Hi-Fi Corner

Though my ESLs have been silent for the best part of two months, I have finally packed them up nicely, with the feet off and given them a gentle dusting off. They come up almost like new in fact, even though the younger one is actually 48 years old now. Tomorrow they leave for good. The end of loudspeaker replay for me, and preparing them for departure has been rather a sad experience. To make up a bit, I have parked the Carlton exactly where they sat for the last four years. I think the...

Hi Forum. I am thinking about uplifting my 2008 Hicap to the later DR spec , but wonder would the improvement be any different to changing the NAP 200 to DR spec without using a Hicap at all. I believe only the preamp benefit's, to the DR change on NAP 200 DR. The preamplifier is a Nac 202 with Napsc. Regard's Pieman.

I have just got a nac42 which I thought had mm boards in it but it turns out they are mc boards (323/3), I found out the hard way after plugging in my tt and being rewarded with a sound that was like listening with cotton wool in my ears! My immediate thought was to sell them and get a pair of 322s instead, however I am now thinking of using them. I have two main reservations about moving to an mc cart; would the 322 cards with a decent mc cart better my current set-up (a 2m bronze into a...

hi everyone just wondered if anyone on here has tried oscars isolation platforms are they any good .

 The current Naim line fails to inspire me. Excluding the out of reach Statement, there seems to be a large array of components, that are very similar in function, and whose difference is based primarily on the use of better external power supplies (!). Plus, the 'record' series of buttons are still there (!?!). Looking around, there is a strong trend towards systems that include superior pre-amp/DAC coupled with monoblocks. Naim is in neither camp with the DAC V1 (their only offering),...

I collected my newly acquired serviced SC and 135`s on Sunday, I connected the SC up straight away in place of the 2 hi-caps not really expecting too much powering my 82, detail control come to mind and a smoother effortless presentation , I wasn`t expecting that , happy yep. I left the 135`s until Wednesday now I deserve a pat on the back for self control and patience I reckon! Well not too good at the HiFi lingo but i just got me a ticket a lot closer to the stage, fantastic!

Anyone use modern Janszen speakers with Naim amps? I'm tempted to audition a pair of zA2.1s from their factory, but that's quite a costly proposition if I end up sending them back. And any thoughts on the amount of power they need to make them sing? Thanks, John

I recently inquired about recapping my 110 on this forum and noone mentioned the availability of servicing by the North American distributor, Audio Plus. As I mentioned in another thread, I ended up buying a recapped 160 that was done by Audio Plus. I still continue to be amazed by just how great the sound is - really wonderful. So - kudos to Audio Plus! I don't say this to the detriment of any other providers, only to share my experience in this case.

Hello, i have a short question, which one is the winner :) supernait 2 + ndx or nac 272 +250dr for aria 926(i like them till now). Now i have xs2 +nd5xs +dacv1+aria 926. Yes i know...i will go for an audition...

I have today upgraded from a CD5i to a CD5 XS Both have the same type of drawer but I have noticed a small irritation When I open the drawer on the 5i it is quite firm but stays exactly where I pull it to However with the XS it opens more easily but when I let go it recoils in a little, this makes it less easy to place a disc and there is a risk of catching the disc on the front plate Any comments or ideas?

I have just taken delivery of a used pair of Harbeth P3ESRs in mint condition and hooked them up to my humble system (Unitiqute 2, NAP100, Rega Apollo R). Boy, they are something else. There just seems to be a truly wonderful synergy with my system now, perhaps I've got lucky or its just that Naim and Harbeth are a perfection match, I don't know! What I do know is that my music has never sounded so good and the detail that comes through really, really surprised me. Listening to the live...

Hi Naim owners, I have recently purchased a new Naim Unitiqute 2 BT for my second system and I was blown away by the musicality it possessed. It obviously didn't have the power of the Cyrus PRE XP and Cyrus X power it replaced. But it was certainly more enjoyable of a listen IMO. Even compared to my Creek Evolution 100A which is a superb amplifier. It has had such a profound effect that I have now sold the Creek along with the rest of my hifi gear (i.e expensive cables and headphones)...

