I’m looking at starting my Naim journey with a cheap NAP 90 that I can get locally at a very reasonable price.
I’m looking at moving up through the options over time, but I have a lovely set of speakers and an older Pioneer amp that just isn’t driving them well.
The deal is only for the NAP 90 (olive) on it’s own, no pre-amp.
I have an Integra 80.6 Processor which I use as a pre-amp for my Pioneer set, is this suitable to use with the NAP 90 as an interim until I source a NAC or move to a NAIT?
I use a Sonos Connect at the moment for my source, using an optical cable to the Integra which handles the DAC side of things. As such I’m limited to 16bit 44khz, so I’m probably losing more there than I’d lose in not having an ideal pre-amp.
I know that the ideal is to use it with a Naim pre-amp, but I’m mostly concerned with voltage compatibilities etc. and making sure that such a setup wouldn’t damage the Naim.
It is a bit unusual perhaps but I used a NAP 90 with the Cayin headphone amp HA 1A which provides a pre-amplifier output section. It is a simple tube design with one 12AX7 and one 12AU7. They sounded great together with the added ‘bloom and colour’ good detail and PRaT.
As no-one with more specific knowledge has responded to you as yet I’ll offer what I can (as a non-Naim amp user): I think the only risk of damage, of poor performance, might be if your source outputs ultrasonic frequencies and your preamp doesn’t filter them out, as I am led to believe Naim preamps do limit when.
However if is worth checking cabling requirements - e.g. can the 90 can take standard (RCA / “phono”) cables - some Naim power amps expect the the input via the power supply cable, anc only DIN sockets to that, requiring a suitable adapter cable.
I can not offer any advice of the NAP 90 but I’m sure between responses from the members and by using the search feature on the forum you should be able to find the information you need.
I use a Proton 930 as a preamp with a Naim NAP155XS power amp and it works fine and sounds very good. Make sure you have the appropriate RCA to DIN 4 cable and turn the volume down when you first use it. I have a NAit 3R which I’m thinking of splitting to use as a pre for the 155XS, so may give you some ideas.
Nothing wrong with a Nait 3, but I would be tempted to sell it and get a matching NAC 152XS to go with your 155. Shouldn’t cost much, if anything, and I’d be prepared to bet you’d end up with a better sounding amp.