Straight questions, opinions welcome

What are you up to now Max ?!

From what I have read a few times, I believe the AV2, as a stereo pre, is often seen in the same light as the older NAC 112x...which I would have thought we be about on par or slightly behind say a current 5i ...?

I can't answer the rest I'm afraid, but my gut feeling would be to keep the DVD5/AV2 combo together...

Steve

Steve,

apart from the usual restlessness (there are two kinds of audio enthusiasts, and I was born on the peaceofmindless side), I read everywhere the matter is discussed that the DVD5 should play CDs via its own converters into Analogue input; I have tried Dig out, instead, into the coax in of the AV2 and found it equally good if not better - so I was wondering whether it is the AV2's poor preamp performance, strange as it may seem.
And was wondering whether a pre section - even the one in Naits - couldn't have perhaps performed better; I could use the power section of it to drive surround channels.

Or perhaps your supposition (my supposition..) is right, and I am only short of peace of mind.

Have a good weekend.

As a Pre my AV2 is as good as my 112 was

I cannot comment on the DVD5 v AV2. But I use the AV2 to decode stereo from a Sonos and am very happy with the results and it has replaced my CD5.

With all the cheap AV2's on the secondhand market at the moment, I feel it is becoming a real bargain in the world of digital sources. Yes it is a little limited wrt HD codecs and no 94/24 stereo - but this material is still fairly limited mainstream (well in my life anyways!)

Occean,
thanks. I wasn't considering getting rid of the AV2! It works well, very well and I need it because it's pre and DD processor in my system.
Only, I thought a >proper< pre section could make the analogue out of my DVD5 sound even better. The fact is, that in spite of logic and Naim's advice, the digital output of the DVD5, via a Naim DC1 coax, into the dig in of the AV2, sounds very, very well and not worse - to my ears - than the 24/192 output of the DVD5.
So, nobody's questioning the AV2. As for the future - ah, who knows.

Hello Max,

I never come in this part of the forum, but to your specific request done on another topic, here I am.

One of my budy is using a DVD5 for main CD source and for the DVD-A possibilities. He's using it with a Hi-Line interconnect strait out from the DVD5's analog output and he seems pretty happy about it.

I don't know very much the AV2, I've heard it once into a dealer's showroom partened with a CDX2 and a NAP 175, it was not a listening experience that I could qualify as memorable.

The Nait 5i don't have an active preamp, so the AV2 beats it by default on that point. The Nait XS got almost the same preamp section that the Supernait have, minus the DAC section. And with their integrated power supply, that places them in the same position as the AV2 for the noise floor. So I'm on the impression that the AV2 is close enough to a Nait XS preamp section's performances on paper... But it might turn to be a totaly different story on an A/B comparative listening.

That won't save you from some efforts to get your own mind about it, so I wish you a happy test listening! And don't forget to invite a Hi-Line to the party.

Bye.

Stoik,

as I just wrote in the other forum (sorry for my absentmindedness, I must be more mentally exhausted than I realize, this part of the year), I mis-rememberd (does the word exist??). It wasn't you I was referring to. But, this kind post of yours helps a lot to clarify things. You seem to have caught both issues perfectly, a preamp section that might work better than the AV2's one, and my own curiosity.

I will do some tests. I must confess, though - don't judge me hurriedly, I am a good listener and did some serious listening - that I already had a HiLine, and sold it to a friend. With the money, I bought a CD1 coax, which has given a serious punch to the digital connection between DVD5 and AV2.

Well, thanks for this ride in this part of the forums. You've been helpful. Long to hear any more comments on the XS.

Cheers, Max