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.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by ianrobertm
Fascinating story....! How about - have the NAP140 serviced first - then look at other options...? Like adding a HiCap, instead of the FlatCap. Or looking at a StageLine....? Or a Rega Fono.
If Streaming is your main use, concentrate on the Streaming System.
Enjoy..... 
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by stuart.ashen
Get a grip man! Upgrade your LP12 and ditch the streamer!
Only kidding of course, but streaming leaves me cold. It seems to disassociate me from the music somehow. You obviously like it so spend your money on the streaming experience.
I would keep the 42 as it looks lovely and has personal history with you.
Stu
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by hungryhalibut
Swapping the 42 for stageline would seem most sensible. Or a Rega Fono for £200, which is better than the mini and means you can sell the mini Rather than servicing the 140 you could sell it with the 42 and get a used 155xs, which would match the 172 perfectly. Then you’d have two matching Naim boxes and the little Rega box.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by The Strat (Fender)
Although I don’t stream I see the OPs point. Having the 172 and 42 means he has a redundant pre section. However, sorry to confuse but if streaming was my preference I would look to optimise there by looking to sell the 172 and seek out a used NDX.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by Michael Mccullough
The Pre section of the 172 is shockingly good. If you decide to keep it, it mates extremely well with a NAP200. The 150x I had didn't do it justice.
But since 99% of your listening is streaming, I'd service the 140 and look into a 272 or NDX if in the budget.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by PhilipH
Thanks for the replies. As mentioned I'm very comfortable with the 172XS into the NAP140 (which will get serviced). I'm leaning towards a Stageline N and servicing the Flatcap2, rather than any Rega phonotage option - especially as the turntable is a LP12.
A Prefix would probably be excellent, but hard to find.
I'll keep the 42 as it partners the 140.
Moderated Post: Philip, please note forum rules which expressly forbids the offer of sale or want of any items. Thanks.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by joerand
I'll keep the 42 as it partners the 140.
My offer would be to advertise your gear on appropriate sites. Naim do not condone sales on their forum.
Beyond that, quite the intriguing thread to me; someone that listens to "records" 1% of the time suddenly has a hankering to laterally improve their vinyl side. The obvious choice to me would be to forgo your nearly non-existent replay of records, sell your LP12 (and any LPs of value) , then use those funds to upgrade your digital side and/or amplification especially as you've expressed no particular fondness towards vinyl. Yes, vinyl 
.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by Bob the Builder
I would wait until you can get a SuperUniti great prices used at the moment and if you trade your 172, 42/140 & CD5 you won't be a million miles away. If that isn't an option then as you say just get the 140 serviced (if it needs it) and as was stated above your LP12 does deserve a bit of a better phono stage than the mini I used a Rega Fono MM for a while which is very good for the money.
Posted on: 17 October 2017 by snes
Philip, I'd love to hear more anecdotes from Salt Lane - fascinating reading!
Perhaps in another thread?
Posted on: 18 October 2017 by ChrisSU
I would wait until you can get a SuperUniti great prices used at the moment and if you trade your 172, 42/140 & CD5 you won't be a million miles away. If that isn't an option then as you say just get the 140 serviced (if it needs it) and as was stated above your LP12 does deserve a bit of a better phono stage than the mini I used a Rega Fono MM for a while which is very good for the money.
I enjoyed my SU, but I wouldn't swap to one if I was the OP. I would keep the 172, and maybe add a 200, which is a great pairing to my ears. I'm sure the 140 will be good with it, too, but it does seem kind of logical to keep it with its 42.
I'd agree that a phono stage upgrade is a good idea. I was happy with my LP12 into a Rega Fono, although I suspect something better would reveal a lot more - all depending on budget, of course.
Posted on: 18 October 2017 by Innocent Bystander
I'll keep the 42 as it partners the 140.
My offer would be to advertise your gear on appropriate sites. Naim do not condone sales on their forum.
Beyond that, quite the intriguing thread to me; someone that listens to "records" 1% of the time suddenly has a hankering to laterally improve their vinyl side. The obvious choice to me would be to forgo your nearly non-existent replay of records, sell your LP12 (and any LPs of value) , then use those funds to upgrade your digital side and/or amplification especially as you've expressed no particular fondness towards vinyl. Yes, vinyl .
Makes sense to me. If the perceived sound quality of a high level turntable and the present digital are similar, then think how much better it may sound with a better DAC, which is possibly the present limiting factor, and streaming is free from the sonic limitations of the vinyl medium (or shellac, tbough those won't sound right on the LP12!).
i think of all my music files as records, as that is what they are: record[ing]s.
Posted on: 18 October 2017 by PhilipH
My final decision was to buy a Rega Fono MM Mark III. Changing the 172 or 140 was never on the cards - I've been happy with the 140 since the early 1980s and the 172 meets the new opportunities offered by streaming, and AV integration, but thanks to all for your thoughts.
The LP12 is an indulgence, as are my records, but that's life - we all make our own choices, even if they are only 1% of my listening time! They evoke a lifetime of memories.
Naim has been part of my hifi journey for over 40 years, it's always sounded great and it's good to hear the opinions on the forum are as strident as those of Julian's many years ago!
I'll keep the 42 so it can be paired with the 140 and the LP12 at any time and passed on to the next generation.
To those that can remember Salt Lane I enjoyed my couple of years in Salisbury, not least because that's where I met my wife, and it was a privilege to have a small part in the very early years of Naim.
