Hi,

I have a Nait 3, CD 3.5 and Epos 12.2's. I am finding that the Nait is struggling a bit with the Epos, even in a small room.

I would like to get a Nait 5i but cant find one second hand except for stupid ebay prices. I was wondering if a 72/140 would work well. Is its 45w much more than the Nait's 30 in real world use? What are the other diferences between a 5i vs 3 vs 72/140

Thanks in advance for your help

quote:

I would like to get a Nait 5i but cant find one second hand except for stupid ebay prices

Have a look at Naim dealers, PFM or hififor sale. I bought my Nait 5i at about a year old for £480, which does not sound stupid at all.

Nigel

quote:

Is its 45w much more than the Nait's 30 in real world use?

Not really but it is a gruntier-sounding amp anyways.

Why not convert your Nait5 to a pre and track down a 150?

Then you could get a pre like a 202, and then a CDX2 then an XPS2, then a 282/hicap/250, then a Fraim, a Muaahahahahahaaaaaaaa....

quote:

Why not convert your Nait5 to a pre and track down a 150?

I WAS serious about this suggestion though.

If you want to turn it up and maintain the sound quality then the 140 will do that and will sound better for the most part than your NAIT 3 but I did not find the difference earth shattering going from a NAIT 2 to 62 140 except it hangs together when worked hard and is a faster better timed sound. Although I have no regrets and wouldn't go back. It's just that much more fun. This of course will vary from speaker to speaker and for different sources.

Ken

quote:

Why not convert your Nait5 to a pre and track down a 150?

I mean Nait 3...

Hi there,

I was in the same position as you. Had a Nait 3 and wanted more. Ended up converting it into a pre-amp (equivalent of a NAC92) and added a NAP140 - it's much, much more powerful and controlled now, to answer your question.

quote:

Originally posted by Wazza69:
Hi,

I have a Nait 3, CD 3.5 and Epos 12.2's. I am finding that the Nait is struggling a bit with the Epos, even in a small room.

I would like to get a Nait 5i but cant find one second hand except for stupid ebay prices. I was wondering if a 72/140 would work well. Is its 45w much more than the Nait's 30 in real world use? What are the other diferences between a 5i vs 3 vs 72/140

Thanks in advance for your help

I've used a 72/140/Epos ES11 setup for many years (over 10) and it really is a very good match. Another good reason to go down this route though is so that you can add a HICAP at a later date, and the 72/140 just sounds even better, more relaxed, more fluid. You'd need to spend serious cash to get significantly better than that.

So for my money, get an olive 72/140, then add a hicap when you see one for a good price, and you'll be there! Job done.

Cesare

So for my money, get an olive 72/140, then add a hicap when you see one for a good price, and you'll be there! Job done.

Cesare[/QUOTE]

~<>~

72's are not to be underestermated and offer fantastic value for money... but the cute little 140 is quite sought after, so good second hand ones are more difficult to find and at a price not a lot less than a good 180. There seems to be more 180's around on the second hand market and they do sell a lot less than a 250. It's possible to aquire a 72 and a 180 at fleabay prices for less than £600 and that is amazing VFM.
So my recommendation would be 72/180... then add a hicap latter when funds allow, oh yes : )

nymph

Another vote for the 72/140. I moved from NAIT 2 to 72/140 and it was more a more powerful, tighter sound, but the real benefits come when the Hicap is added. This is the benefit of the pre/power approach, the ability to upgrade piecemeal and get tangible benefits as you do.

Regards

Mark

Thanks for everyones input. Really I should be deciding on what my ears hear, the downside is that it is difficult to do a A/B comparison of the the N5i v 72/140 as dealers dont have both and if they do then I would be obliged to purchase from them rather than on Pink Fish etc.

IMO nait 5i, even if with 50 watt, has got quite similar punch\bass dimension of Nait 3....moreover Epos 12.2 needs more powerful amp...so I vote 72\140 (or 122x-150x), not only because 140 is 45 watt but also because it sounds stronger and deeper (maybe darker too) than Nait 5i.

David

quote:

So my recommendation would be 72/180...

agree! If the Nait5i is a bit short of power for the Epos 12.2, it would be smart to go for the 180 instead of the 140 and have some power head room, moreover the 180's built in PS is quite better.

Regards,
Edouard

The 72/140 matches up well with Epos.

72/hicap/140 sounds even better.

Both combo's outperform a Nait 3 and Naim 5i too.