Hey,
Recently purchased a pair of Focal Aria 936 speakers (lovely) and using a CA 740a integ amp 100 W/C.
I believe my amp can be used as a preamp and I’m curious about how my system would run by hooking up a Naim power amp to the Cambridge Audio amp as a preamp.
Is the Cambridge (preamp) ‘good enough’ for this or would it be a burden on the Naim power amp?
Love to hear your responses😁
Peter
Welcome Peter.
A bit more information might help.
Most important what is your budget? New or would you be happy with s/h?
Are you going to be able to dem in-store or better still at home?
Are you committed to keeping the Cambridge and WIIM long term? If not then something from the Uniti range might be a more ‘whole system’ upgrade than a standalone power amp, depending on budget of course.
Are you using a speaker cable compatible with a Naim amp (see FAQs).
What do you want ‘more’ of from the sound?
Focal speakers have a reputation for taking a very long time to settle down, just bear in mind that if they are very new it might be worth giving them some time before making changes.
Bruce
The issue here is that you have a budget source and budget amplifier, which really aren’t up to a Naim power amp. If you want to get Naim into the system, an ND5XS2 and a Supernait 2 or 3, or a Nova, is probably a better way to go. You could connect your CD player to either.
Also, make sure you can listen to a Naim amp somewhere or be prepared to adapt to the taste or sell it on. Cambridge amps sound quite different to Naim amps. Cambridge is a tad warmer, more 3d / spatial than Naim. Naim is more boogie, speed than all the hifi tricks. Your best bet might be to replace it by a Naim XS3 or if budget allows a SuperNait.
I’ve heared your Focals with a Nait XS3 / ND5XS2 and it sounded wonderful.
Your Focals are good value for money.
I would not try ‘mixing’ amps like this… 
I would say a Mcintosh or a Jadis tube amp fit your 936 well. I love 936 as well
Hi there, I previously used an Arcam A22 Integrated AMP as a pre-amp to my then owned Arcam P35 power amps in a bi amp set up. Whilst the A22 did a job as a pre-amp, I later upgraded to a pre-amp proper in a Musical Fidelity A3 I think. There was a substantial improvement using the A3 even though it was a different brand to the powers. I now use a Townsend Allegri +_the lesson I have learnt over time is just how important a good pre-amp is, I would go as far to say more important than the power. I think, I would be inclined to try and source a Naim Pre if I were you, maybe sell on the Cambridge and try and source used, lots of very trusted dealers out there.
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