NAC 82 onboard phono stage or Stageline N+Flatcap2?

[Thomas7string]

Hi all,

I just bought a NAC82+NAP200 setup. Do you have experience with the onboard phono stage in the 82? I already own the Stageline N+Flatcap 2 combo, but I hear nice things about the onboard stage in the 82.

Also, will using the onboard phono stage require a HiCap?

-Thomas

[Pieman]

Hi Thomas

I am also using a NAC 82 with the phono stage card option.

It does a good job and is a neater solution.

The Hicap is a upgrade option, to the the pre amplifier, and the onboard phono stage would work with or without it , as long as the link plugs are present on the 82 without the Hicap.

Regards

Pieman.

[Thomas7string]

Hi Pieman,

Thanks! Ok, so the HiCap would not be a requirement, even if the onboard phono stage is in use? Good to know. I think I will look for a HiCap anyways, as it seems like a pretty good upgrade concidering the second hand prices. Do you know if the onboard phono stage can handle both MM and MC? I am currently using MM. Looket up a manual for the 82, and it listed MM, MC S, MC K, and MC E as cartridge options.

Thomas

[Pieman]

Hi Thomas

Yes , you can use either a MM or MC board type , but it has to be compatible with the NAC 82. The MC board, must suit the loading of the MC cartridge , as mentioned different MC boards allow for getting this matched correctly.

Regards

Pieman.

[Richard.Dane]

A useful guide to the internal daughterboards for earlier Naim pre-amps can be read here in the FAQ;

Naim NA3xx and NA5xx Pre-amplifier daughter boards

Earlier Naim pre-amplifiers used interchangeable daughter boards. While the very earliest NAC12s did not use daughter boards, most were updated, and the early versions of the NAC12 and NAC22 used NA1xx and NA2xx boards that used knife edge connectors but were superseded by pin mounted NA3xx boards. The NA3xx boards that can be found and used in later NAC12s are; NA325 - Switching Relay, switch-on output delay x 1 NA321 - Main gain, output drive x 2 NA324 - Input Buffers x 2 NA322 - MM …

[c2photo]

If i were you i would send the combo off to Darran at A class for a service unless you know when they were last re-capped.
In the meantime decide which cartridge you will be using and ask Darran to set up phono boards to suit.

[Thomas7string]

Hi c2,

It just came from service, so it is in perfect condition. But the previous owner never used the phono stage, and wasn’t sure. I will contact a dealer this wednesday on the matter. Their Naim guy is still on vacation. I am using the Ortofon 2M Black cartridge.

-Thomas

[Thomas7string]

Hi Richard,

Is there any way to find out which NA5xx board is fitted into my 82? The only thing I can see on the back of the chassie regarding the phono stage is a double R+L analog in.

-Thomas

[Thomas7string]

I see. Thanks. I will talk with a Naim specialist this wednesday.

[Richard.Dane]

Only way to tell for sure is to slide off the cover and look see.