SU as a pure preamp

Posted by: alanbass1 on 14 November 2016

This is my first post on the forum so a little clemency is requested if some members view this as a dumb question.

I'm looking at my next upgrade on the pathway to HFH (hi-fi happiness). A while back I purchased a SU that was powering a pair of Neat IOTAs, an excellent combination IMHO, especially in the small 12 x 11 room I was listening. Having had some renovations done which included ripping out a wall creating a 12 x 24 space I added a pair of PMC 24s and a NAP 250 DR.

In my renovations I also added a 12 x 10 guitar room where my Iota's are happily placed being powered by an old Linn Classic all in one cd/tuner until such time as my SU can be liberated.

In my main system I also have a Uniti Serve and in storage an old Roksan Xerses / SME IV / Xerses 10 / Coral Blue that I have been meaning to get serviced and in use again one day. I mainly listen to my ripped CDs and TIDAL noting my comments on the Roksan.

Right, to my question. I'm now looking at my next upgrade and was torn between getting a NAC N 272 or going for the NDX and using the SU as a preamp until I can replace with something like a 282/PS (probably a 8 month wait) or a 252/PS (probably a 12 month wait). This leaves me with two questions:

1. Would a dedicated pre amp be a far better solution for a Streaming / Analogue set up over the NAC 272

2. Has anyone any experience of using the SU purely as an analogue preamp with the power amp / streamer / DAC disabled and, if so, views on SU as I will be living with this for the next year

Thanks in anticipation of some insight. Due to the Roksan position it is more difficult to arrange an optimum demo

Posted on: 17 November 2016 by Penarth Blues

ChrisSU posted:
Penarth Blues posted:
Given the massive change that appears to be happening in Naim regarding streamer architecture I'd be much more inclined to get a preamp if you really need to upgrade now, and use the SU as the streamer into a 282/250DR setup.
The problem is that the SU has no line out, only a pre-out, which is post volume control.

Ah - I assumed it was the same as my Uniti 2 which has a line out. You learn something new every day :-)

Edit: Curiosity got the better of me and the SU does have a digital out which I presume is before the volume control? I'd have thought this could be used?

Posted on: 17 November 2016 by ChrisSU

Yes, it would have worked with a Uniti 2. If I had the option, I would probably have added power amp, preamp, streamer in that order. I guess the OPs system has more to lose from keeping the SU pre than I did, as he is making a bigger jump up the ladder than I did.