Folks in the know, can you comment on which would make the most pronounced upgrade in terms of detail, but not at the expense of soundstage, to my ND5/282/250/Spendor SB2 set-up - a) replacing the Hi cap with Supercap or b) putting an XP5 (or XPS) on the ND5? I play a fair bit of vinyl (well tempered simplex) too so a SC makes more sense in that respect; but my choice will be informed by which produces the most revealing SQ at the end of the day. Hope I haven't repeated a previous, but...

Does a XPS-DR provide an upgrade to the Preamp section of the nac 272? Say for a vinyl source? Or is it an upgrade just to the streamer+dac+ streaming preamp section?

So my 272/250dr combo has been with me for almost a month now and overall seems to warming up nicely. Initially I only had Tidal Hi-Fi/Spotify Premium as a source and I find that I cannot get the volume dial much over 50 before it started sounding harsh. I should add that the Internet connection is wireless. By week two, having got my interconnects sorted out (Linn Blacks), I was able to start playing my CD player (a Marantz 8003 SACD) and I found I could up the volume to about 56-58 without...

At the moment I have two quadraspire racks. The left one (top to bottom) is lp12, 250, 555ps and supercap (classic). The right one is nd5xs, then 52 then nat03 and lingo 1. I also have sbl's. The unity serve is in the loft There is space to go to the left with an extra rack. But there is also space to go up. My next move is probably NDS (that's almost a dead cert), with possible additional changes to 552 / 300 and maybe new speakers (I have recently got back my acoustic energy ae1 speakers w...

As I continue to build "the big olive system",I have a very important decision to be made. What next. I have just sold my recently serviced nap 180 and have got myself into a bit of a pickle (I will not have an amp by this Monday) At the moment my replacement options are ..1999 nap 250 serviced by Naim Uk 2008 price is around £1000. My other option is a pair of 1987 135's serviced 2013 by naims serviced agent here New Zealand, the price of the 135's is around £1500. The 135's left the Naim...

Hey all,  I just installed Amarra for Tidal on the Mu-So. My first impression is that it increases instrument separation and the soundstage - an area that could be improved since it's just a single speaker.  But it's difficult to tell if there's any additional value in the app - and the software is completely awful (version 2.0). 

Hi all.   It has been many, many years since I owned Naim. I sold off all my hi-fi in the late 90's to raise a family. Now, the kids are gone and I am looking at rekindling the old audio flames.....   I have an opportunity to purchase an excellent condition Naim 72/HC/140 all re-capped and in mint condition. I also have an opportunity to purchase a new Nait5si for the exact same amount. I realize, that around 2002, the product line started to change a bit in...

I'm off to Naim HQ on Wednesday to have a look at how they manufacture Statement and hopefully the Super Lumina cables too. Anyone have any good questions that you'd like me to ask whilst there?  I'll take the best few questions with me and see if I can get answers to relay back to the forum. Graham  

I like to ask if some people who have experienced both above power amps, could provide some inside as to what their differences are, over and above the 70 or 80 watts per channel, which surely can not be the reason for 66% price difference from the 200 to the 250. Thanks,

Hi All, seeking your sage advice/thoughts of my next best upgrade move. My current system is: UnitiseveSSD/NDS/555PS(DR) NAC52/Supercap (both 1998 vintage, serviced by Naim in 3/14 but not DR'd) NAP500/PS (both 2003, overdue a service and not DR'd) Shahinian Obelisk 2's ( 2014 model) i use Naim PowerLine x3, HiLine interconnect and switch between NACA5 (sometimes) and Mogami (mostly) speaker cables. Sounds Fab to my ears and nothing I'm trying to 'fix' as such, but as with many of us...

anyone compared this old classic to modern speakers in the context of a Naim system? Just curious to know what the outcome was/is... and what we have learnt since those heady days... enjoy ken

Has anyone here used the DAC V-1 as a preamp? I am interested to know how it performs compared to say .. the entry level preamps from naim.