Nait 5Si Input Doubts

Posted by: nsajuve on 25 May 2016

Hi all ! Before asking you the actual questions i'm going to list my audio setup:

1) Naim Nait 5si

2) Naim cd3.5 ( Connected via a Din-Din cable to the CD Input )

3) Pioneer N50K Network Audio Player (Connected via RCA-RCA to HDD Input )

4) KEF LS50s

Basically i have 2 questions for the experts out there :

I'm planning to buy a turntable (this will be my first one actually so i have very little knowledge about the phono stages and all the related stuff) . The main reason of buying a turntable is that i want to digitize some vinyls. I'm planning to buy the Sony's new PS-HX500 which has both a built in DAC and a Phone Stage. ( Maybe i'll buy an independent phone stage like the Lehmann's black cube and connect to my soundcard... i haven't decided yet ) .

So here is where i have doubts:

As i have the cd player and the pioneer there are only 2 inputs left on my Nait :

1) LINE (DIN/RCA)

2) AV input.

So :

Where should i connect the output from a future phone stage?
Should i get a RCA-DIN cable for the connections if the Line input is the way to go?

Thank you very much in advance,

Posted on: 25 May 2016 by ChrisSU

I once considered digitising my vinyl collection, but then I added up the cost of the hardware I'd have needed, including a record cleaning machine, and rapidly came to the conclusion that buying used CDs to replace the LPs was a much cheaper, and less time consuming option.

Posted on: 25 May 2016 by nsajuve

Hi Chrissu. Thanks for the reply. As the matter of fact I'm collecting used ones too.. and i think that is the wisest solution for having a collection of music.

But i still have to get some answers regarding the connection optiona... i have some vinyls to digitalize and i don't know how to setup the system correctly.

Posted on: 25 May 2016 by Brubacca

You can definitely use the line input as long as a phono stage (external or internal to TT) in there first.

I don't know the TT that you are looking at, but I'd bet that any Turntable with a built in phono stage would not be able to adequately convey the musical information in comparison to your TT. The A-D conversion is just as important as the D-A conversion in your CD player.

In my opinion (It's worth what you pay for it) anything less than a Rega P3 (the new one) with a decent phono stage with USB is probably a complete waste of time and money.

Posted on: 26 May 2016 by nsajuve

Brubacca posted:
You can definitely use the line input as long as a phono stage (external or internal to TT) in there first.
I don't know the TT that you are looking at, but I'd bet that any Turntable with a built in phono stage would not be able to adequately convey the musical information in comparison to your TT. The A-D conversion is just as important as the D-A conversion in your CD player.
In my opinion (It's worth what you pay for it) anything less than a Rega P3 (the new one) with a decent phono stage with USB is probably a complete waste of time and money.

Thanks Brubacca. So based on what you're saying... another solution would be to buy an external ( better ) phono stage... something like Rega's Fono MM, bypassing the internal phono stage of the TT to obtain better results.

Since as long as i know only Sony & Teac make decent TT's (with integrated DAC for digitizing vinyl) that have an internal phono stage which can be bypassed if needed... i think i have no other choice.

Correct me if i'm wrong.