Staying current
Posted by: PhilipH on 16 October 2017
Many moons ago I managed a hifi shop in Salt Lane Salisbury, before it became the first Naim HQ. Until I met Julian I had progressed through Quad and Radford valve amps partnered with my stalwart Tannoy 15" Lancasters. In the early 1980s I started my Naim journey with a NAC42/NAP110 manufactured at his home. I still have both - although the NAP 110 has been upgraded to a 140. They've travelled around the world with me.
My Linn SP12 has stayed with me as well, staying silent through the CD days, though resurrected and refurbed. Most of my music is now listened to streamed from a Synology DS716 through a NAC-N172XS and the trusty NAP140 into some Credos. The addition of a Muso in my office is a bonus. I'm very happy with it all. Minimserver and the Naim app serve me well.
However the Linn is connected to the NAC42, as is a CD5, with a Flatcap2, and then on to the 172XS. And herein lies the question.
I was thinking of having the NAC42/Flatcap2/NAP140 serviced, but then I decided to take the CD5/NAC42 and Flatcap out of the equation and connect the Linn to the 172XS through a Rega Fono Mini. It was difficult to tell any difference - so now I'm thinking that I should retire the NAC42/Flatcap2 and the pretty much unused CD5. It would also lessen the connections between the Linn and the 172XS.
My listening is 99% streaming and 1% records - yes, that's records not vinyl!!
I realise that the 172XS has been discontinued, that it doesn't have a separate power supply, but I'm very happy with it and I'm also regularly advised that the NAP140 has a more edge for rock/folk/Americana than the newer power amps. So until I downsize and and buy a Uniti maybe I should just have the NAP140 serviced.
Doubtless others will disagree - and I look forward to your thoughts.