Matching my 20 year old system with new streaming technology

Posted by: RBB on 26 April 2015

I am exploring the option of moving into an all digital environment (no CD).

I recently bought a Muso to help me familiarise myself with the current trends, and my next step would be to introduce a Naim DAC and/or streamer; but I am not sure how my existing kit fits into the current ranges. I have the olive versions from the early 90's.

NAC72 and HICAP
NAP180
CDI
Proac Response 1s

Does anyone know how this lines up with current models?

What level of streamer/DAC would be compatible with it?

Apologies if this is not a forum topic; but in my location dealers would not have the experience to answer me.

Posted on: 26 April 2015 by Eloise

I believe the modern equivalent of your system would be a NAC202 / HiCap / NAP200 so would think your two main options would be either ND5XS or NDX. Power supplies could be upgraded later...

Another alternative would be replace your pre with the new NAC-N272.

Posted on: 26 April 2015 by ChrisSU

I'd agree with the above, just add a NAS to store your music on and you're sorted.

Posted on: 26 April 2015 by Foot tapper

.... or a mac mini playing itunes with the BitPerfect app into a Naim DAC-V1, a NAP200 and your Proac speakers.

Alternatively, you can swap the DAC-V1 for a Chord hugo DAC, which many prefer but which we have yet to hear.

We use the mac, DAC-V1 and NAP140 in the second system at home.

For the main system, we are currently looking at the possibility of replacing our Naim CDS3/555PS CD player with a streaming solution, as we want to take all the CDs out of the living room.

Given this start point, the most expensive solution for us seems to be to trade in the CDS3 for a Naim NDS, keeping the 555PS. Another solution is a mac mini with solid state drives, good streaming software and a Chord Hugo TT DAC, which will work out several thousand pounds cheaper. So I would seriously consider the Mac 'n DAC route.

Food for thought.

Hope this helps rather than confuses, FT

Posted on: 26 April 2015 by George Johnson

Of course the gratis iTunes output to a DAC V1 is perfectly fine, ... Best to use the USB ...

The answer is to listen and if you want to pay for a plug into iTunes, then you are welcome, but there is no imperative to do so, unless you like what a plug in brings for the expenditure ...

This would not require any change of power amp and would allow the sale of the 72 [and Hicap] as the V1 is a very fine pre-amp to help pay for it.

ATB from George

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by analogmusic

Don't sell anything you have. Financial disaster. ND5 XS or NDX.

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by hungryhalibut

Have a think about whether you want a streamer, or whether you want to connect the computer holding the music to a DAC. Think also about where you want to take the system - do you want to upgrade over time? Given that the existing system is 20 years old, you don't sound like a serial upgrader to me.

Just under two years ago I sold my olive system of CDS2, 82, Hicap and 250 and bought a SuperUniti. I was a little nervous about losing the CD player but it's been great. All those horrid CD cases are in the loft and I've got my walls back.

In your shoes I'd do the same. Alternatively you could get an NDX, which is the quality level of your CDI. But will you then want to change the amps to the current line? Or then again, if you are happy with putting your music on a Mac Mini you could get a DAC of some sort. I've not tried this, so can't comment on how easy it is to use.

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by DHT

Computer and a dac is cheapest and will play and stream everything.

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by Adrian F.

If you decide to keep your olive-series boxes and they where never serviced, I would recommend to let them service/recap at Naim. I don't think that there are DR-upgrades for them though...

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by RBB

Thanks everyone for your good suggestions and advice

I have recently had the amplifiers and power supply serviced; (not sure what a DR upgrade is though?), so intend to use them for now. I am assuming that the differences between generations of amplifier are not so great, once they have been serviced - maybe I am wrong - but that is why I chose to concentrate on my sources. I got rid of my NAT01. The CDI has never been totally satisfying - always had trouble reading CDs, despite a trip back to Naim, and other 'fixes'. This has been a motivation for me to go digital as much as anything else!

My current objective is to improve what I hear from CD quality music sources and my leaning is towards streaming CD quality audio from an internet subscription service in conjunction with my own library of CD music.

Any replacement to the CDI would need to exceed the performance of the Philips DAC and analogue stage in the CDI - hopefully one of the suggested list of streamers/DACS - ND5XS, NDX, DAC V1, or Chord Hugo will do so.

If I take the option of connecting a PC to a DAC - are there any noise/electrical interference and special cabling requirements with that option?

Posted on: 27 April 2015 by RBB

Originally Posted by Wat:

the best digital front end for you, imho, would be Mac Mini into Hugo. I had a Naim DAC with a 555PS & upgraded to Hugo. To me this device was more musical than any digital offering I had heard from Naim, but wait ... Naim has responded with the excellent NAC N272 & if you want the best in streaming and can't afford or don't want a Linn Klimax DS with Space then i know of no finer streamer at any price than the NAC N272.

My advice is to audition Hugo & NAC N272 these are two statement products at affordable prices in the brave new digital world: of course, the LP12 still sounds better, but the gap forever narrows.

Hi Wat - thanks for the suggestion! So how would that look with my present kit? NAC N272 plus NAP180. What would the Chord set up look like? - am I correct in assuming I could use my existing kit plus some special USB cable? The 272 is almost 2000 GBP more than the Hugo option less whatever the USB cabling would cost. Is its DAC better than the Hugo by a large degree? I will try to audition the N272 anyway. BTW - why the Mac Mini?