AV Bypass mode??

You cannot bypass the pre amp of the 5i and use the power amp directly, if that's what you want to do.

However you can configure one input, the AV input, for "unity gain", which means that for this input the volume control of the 5i is bypassed and you have to control the volume in the attached source instead, eg a V1 or an AV pre amp. The signal still passes through the 5i's pre amp though.

As to which pre-amp is better... Just test it and use whichever option sounds better for you. You have two options:

1. Line level output from DAC V1into one of the line inputs on your Nait.
2. Pre-amp output from DAV V1into AV input on your Nait. Just make sure you enable the AV mode on your amp. Details on how to do it are in the manual.

DAC V1 has a 4 pin DIN output. So you will need a 4PIN-5PIN (180 degrees) SNAIC. That is for both option 1 and 2 above.

You can of course test it with RCA-RCA interconnect, but the sound quality should be better with a DIN connection.

Adam

Thank you for the helpful replies.

If I am still using the pre amp of the nait 5i  then its seems pointless just to be able to control volume with the dac.

And yes "JFRITZEN" i did want to use the dac as the pre amp and just use the nait 5i as a power amp as i thought this was the weakest part of the nait 5i.

Have you thought of selling the 5i and getting a NAP100? It's a perfect match for the V1.

When I got my V1, I had a Nait 5i, and chose also to demonstrate the NAP 100.

As enthusiastic as I have always been for the Nait 5i through its evolution, I found that using the V1 as a pre-amp onto the Nap 100 was better than any arrangement with the Nait 5i. These being fixed output on the V1 via the volume control in the Nait or variable volume on the V1 onto the fixed input on the Nait. By better I mean fuller and more natural instrumental timbres, and consequentially more lucid musical balances. 

In terms of the usual Naim rhythmic chutzpah there was nothing in it!

The speakers were the ultra-revealing ESL 57s.

Perhaps this observation may be worth thinking about.

Best wihes from George

HH actually beat me to this, so as you see there is some wider appreciation of what the NAP 100 brings to the table, comparatively speaking.

It would be hard for me to part with my nait 5i as i have heard it against much more expensive intergrated amps and they just didn't have that musical rhythmic feeling you get with the nait.

Have been reading a lot of stuff about the NAP100 and every one seems to use the DAC v1 with it, but i wouldn't think it would be vastly superior to my nait 5i would it?

I had DACV1 /Nap 100 and 5i. The Nap 100 has more grip and power than the 5i but the sound quality of the 5i is superior IMO.

Thought that would be the case, thank you for the heads up MIKEBABY, If I was to spend on another amp it would have to be a worthwhile upgrade, XS2 or maybe second hand SUPERNAIT 2.

The NAP100 would be a side step at best I would think its only the fact fact that it matches the DAC V1 but that doesn't matter to me.

If you really want to upgrade than I can strongly recommend a SuperNait2. One thing - you will need good speakers to get the best out of it And the fun starts....

+1, SN2 is a fantastic amp.  I had a Nap100, and it's great for its money but out of its league here.  Not sure a dav v1 would be the ideal partner for an SN2 though as you then have two preamps in the chain?

Yes ADAM ZIELINSKI I would really like to get a supernait 2 and then uprade my speakers and then sell my soon to be delivered DAC V1 AND UPGRADE TO A NAIM DAC, and then tell my other half and THATS when the fun starts

The 5i sounds better than both XS2 and SN2 IMO. Again both higher Naits have more power but less flow and low level detail.

The XS2 was lacking clarity im test. Both sounded compressed compared to 5i. Source for comparison was CDS2/SBL. I now use 72/CB250/HC/CDS2/SBL and there is nothing better for the money IMO.

eazyryder posted:

Yes ADAM ZIELINSKI I would really like to get a supernait 2 and then uprade my speakers and then sell my soon to be delivered DAC V1 AND UPGRADE TO A NAIM DAC, and then tell my other half and THATS when the fun starts

Go on - sell that kidney

Do you think naim would trade me a supernait 2 for a low mileage kidney? , even a EX demo unit would do

You could try emailing NAIM's customer service... 

eazyryder posted:

It would be hard for me to part with my nait 5i as i have heard it against much more expensive intergrated amps and they just didn't have that musical rhythmic feeling you get with the nait.

It also depends on whether you still have analog or only digital sources. If the former the V1/NAP100 would not be suitable for you anyway.

jfritzen posted:

eazyryder posted:

It would be hard for me to part with my nait 5i as i have heard it against much more expensive intergrated amps and they just didn't have that musical rhythmic feeling you get with the nait.

It also depends on whether you still have analog or only digital sources. If the former the V1/NAP100 would not be suitable for you anyway.

I only use one box that will Passthough  hi res digital music files to the naim DAC V1 via coaxial digital input, its a nova fidelity X12, its stores thousands of albums streamed to its hdd in multiple formats including flac and wav and has a cracking full colour display for album covers ect. I don't know if naim do this kind of unit

eazyryder posted

I only use one box that will Passthough  hi res digital music files to the naim DAC V1 via coaxial digital input, its a nova fidelity X12, its stores thousands of albums streamed to its hdd in multiple formats including flac and wav and has a cracking full colour display for album covers ect. I don't know if naim do this kind of unit

I went to the manufacturer's website to check this thing out and it greeted me with a picture of the device playing a Mariah Carey album: I knew right then there was no chance it would sound good, so I would investigate alternatives if I were you.

ricsimas posted:

eazyryder posted

I only use one box that will Passthough  hi res digital music files to the naim DAC V1 via coaxial digital input, its a nova fidelity X12, its stores thousands of albums streamed to its hdd in multiple formats including flac and wav and has a cracking full colour display for album covers ect. I don't know if naim do this kind of unit

I went to the manufacturer's website to check this thing out and it greeted me with a picture of the device playing a Mariah Carey album: I knew right then there was no chance it would sound good, so I would investigate alternatives if I were you.

You have a good point there, but Mariah aside its a great little box for holding thousands of full HIRES albums with a great full colour display and the it supports 24bit 192khz media files which it will pass digitally to my upcoming NAIM DAC V1 for superior conversion back to analogue for my nait 5i

Though I can see the appeal, it's not really for me. I prefer having a server for the network feeding my ND5XS, and the screen would not really be visible given the distance from my listening spot to the rack with the various bits of gear.