Anyone know why I have a small range of play with my recapped Nait 2 before it gets too loud? The volume pot goes from say, 7:30 (silent) to 8:30 (realistic reproduction). Is there anything I can do that doesn't compromise the unit's integrity? Thanks.

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Anyone know why I have a small range of play with my recapped Nait 2 before it gets too loud?

Hi Sigmund,

I'm afraid there's not much you can do about this.

It's a typical well known downside of the Nait-2.

I had 2 Nait-2's (chrome-bumpered and olive) and both suffered from the bad volume-pot/low level inbalance.

The only option I can think of is trying to find an attenuate interconnect.
They reduce the output of a CDP. (or any other source with a high output)

The Nait-2 still is a wonderful amp imho, despite its handicaps.

regards,
Alco

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The Nait-2 still is a wonderful amp imho, despite its handicaps.

This is true. I had a Nait2 - CD version and was impressed with it in many ways. I think that the big shortcoming is the volume pot. For some reason a very cheap volume pot was chosen for this amp, don't know why.

For that matter many, if not most, companies use so-so volume pots in their expensive equipment. I bought and installed a DACT stepped attenuator to replace an Alps RK-27 volume pot in my Cary Audio SET and what a huge difference it made!

I have never understood why many expensive audio products costing thousands of dollars use a $40 Alps volume pot that holds back its performance potential.

Scott

Hi Sigmund
what CD do you use?
The Nait2 has a rather high sensitivity, hence the "quick" volumechange when turning the knob.
Is your speakes of high sensitivity too??

I'd try to stay away from cab les with attenuation, since it won't enhance the fidelity!

Regards
Rickard

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Is your speakes of high sensitivity too??

In my experience the sensitivity of speakers doesn't change much to the volume pot levels.

I've had several speakers with my Nait-2, going from around 84db Linn Kan, 85db Rogers to 91db AudioNote's, and I couldn't notice any change with adjusting the volume level.

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I'd try to stay away from cab les with attenuation, since it won't enhance the fidelity!

True. Still, it might be worth the sonic compromise to some people.

When using a TT I never had any trouble using the Nait-2, but with CD it's a bit of a pain.
The Nait-5i is a relief in that regard.

regards,
Alco

quote:

quote:
Is your speakes of high sensitivity too??

In my experience the sensitivity of speakers doesn't change much to the volume pot levels.

I've had several speakers with my Nait-2, going from around 84db Linn Kan, 85db Rogers to 91db AudioNote's, and I couldn't notice any change with adjusting the volume level.

I meant that a speaker of high sensitivity is easier to drive and that a 2 w output yildes a higher soundpressure, than from a loudspeaker with lower sensitivity. Didn't you notice any difference between the Kans and the 91dB Audio Notes regarding volumeknob position at equal soundpressure???

All the best
Rickard

P.S Is the Nait 2 passive or active in it's preamp section? It might be that the (relative)attenuation differs between different volumeknob positions, ie the difference between 7.45 and 8.30 i s greater than 8.30 to 9.15). Hence the rapid rise in volume early in the operating range D.S

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Didn't you notice any difference between the Kans and the 91dB Audio Notes regarding volumeknob position at equal soundpressure???

Well, I must say I also expected quite a difference but the difference was hardly worth mentioning.
Same with Monitor Audio Studio-2's and Diapasons Micra's. All these 5 speakers didn't seem to have much influence on the low-level channel unbalance of my Nait-2

Currently I'm using 85db Rogers, and I have to turn the volume of my Nait-5i a lot more open to reach a certain level, than I did with the Nait-2.
With the Nait-2 I sometimes jumped up from my couch to reach for the volume knob, when the volume was set on 9 o' clock and I played the first track of a CD. With the Nait-5i the volume is quite modest at 9 o' clock.

best regards,

Alco

The gradation of volume on the attenuator knob of the Nait 5i is the best on any Naim amp I have encountered - much more easily used, either manually or on the remote than ...!

By now I would have thought it would be possible to adjust this aspect on the attenuator potentiometers, and as a separate phono-stage is now mandatory on the new pieces for LP replay, surely the output of this seperate pre-pre-amp could easily be set at roughly the same level as other high output sources like the CD...

ATB from Fredrik

I have a similiar problem with my 202 volume control.
In my condo I cannot play CD at anything above 8:00.... With the TT I am usually at around 9:00. As far as I know, you can only change output level on the AV input.

Hi
I have RCA -10db attenuators on my Nait 1 which have improved performance considerably, you get the amp into the sweet spot with the volume knob at 12 to 1 o'clock. It also makes the volume increase more gradual and controllable. Give this guy an e-mail and tell him you have a Naim amp and he will sell you a reverse set. ie. they fit into a phono output rather than an input. Okay if you are not using din to din of course! iain.lamb@tesco.net
He offers a fast service, I now have two sets, one for both inputs or outputs.
Dave

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All these 5 speakers didn't seem to have much influence on the low-level channel unbalance of my Nait-2

Now that's another matter...

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The gradation of volume on the attenuator knob of the Nait 5i is the best on any Naim amp I have encountered - much more easily used, either manually or on the remote than ...!

I agree, but it's all down to the fact that the Nai5i is a passive device with an input sensitivity of (roughly) 225mv, compared to the "standard" 47mv on the 112 through to the 552!

Regards
Rickard

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Now that's another matter...

You're right... sorry Rickard, I meant to say that these 5 speakers didn't seem to have much influence on the sensitivity of the Nait-2's volume pot. (instead of the low-level problems)

I'm using a Njoe Tjoeb cd player with high end CCa tubes and a Creek T40 tuner with a wonderful Wireworld Aurora 5 power cord into a specked out pair of Quad ESL-63 speakers if that helps anyone make more sense out of what's going on for me.

I like the idea of putting in an attenuator. That may be the way to go.