Nait/NAC** with tube amp

Mike--

I worked at a Naim shop that also carried Conrad Johnson. To start out, we had the PV12 and the Premier 11a. We never got along with the PV12, it was clean but boring. We finally connected an 82/2Hicaps to the Premier 11, and it actually worked fairly well. The tube amp couldn't keep up with the preamp, but it was now at least trying to play the tune. The combination was simply terrific at imaging/soundstaging/etc, and "sounded" great.

I think tubes in general are just some people's cup of tea and not others. Anything that can make Husker Du's "Metal Circus" sound laid back is not for me, though.

Regards,

Bob

I use my 72/hicap into a dynakit st70 with very good results. It sounds different from a naim solid state amp (I've used a 140 and two different vintage 250's) but has it's own virtues. The dynaco unit is rated about 35 watts per channel so it's not a super high powered amp but it works.

I'd love the chance to try a nac 112 with this combo. I think it would be superb.

Markus

I've never had a chance to compare a 140 with the Dynaco. The 140 was used in my system for about six years when it was replaced by a vintage (chrome bumper) 250. That 250 was in my system for a year or two when it was replaced by a more recent vintage (new look) 250. That amp was the sweetest I've ever heard in my system.

Then, home economics changed and the 250 was liquidated to provide tuition for an offspring. The Dyna equipment was borrowed, refurbished and put into the system where it sounded "good enough" for a couple of years.

Now I'm enjoying the dubious pleasures of owning vintage tube equipment. The Dyna went into the shop for a new power supply rectifier tube. Came back sounding better than ever, only to fail again. Now, after purchasing a new power supply board the electronics expert who has been doing the work has determined that one of my transformers is bad. $150 to replace that. At this point I don't want to throw more money at the dyna, I'd prefer to get back to Naim, something at least on the order of a 180.

You ask what I prefered about the Dyna, that's a tough one. The damn thing plays music just fine and I never felt I was really missing much, except the ability to crank the system up loud without strain.

Recently i've read in Listener about classic components and it turns out I've had two of them in my sytem--the 72 and the Dynaco. Not that it counts for anything. But I'd say these pieces of equipment have modest aspirations and their priorities are in line with my own. Does that make sense?

Markus

I borrowed a Dyna St70/CJ PV5 for a bit. First ran the ST70 off the 72/hicap and it worked well. Very smooth, bass was 'generous', perhaps too much so. With the CJ it went even more in that direction. Speakers were Spendor S100, so something without a 12" woofer might have liked the generous bass.

--Eric

I have used a NAC32-5 and HICAP into a World Audio Design KAT88 and KAT 6550 valve ams and both sounded great. Am now using a NAP250 and find the differences to be, More bass but less control with valve amps, midband and treble incredibly sweet but maybe lacking a little "edge". The bass with the WAD 6550 was in some cases scary it was so powerful.