DAC V-1 impressions and amp related questions

Hi,

I see from your profile you have Epos speakers - very nice.  I would if I were you you look to exploit the DAC V1, which has a very competent pre-amp stage, and those speakers by changing the Nait for a NAP 200 which would rally optimize your system.

Good luck.

Lindsay

well I do agree with Lindsay (for a change) 

DAC V1/Nap 200 is very very good (I know because I tried it at home)

PS : DAC v1 should really have the earth/ground switch on chassis.

I use a V1 as a digital preamp in a second system. I agree with the previous posters, it really is an excellent device & makes for a very neat, good-sounding system with a decent amp.

GTIgor posted:

Hello!

At the moment I am testing DAC V-1 and I am quite blow away with it! I am almost sold on it. The music just became alive.

It is connected to Nait 5i. I tried 3 options:

- v-1 as preamp via rca

- v-1 as dac only via rca

- same but with connected DIN earth on both devices (with the earth switch in floating position).

The last seems the best and quite easily audible.

Considering this which is the best (value for money and the for overall balance of the system) amp option and connection variant:

1. My nait 5i with naim DIN 5-4 cable bypassing preamp the dac has.

2. Nap 100 with DIN cable.

3. NAP 200 - will there be enough synergy for the added value over 5i/nap100? Won't the buid in preamp hold it back?

4. Nait XS - same question.

Does it really matter to go separate at all instead of integrated in case of V-1? 

The thing is I cannot truly test my 5i as power amp only since I miss earth connection so its not a fair comparasion.

PS I do not plan any more upgrades in the future - just want to build one and enjoy.

I agree with you on the pre/fixed out SQ difference. I did try the DAC-V1 as a pre with the NAP100. I preferred it in fixed mode into an ancient NAIT 2! I am currently testing V1 with a Sonore microRendu/LPS-1 combo directly connected to a PC in my main system - the clarity and sound stage focus is startling, (though the sound 'thins' out just a bit in comparison to V1 without mR)!

The DAC-V1 can certainly hold its own as a DAC alone, and despite the apparent redundancy, it seems like good value for money to me, particularly if you're going to make significant use of a PC in the system.  Mine has been feeding a Supernait 2 for the last couple of years, and the results are very impressive.  When I originally bought the DAC-V1, it was never intended to become a primary source, but such is the performance on offer as a fixed output DAC, driven largely by a PC in my case, it now is.  Despite that, the  DAC-V1 is most likely the part of the system I will change next, as I think the SN2 is capable enough that it would benefit from more a high-end source, and ideally I'd love an nDAC update that provided USB input to similar or even better standard.  

The performance the DAC-V1 delivers is spectacular enough, I'm in no particular hurry, and frankly can't be bothered at the moment, to try anything else.  If I had the front end of the system where I wanted for the long term, I would probably look to go for a 282 / 250DR arrangement at some point, where as either a pre-amp, or standalone DAC, the V1 would probably be getting a little out of its league, great though it is for the money.

I've recently bought (2nd hand) a DAC-V1 used in a Roon based system with either Focal Elear headphones or via NAP100 through some antique Royd Minstrel speakers.

I'm constantly surprised at how good this source is and must be the best "bang per buck" in the Naim range.

The speakers were bought as a stop gap due to lack of funds (they cost a mighty £120) but sound surprisingly good in this setup.