Hello!

My problem is this: I had a system, that was maybe unbalanced, but made me happy because of the really good way, it made music (cd3/nait3/SBLs).
Then I decided myself to upgrade the system, bought a nac 72 and turned the nait into a power amp.
What happened? Little more detail but a real lac of bite. Music misses dynamic,punch and bass.
What can I do? Should I use another power amp? Downgrade?
Maybe there is someone out there, who can give me a hint.

As you obviously liked your original setup, I would suggest going back to a nait and putting the lot on two levels of Mana supports (maybe only 1 under the SBLs). Alternatively do this and get a better power amp. I think your source is good enough with a better support. I am sure others will disagree, but this is the best advice I can think of.

Dozy

Frank,
There are lots of possible courses of action that you could take,The first two that spring to mind being to rid the 72 of all unnecessary boards,the second is to add a Hi-Cap.
I suspect that the power amp may not have the necessary control,but I feel that others are far more qualified to answer this point
Regards
Chris

Frank,
Next step is to go up to a 140 and then a hicap - then hide your cedit card for a couple of years and enjoy your system - listen to your music and look out or better still listen out for how your CD's will sound.I am certain there will be space and the voice will stand out - well depending on volume sit on your lap.
Giuseppe.

There is no doubt that the 72 is a more capable preamp than the conjoined 92-equivalent found within the Nait3, and that it should be a sonic upgrade, although the differences between the indwelling pre-amp and the 72 are no doubt artificially compressed due to the rather rudimentarly power feed that the Nait supplies. But it should STILL be an improvement, even a modest one. A more cost effective upgrade would have been to Hicap the Nait 3 and at some later stage look towards a better pre-amp, instead of inverting that order. I would check that the Snaic you are using is first of all black, and secondly oriented in the correct direction. If this still fails to correct your disatisfaction then the dealer is almost obliged to either get it working to your expectations (which may be artificially high in this enviroment) or to take it back in exchange for a Hicap, which would be an unequivocal improvement. After all that is why dealers exist in the first place. Wonder why he didn't suggest the Hicap-first route when you decided to go with the 72.....

Also, I am not too sure that SBLs are entirely happy with the Nait...although before you got the 72 you seemed quite content with them.

I can remember the time when I tried a LP12/Basik arm and into a 42/Hicap/110 and a 42/Hicap 250. With the 250 in place the mistracking on the Basik was painfully obvious to hear, and the more rounded sound of the 110 was ultimately the more satisfying. Maybe the SBLs are all too faithfully showing a sub-optimal pairing of the upstream components.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

[This message was edited by Ron Toolsie on FRIDAY 29 December 2000 at 15:34.]

Hi Frank!

I just came back from a shop, where I was going to buy a HiCap, 72 and a 180. It sounded terrible!!! It was just lacking the upfront presentation of my 92+90/3+flatcap. I can only say it sounded dull, very bass heavy and dark. I was very confused, but I have decided to buy just the HiCap for now. I had heard this in my system before, so I knew what to expect there. I will now probably be saving for a 102, which I have heard and liked. I am very curious what other people think of the 72....

Regards, Bas

Hi,

I went from a Nait3 to a 72/140 CD3.5/flat.

Initially I felt the same way as Frank; the 72/140 sounded darker and muddier. I missed the Nait's apparent speed and drive. The gain in power seemed irrelevant.

I found pulling the tape boards does wonders for the 72; it's like adding a free *Cap to the 72.

Also learnt the DIY shelf which worked wonders with the Nait strangled the 72. It definately sounds clearer and airer after ditching the MDF/Ballbearing setup.
The 72 seems extremely sensitive to whatever it's placed on. Glass seems to add "speed" and a bit of harshness (which isn't always a bad thing).

Also, ideal speaker placement for a Nait wasn't the same with a 72/140. But since you retain the same power amp I suppose it won't make a difference?

After pouncing on a s/h Hi-Cap things seem to to have sorted themsleves out.

At any rate, maybe try pulling the tape boards and changing the material the 72 sits on? No spending involved, just some time and experimentation. Also, my dealer was a *great* help.

From what I've seen alot of people go into post- Nait shock after getting a 72.
I bought mine s/h sight unseen for a killer price thinking "it's Naim, It's gotta be good".

If I could do it all over again, I'd buy the 140 and Hicap first, convert the Nait to a pre, then wait till I could afford a 112.
Still I think the 72 is Naim's coolest looking preamp!

Cheers,

Mike

Seems strange to me.
My sources are CDI & LP12.
My racks are cheap metal MDF.
I had a Nait3 with a flatcap, upgrated to 72/140,
(I traded the Nait3 with a s/h 140)
and the new amplification is much better than
the Nait3 - if it is not, I'm sure the blmae is not on the 72.

Arie

Hello Frank,

I agree with Arie. I started with a 60/90 on SBL's and having gone through a 60/180, 72/180, fill in the missing parts to a 82/Hi*2/250, I think the speakers are revealing any shortcomings in your system. The 72 is a great little pre but needs a good power amp to carry on the good work.

Sell the Nait and buy the best second hand nap the can get, and then think about your front end.

Regards,

Darren.

Hello!

Thank You for the answers, I will try to pull off tape boards next days. But I found the solution for the problems myself. When I started this topic, my nac was on power supply for about one week. Meanwhile another week is over and the sound quality increased a lot. It is now far better then with the old set-up. I didn't expect, that the nac needed two weeks to get "warm".

I Wish you all a happy new year.

Frank

I have cd3 + 72 + 140 + Rega Xel ...

If you don´t listen LOUD it´s a well balanced system... a very musical one ... whatever that means...

and in the process of buying it, i found 72 + 140 were from a different league than Nait´s and 90´s ...

BTW the dealer removed the extra cards from the 2-hand 72 and hand-tuned the 140.

So... a sugestion would be... remove the cards and replace the Nait for a 2-hand 140... now that they are replaced for a new-look (sound is better or worse ???) ones....

Proof of concept: The minute i´m writing this i´m listening Swing Out Sister "Kaleidoscope World" (i´m more a jazz fan, but nevertheless...)

I swear it swings alrigth ... yeahhh ...

Hope it helps,

Luis