Naim Chrome Bumper

If i got It right Mr. JV talked about motherboards? In my 62s i have 322a phono MM cards, in the 42.5 a K phono MC, inthe 32.5 do not remember, It has no label with S/N but i assume being a later 87/89 manufacture

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Nac 12,32,32.5 and 72 all sounds better than Nac 42,42.5 and 62 because they have more boards,I think.

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That’s interesting about card pulling. I have read a lot of opinions on it and wondered the value of it, though never tried it. However I don’t think I will now, if it brightens the sound. I have an early 32.5, HiCap and 160 with Acoustic Energy AE1s (mk1) and I wouldn’t want it to be ‘brightened’ up! Those AE1s play it as it is! :slightly_smiling_face:

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@rsch I did read that interview somewhere else, yes same design concept in different way of implementations, price difference only due to number of parts.

@Igel Great sum-up! I think so!

@Martin.M Expect a cleaner, more punchy, more bodies and weightier sound, it does help the line level input. I pulled a pair of unused phono boards and replaced with 326, it was impressive especially for female voices, but it seems to me everything sounds slightly faster (off-beat). With early Kan (scanspeak tweeter) which were tailored designed for Naim amplification, seems too much power pour into them. Only my experience, I think board pulling is fine if you got speakers that less demanding in period correct things.

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Excuse my ignorance, are the 326s the variabile gain line cards? If so i have these on the second phono input of the 32 which is labelled aux. However can’t use it with din/din cable being it BNC.
Also the 72 i got recently Is fitted with line cards on the Bnc phono inputs but unusable again, not having a BNC/din or RCA/din cable

No, NA328s are the variable boards (also some HF filtering). NA326s are line level “straight through” boards.

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You could use some Phono RCA to BNC adaptors (50 ohm) as temporary measure. Some have changed the BNC sockets to RCA Phono - and IIRC this something Naim can do for you during a service if you request it, so an “official” mod - which is probably fairly straightforward if you’re adept at soldering. However,I always wince slightly whenever things are modified from standard, except where absolutely necessary, or a proper update.

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I already have the adaptors, that are quite a compromise, however i’d prefer these old amps as original as possible. BNCs inpunts were meant to be better on SQ right? Or for others reasons?

Yes, BNC is preferred over regular RCA Phono for the phono connections, although the best RCA Phonos (WBT Next Gen or Eichmann) can be on a performance par with BNC.

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Thanks you so much!

Highly recommend to pull those 328s. As Richard mentioned they will mess with the HF, and to me the overall performance as well – much better without those. You may replace with pair of 326. I doubt board-pulling would do any harm to the 72 sound.

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I agree pull the 328’s,but keep the 324’s Tape Buffer to retain the balance in the sound.

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Maybe I will experiment at some stage, though I am scared of messing things up. I have no experience with technical electronics!

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Another CB Hicap came in today, this one with green LED, '87 build. It has been serviced recently booking almost immaculate. The others one have browning fascia

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It’ s really odd, being only a power supply BUT, my impression is that the overall sound of the system (CDX2/62/250/nSat) is less musical and more brittle than the other Hicap. The other one, with browned fascia was recently serviced at LASA prior of my purchase, so It should be this one, as stated by the seller. the only thing i noticed is that the rubber feet seems hard plastical instead but don’t think It should be influentatial, for the rest It looks very nice.

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A service will include feet. What evidance do you have for both HCs service?
And when you say " it’s only power supply"…these are hugely influential over the sound of your setup.

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I will carry it at Lasa for a changing feet first of all.

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Not sure how the feet would do to a HiCap. But in my past experience the hardened, cracked feet of my 32.5 definitely softened the sound to a point that I thought it needed a service. The sound came back after replaced with genuine feet.

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In this case, It’ s a bit the opposite, it seems to harden the sound. Today i’ ll give it another try with a friend.

The friend is ready to lend his ears.