XS 2 used as pre-amp?
Posted by: vic575 on 10 August 2018
I would like to know how I would go about using my XS-2 as a pre amp but with an old Arcam power amp I have. The Arcam has phono inputs of course, but the Naim has Din but also carries a voltage/power output from the pre amp output it seems. Does such a cable/link exist already for this purpose. Although I have owned the XS -2 since late 2013, I have thus far not delved into Naims unique connection system, such as the way power supply upgrades are connected using the pre/power in/outs etc. Any advice would be much appreciated.
I think you’ll find that you need a power supply for the Nait’s preamp, such as a Flatcap, if you plan to do this. Though quite why you’d want to hang an Arcam off such a good amplifier...
It says this in the handbook -
Note: The link plug should be removed only if a power supply upgrade is to be used, an alternative preamplifier is to use the NAIT XS 2 power amplifier section, or an alternative power amplifier is to use the NAIT XS 2 preamplifier section. It should remain fitted in all other circumstances.
It gives three examples of removing the link plug, the last of which is to use the xs-2 as a pre amp for an external power amp. I assume therefore that the pre amp would use the on board power supply.
vic, I would email Naim support directly support@naimaudio.com .
There's a related thread here
Sub out might be an option. Good luck.
I'm fairly sure that if you're using a non-Naim power amp with the NAIT XS (why???), and you don't have a dedicated power supply for the NAIT's pre-amp section, then you'll probably need to take the pre-amp signal from the sub out RCA phono sockets.
For all that, again, I would seriously question the wisdom of tacking an Arcam amp on the end of the NAIT. I would stick with the NAIT XS as it is or else trade both towards something even better.
I just wanted to experiment a little as I am not happy with the sound. I have the Nait XS-2, Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand, QED cable, Atlas interconnects, Arcam rDac and the source is mainly the laptop playing waves. The sound seems a little harsh at times. I wondered if the Nait needs a service, it is five years old. I don't know if there are some problems with the speakers or not. It isn't the source as I have tried different sources, with and without the Dac and no difference.
Strangely, when I have played various frequency tests, the ones that play a tone from very low to very high frequencies, there seems to be some dropouts where the sound level drops very low. I have tried several of the online tests and all perform the same, which leads me to think there is a fault somewhere. Any thoughts or advice would be great.
vic575 posted:I just wanted to experiment a little as I am not happy with the sound. I have the Nait XS-2, Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand, QED cable, Atlas interconnects, Arcam rDac and the source is mainly the laptop playing waves. The sound seems a little harsh at times.
I'd try some properly terminated Naim speaker wires to start with. Hopefully your dealer can lend you a pair in the first instance.
C.
vic575 posted:I just wanted to experiment a little as I am not happy with the sound. I have the Nait XS-2, Vienna Acoustics Bach Grand, QED cable, Atlas interconnects, Arcam rDac and the source is mainly the laptop playing waves. The sound seems a little harsh at times. I wondered if the Nait needs a service, it is five years old. I don't know if there are some problems with the speakers or not. It isn't the source as I have tried different sources, with and without the Dac and no difference.
Strangely, when I have played various frequency tests, the ones that play a tone from very low to very high frequencies, there seems to be some dropouts where the sound level drops very low. I have tried several of the online tests and all perform the same, which leads me to think there is a fault somewhere. Any thoughts or advice would be great.
The dropouts are nothing to do with the amplification - they're acoustic interactions between the speakers and the room.