Nait 1

Dunno. Great little amp but no powerhouse. What's the source?

On paper the Twenty 21s specs are similar to Linn Kans in which case Naim amplification greater than a Nait 1 has typically been deemed worthy for driving the speakers. If you're intent on keeping the speakers maybe look for a Nait XS. If you're intent on the Nait 1 maybe look for a more efficient speaker.

Mark J posted:

Dunno. Great little amp but no powerhouse. What's the source?

RP6.

Ok, what stage, cart etc?

I was using my Nait 1 to drive my NBLs while my amps were away being recapped. It depends on speaker efficiency, but so long as I wasn't looking to play at high levels it handled the NBLs quite well in a rather refined manner. 

What amplifier are you currently using with the 21s? When I tried them out it was with a Superuniti, which worked very well. I wouldn't want to use them with less than a Nait XS. If you do want to try the Nait 1, make sure it's been serviced in the last few years, or be ready to pay to get it done. 

Mark J posted:

Ok, what stage, cart etc?

Rega phono mk2 with Hana EH cartridge.

Hungryhalibut posted:

What amplifier are you currently using with the 21s? When I tried them out it was with a Superuniti, which worked very well. I wouldn't want to use them with less than a Nait XS. If you do want to try the Nait 1, make sure it's been serviced in the last few years, or be ready to pay to get it done. 

Just bought another QB and muso so selling the Uniti 2 which drives these and trying to move to just a analogue system not to be played too loud.

I'd get a Nait XS. 

+1

C.

But I really want a vintage naim amp or combo, what else would work???

What are you trying to do - great sound or the looks of a classic system ?. The Nait 1 is a great little amp within its performance envelope. It's just not got enough grunt to drive the PMCs properly.

If you want to keep the PMCs then a classic pre/power would be better - 32.5/Hicap/140 as a minimum (or 72 if you go olive)

James

Gurbinder posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

What amplifier are you currently using with the 21s? When I tried them out it was with a Superuniti, which worked very well. I wouldn't want to use them with less than a Nait XS. If you do want to try the Nait 1, make sure it's been serviced in the last few years, or be ready to pay to get it done. 

Just bought another QB and muso so selling the Uniti 2 which drives these and trying to move to just a analogue system not to be played too loud.

I suggest get other speaker to use for low level listening, the early Naits are great investments, a new XS is too expensive for what you get

james n posted:

What are you trying to do - great sound or the looks of a classic system ?. The Nait 1 is a great little amp within its performance envelope. It's just not got enough grunt to drive the PMCs properly.

If you want to keep the PMCs then a classic pre/power would be better - 32.5/Hicap/140 as a minimum (or 72 if you go olive)

James

How about 42.5/Hicap/140. 

I have seen a 42.5, if this is sent to Naim for service would the case and facia/knobs be replaced/refurbed??

Not sure the facias can be refurbished - same as the knobs. Plenty of kit around so worth hanging out for a good one - 42.5 was good (i had one) but the 72 that replaced it was so much better. 

James

james n posted:

Not sure the facias can be refurbished - same as the knobs. Plenty of kit around so worth hanging out for a good one - 42.5 was good (i had one) but the 72 that replaced it was so much better. 

James

Thanks James, what combo for the 72 then?

Gurbinder posted:

james n posted:

What are you trying to do - great sound or the looks of a classic system ?. The Nait 1 is a great little amp within its performance envelope. It's just not got enough grunt to drive the PMCs properly.

If you want to keep the PMCs then a classic pre/power would be better - 32.5/Hicap/140 as a minimum (or 72 if you go olive)

James

How about 42.5/Hicap/140. 

I have seen a 42.5, if this is sent to Naim for service would the case and facia/knobs be replaced/refurbed??

Naim do have stocks of some fascia' s and knobs so you might be in luck with the larger knobs on the 42.5.  I did contact them about replacement knobs for a 32.5 these are the small grey ones that go on the early CB Nait's and the Snaps psu's I believe but because of a design fault so many needed replacing that stocks are now completely gone, I tried everywhere and the guy that sells new non Naim CB fascia's on eBay said that they are as rare as hen's teeth.

72/Hicap - then anything 140 up on the power amp front. All should be good. I'd still be asking myself why exactly i want a classic system as the older naim kit is really at its best with a vinyl front end.

Why not build a second classic system around the Nait 1 with more sympathetic speakers (some early Royds would be good) ?

Ah, but he is using a vinyl front end, a Rega RP6 to be precise. One good thing about a 72 is that so long as it comes with phono boards there is no need for an off board phono stage. With the 21s, a serviced 180 would good, and is a bit of a bargain. Pushing the boat out further, a 250 would be super. 

Last time I needed some control knobs for early bolt-together/chrome-bumper kit, which must have been about 4 or 5 years back, stocks of the smallest grey plastic knobs (as used on the NAC12, 22, BT NAC32, later NAP120 and early extruded SNAPS) had been exhausted, however the slightly larger grey knobs (as used on the extruded NAC32 and early red LED NAIT) were still in stock.  The large "tractor wheel" knobs (as used on NAC42, 42.5, CB 62, CB NAT301/101/01/02, CB Hicap, and late SNAPS) were also in stock although I think you needed to re-use the grub screw and retaining nut from your existing old damaged control knob.  Stocks of the small "tractor wheel" control knobs (as used on the later green LED NAIT, and NAC32.5) were completely exhausted.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Ah, but he is using a vinyl front end, a Rega RP6 to be precise. One good thing about a 72 is that so long as it comes with phono boards there is no need for an off board phono stage. With the 21s, a serviced 180 would good, and is a bit of a bargain. Pushing the boat out further, a 250 would be super. 

Ah yes - missed that bit further up the thread. 

Made a few calls today and the hunt has started

32.5/140/HICAP.

wish me luck!!!

Gurbinder posted:

 

Made a few calls today and the hunt has started

32.5/140/HICAP.

And so it begins.......

Doomed, you are.

Gurbinder posted:

 

Made a few calls today and the hunt has started

32.5/140/HICAP.

wish me luck!!!

 

 

Excellent - good luck. I still have my old CB140 tucked away in a cupboard upstairs for a second system one day

james n posted:

Gurbinder posted:

 

Made a few calls today and the hunt has started

32.5/140/HICAP.

wish me luck!!!

 

 

Excellent - good luck. I still have my old CB140 tucked away in a cupboard upstairs for a second system one day

Perhaps it's time for the 140 to feature in the main system, with the shiny thing that cannot be named relegated to the other room... I've never had a 140 as I went straight from the 110 to a 250. I'd love to hear one sometime. The 32.5, Hicap, 140 will be lovely, and no need for a separate phono stage either. Things used to be so simple.