The Naim Naiit thread

Well it must depend on the amplifier circuit being regulated and the regulator itself. Not all regs are created equally. When playing with Avondale amps i was advised to regulate the voltage amplification stages only and leave the current amplification (output) stage free to soar like an eagle. And more recently with my nva amp boards i was advised not to put any regulator near them ever.

Probably not more than 100w into 8 ohms (I'm guessing here) but they have two massive transformers, way bigger than a 250, so I'd expect great current delivery. Sonically they sound like they could blow your front door off its hinges. The thing I like is that they have all that strength and weight but no harshness. Think of a giant Exposure X with more bass, openness, freedom and also subtlety.

Mine was a 42.5/140 and I hated it. Looking back I'm still unsure what was up but it followed on from a 1983 NVA p50/A40 which was wonderful. The thing is I also changed source from an LP12/Ekos/OC9 to an Arcam Alpha CD and speakers from Kans to IBLs, I still think either the 42.5 or 140 was sick, although I have never liked subesquent 42.5s anyway, I've AB compared 3 examples with 3 different 42s and every one sounded horrible in comparison. I know circuit-wise they are the same amp except for single/dual rail PSU so I can only put it down to component choice. I don't like the 32.5 either, but they aren't as bad, 42,62 and 72 are all fine. Maybe not so keen on 102, but only one example owned and brief at that. 92' is horrible too.

After my first set, I left Naim completely alone for a few years until I bought Isobariks. I picked up a beautifully restored (piano black) NZ export version of the 22 and 120 which worked ok with the Isobariks. I ended up with a 42/Snaps/250 eventually IIRC. Almost all my subsequent Naim amps have been run with Kans, Elas, Saras, SBLs, IBLs and Spicas. I must've had over 100 Naim amps in my time. All have been enjoyable except that first pair. Like Dave, I have a soft spot for the bolt down 250. I've recapped all the ones I have owned and every one came on song just from that. Not the most detailed amps in the world, but boy are they sweet.

As for Farlowe era Exposure, I gather the (early) preamps were the weak part, being noisy and a bit crude in design. To me, the few I heard sounded polar opposite to the CB Naims we brainwashed ourselves into preferring, so that factor alone colours all my memories of these old amps. Knowing what I know now, I suspect a Farlowe-era power amp with modern preamp would be excellent - not sure if there's a necessity for an active one as there is with Naim to prevent instability/distortion at the input with too wide-open a source..

They all go off the same I gather... The 112? which replaced the 72 could sound slightly 'better' but the couple I compared did sound pretty Sh#t for an hour or so until they'd stabilised. The 52 showed just how much was missing, 'sonics as well as music' and other non-Naim preamps can beat that with ease for a hell of a lot less money I subsequently discovered.

My favourite Naim preamp of this period was actually the 82, as to me over many dems, it always sounded more like a smaller 52 than any of the lesser ones and even with 'just' a Hicap, I thought it better. The 82 wasn't allowed to have each part individually regulated, so deliberately hobbed so 'we' could spend double. I'm also convinced the sprung circuit boards was a selling paff to make it even more 'different.'

Have you heard the Super Nait 2, Dave?

S.

Me too, albeit briefly, it was very ordinary. If I was listening blind I would've expected it to be a £150-200 purchase.

I like the look of Emotiva stuff too. If anyone is looking for a good powerful amp for peanuts, I'd recommend an Adcom GFA 555. Very good for next to nothing, I will have another one someday, the last one came and went far too quickly even though it was intriguingly good.

Adcom is about as "unsexy" as they come and so people overlook it. I would love to get a few bling amps together and run them against a GFA 555. I would be very surprised if it didn't see at least some of them off.

Would never touch Creek, even if they made the best products in the entire world.. The owner is a ......

LOL, na twit is far too nice for that individual!

Talking about Creek, reminds me of the time at a hifi show when listening to Epos speakers, I said to someone, "Well they've been taking over by Creek, and no longer the same as the original Robin Marshall design" only to be informed by said individual "I'm Mike Creek"

Rarrr Mike Creek!

It’s just a fad. These days I get things and never even plug them in. Some I park with mates and never even see. Others, like the Nexus, I don’t even unbox. I think it’s the delay between buying and getting to try. By the time I get to it or it comes to me in Cyprus, I’m bored and ive moved on. Plus I’m really happy with what I have. The buying is just a bad habit driven by too much free time.