Plug in boards 32.5 versus 42.5

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I never saw any reason why a 32 would be better than a 42 except for the remote input switching

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Originally posted by Paul Ranson:
I never saw any reason why a 32 would be better than a 42 except for the remote input switching. And the 42 has less circuitry than a fully loaded 32.

Did you try 'board pulling' the 32?

Paul

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Originally posted by Cliff Patterson:
You must be hard of hearing, old chap. The 32.5 is absolutely miles better than a 42.5.

Listen to the noise floor difference if you can't hear anything else.

Cliff

_merry christmas to all_

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Originally posted by i am simon 2:
Raymondo

When I bought my 42.5 I had a choice of three pre's, 32.5, 42.5 and 62.

The price difference was small enough that it would not effect my choice, I had the orportunity to listen to them through my own speakers with a 160 (which I did in fact subsequently purchase).

I did not wnant to know which amp was which, I just sat and listend to music through the three amps.

They were all of slightly different vintage, so I dont know how conclusive the comparison was but here goes:

62 - The smoothest of them all laid back, articulate but warm, played a tune, but didnt deliver the slam that attracts me to Naim.

32.5 - Perhaps the cleanest fastest sound of the lot, but the example I listend to was almost to shouty, perhaps lacking depth, altough the control did seem to be there. Maybe this amp was to Naimy for my first venture into Naim.

42.5 - Delivered tunes with consumate ease, vice like grip on the music (well as vice like as you can get from a 18 year old pre amp that only cost 120GBP)The 42.5 had the pace and upfrontness that I wanted from Naim, without the way the 32.5 almost throws the music at your head in sharp little pieces.

I bought the 42.5 and have enjoyed it ever since. Maybe the 32.5 would benifit from a source beter than my Planar three and Planet 2000?

Now when you add a HiCap... but thats a different story.

Simon

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Originally posted by raymond:
I am currently using a 42.5 which I purchased 4 months ago. After reading the forum I was led to believe that the 32.5 was considerably better than the 42.5 so I purchased one. What a shock the 32.5 had been serviced in 2000 by Naim they had replaced all of the tantulums but didn't replace any other components as it wasn't necessary. The difference between the 32.5 and the 42.5 was quite noticeable, the 42.5 won hands down. The 32.5 had a very soft bass, and the top end was not as open as the 42.5. I left the 32.5 on for a couple of days for it to warm up before I made any comparisons. I checked that all the modules were in place ...which they were,all the connections were exactly the same etc. I swapped the pre-amps around quite a few times but the 42.5 was clearly the winner. The 32.5 was a very late version with the greeen led, the serial number being in the 4xxx. The results occurred on all the inputs and the phono modules were the K versions. I have since sold the 32.5. I was very disappointed as I needed the 32.5 due to it's extra tape inputs. Am I alone in my findings? I have since been advised to purchase a 72 but will I get the same results? I have always believed that having plug in boards was detrimental to sound quality no matter who makes it, and the least connections in the hi-fi chain the better. Do you agree?

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You should look harder

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