off" for the LR setting.

I can confirm Daves answer..
Posted on: 26 January 2006 by 110dB
The n-Vi can be used as:

A one box home cinema system
Or
An instant one box home cinema add-on for anyone with a stereo hi-fi.
I guess it works perfectly with Naim the Nait5i, 112, 202, 282, 252, 552 because they have a unity gain inputs. Just seen P25 of the manual (from web-site)
Posted on: 30 January 2006 by Mike1380
There's quite a few ways you can build a complete Naim 2 channel plus AV system by starting off with an n-Vi....

My personal plan of action is as follows...

Start with an n-Vi to get dvd, dvd-a, and let it also be the hub for my existing turntable, ps2, laserdisc (with demodulator) and cable box....
Also use it as a DAC for my ageing Linn Mimik - should be interesting!!!

Straight replacement for a dvd player and AV amp.

Step 2...
Get a custom 5 to 4 pin cable made and bolt on a NAP200 ( this is feasible, I've checked). Immediate upgrade for the amplification for the front stereo pair, and a noticeable musical upgrade.

Step 3....
Improve CD Playback by addition of a CDX2, still using the n-Vi as the system hub.

Step 4....
Add a NAC202 to clear up the analogue Pathways... route all two channel through this to give me an established two channel system that also happens to be fully AV capable using unity gain.

I've tinkered with this idea a lot.... the n-Vi isn't cheap, but it gives me a reasonable gateway into Naim... the quality beats any AV system I've heard for similar money when playing two channel, and given the sensitivity of my speakers there's no issue with the power supplied by the digital amps!!!