272 w phono

PS. The Prefix HCDR is connected to the 272 by a Naim 4-5 lavender interconnect.

Being old skool Naim at heart I'm reluctant to try DIN4-phono plugs, because of the better earthing using DIN. But is there anything miraculous about DIN4-phono?

Alt. a different I/c cable. I have had a HiLine 4-5 before now, so have an idea of the difference, but they're hellish expensive!  Or another cable, a Chord (which?) or Witch Hat 4-5 perhaps?

(Hardware wise, in the long term I might hope to change the 155 to a 200 or 250, and/or XPS2. DR would have to be an even later service upgrade.)

So many variables.. You couldn’t imagine why it would sound lacklustre though. Is it time for a new cart? Does the tone arm setup need looking at?

did you have the prefix on aux2 previously or did it have its own hicap? I was never happy with a superline from a hicap compared to aux2 of a 282 but I didn’t try very hard to make it work.

Use adjacent sockets on the hicap if you don’t at present.

Something not good with the setup I think.   Did the dealer install the 272?

It’s good to hear from you after all this time, James. There is no reason it should sound bad because of the 272, as the analogue inputs are very good. The prefix into hicap into 272 via a lavender lead should sound excellent. It’s probably time to speak to your dealer - maybe, though it seems unlikely, there is something amiss with the 272, or maybe the record player has gone out of tune somehow, though it worked happily with the 202, so that also seems unlikely. You should certainly get it all checked over before spending money on anything. 

I'd be like you, wanting to stick with DIN, and lavender DIN at that.

I'd be wanting to get the dealer round just to confirm that everything is performing as it should. Could he bring a NDX and and a NAC202 too?

Where I’m puzzled is the increased surface noise?   In the switch over did the Linn end up off-balance?

What time is the dealer booked for?!

Ditch the 272. Ok, leaving now....

Stu

With vinyl I'd have never ditched 202 /HCDR very good.

Actually you should have better looked at 282 to make your vinyl rig justice and a better power amp too.

Hold on guys - whilst I wouldn’t have gone the 272 route it has a very good pre-amp and with a good phono stage it should work well with the Linn. 

Regards,

Lindsay

But Strat, anyone,  could it be that OP is hearing the alleged difference between through hole and SMT construction?

Thank you to those who suggested not swapping from 202 in the first place, or upgrading to 282.  Having been a Naim owner for 23yrs and having had a fairly serious rig in the past, CDS2/82/SC/250,  which I was sorry to see go, but needs must at the time, I don't really want the conspicuous consumption involved in order to go back up the ladder again.  I've moved to a streaming preamp now a. because I think the 272 is of a necessary standard, b. in order to reduce our box count, and c. recover some house storage space from the CDs.

Thank you everyone else for your comments and suggestions. 

Thank you. What's changed? Are records still "flat and lacklustre"?

Hi James, as others have suggested, you need to look at your LP12's setup before messing with anything else. The increase in surface noise points to there being something awry in that department. I won't insult you by suggesting a check of the cabling and the dressing thereof. Still, we know someone who could sort this out in short order, don't we?

You say that Tony, but JWM gives no indication of any changes to the Linn. One day he had a 202, all fine with records. The next he has a N-272, records "flat and lacklustre".

I guess if the streaming side was also sounding flat & lifeless then the preamp would be the obvious candidate. I believe James has owned the 272 for a fair while now & it'd be a bit daft to point the finger immediately at the 272, which by all accounts is a very capable preamp. James & I share a rather splendid dealer, who will no doubt be able to find and fix the problem.

Yes, it’s definitely a case for Alastair and Andy. 

Hi James. I use a Michell GyroDec via Heed phono stage into my 272 with no issues in fact on certain LPs it surpasses streaming. Average volume level on stream is around 35, vinyl 45. 

I do remember the day you downgraded from the 82/250 to a 152/155 as the 152/155 was the same setup I had at the time

Hi,

this looks like something best sorted out by your dealer, as suggested before. My best guess is a clogged suspension inside your cartridge. But it is just that, a guess.

Hi James,

Good to see you back here and sorry to hear of your gramophone woe. FWIW, I experienced a similar sounding wobble t'other day (bass-light/thin/surface noisy). A re-boot of the Radikal (re-firing the motor PS and Urika) cured it, so if you haven't tried it - try rebooting the Lingo2 and the PreFix Hi-Cap.

The other thing which occurs to me is the possibility of an earthing issue. Is there a pertinent switch on the rear of the 272?

Does the Lingo2 need to be powered separately from the Naim boxes; with regard to earthing issues again?

The Custodians of the Suffolk Cathedral of Sound may need to make a house call.

Good luck.

John.

Thanks everyone!  It’s lovely to hear from old friends and new!

I’ve gone down the tried and tested route of switching it all off (in sequence) and doing that slightly rude feeling thing of pushing plugs in and out of sockets numerous times. Ooo er missus ???? followed by tweaking some cable dressing, and switching it all back on in the correct sequence.

There’s been no time to listen much this evening, and my in-laws visit tomorrow... But hopefully being slapped round the face by the Naimite Borg collective is a timely reminder to attend to the basics, and it may have yielded results.

That said, having the old Scottish fruitbox fettled is probably not unreasonable (the last time was JulianH when he fitted the Prefix). I’m just sorry I can’t run to a TP Khan to add to my 1988 Trigger’s broom of an LP12.  Perhaps next Friday or Saturday would be convenient for AndyH to call in with his ????????penknife ...! (JN, TonyM, etc!)

Thanks again. It always helps being able to ask people who ‘understand’.

JWM posted:

 Perhaps next Friday or Saturday would be convenient for AndyH to call in with his ????????penknife ...! (JN, TonyM, etc!)

 

 Methinks the Signals boys might be rather busy on those days James! But then you knew that, you little scamp!