Hi
Just bought a new Naim Stageline
I am using a Flatcap as power source .
My Naim amp is a Naim XS3 also using a highcap as a power source .
I have noticed massively my Linn LP 12 SONDEK volume has reduces massively going through Stageline as when I was going straight to Nait XS 3 phono stage .
The LP12 is using a Adikt stylus MM .
Could anyone assure me this is normal or have I connected wrongly .
I am running DIN connection into Nait 3 on AV connection .
Yes, SNAIC5 between Flatcap and Stageline, which provides 24V DC power one way and takes in signal the other, and then signal from Flatcap to NAIT via a 4-5DIN interconnect.
Yea that’s how it’s configured button as I say I am now having to turn volume to around 12 o’clock position to get same volume output as I did before at say 9pm position before purchasing Stageline and going straight from LP12 to nait XS3 phone stage !
Was wondering if this is normal .
I suspect it might be normal. The Stageline is from another era before high output digital sources. Although the built-in phono stage on the XS3 is based on the Stageline, as someone mentioned, it might have more gain.
Naim XS3 Product Specification - from Naim website -
Audio Inputs
MM Phono Input
via RCA, 47k parallel 470pF input impedance, suitable for 5mV cartridges|
Line Level Inputs
130mV sensitivity, 47k input impedance, suitable for 2V
This may be ‘it’. The XS3 MM Phono input appears to be pretty standard, for Naim. But - the Line Level Inputs are relatively insensitive - 130mV - (re)designed to work with a CD level 2V input.
Checking other Naim units, such as the 282, Line Level is 75mV…
I’d guess that Naim configured the internal phono stage to be fairly close to modern digital sources in level when used with the average MM so there’s no big level difference switching between sources.
The Stageline though, like most separate phono stages, is configured to output a bit lower than say a CD player, so you’ll need to turn the volume control up a bit more.
I’ve never had any issues such as this. My Stageline loudness was very similar to my HDX when comparing between the two and the specs of the Stageline and Naim’s built in phono stages are the same. If you have a dealer close by, I suggest you take the Stageline and PS there and have them figure out what’s going on.
What @IainO and @Sinewave describe might be called ‘Naim Normal’ - for a Phono input.
(Running into Naim Phonoboards, my Volume setting was usually around 10 o’clock, with both MM & MC carts - with NAC 42, 72, 102 & 82.)
The problem really is that CD (or similar) line level is really too high for the Classic (and earlier) Naim range. Believe that the NC range has addressed this, from what @110dB has previously posted…
Classic NACs including 202, 282, 252 and 552 have a gain of 22dB
Newer pre-amps (most post 2003) including pre-amps in Naits, Uniti and New Classic have 16dB (6dB less than previously).
The older 22dB gain meant the volume control was sensitive on digital sources i.e. got loud fast turning the volume control). Sound quality is not affected but could lead to left/right balance shifts at very low volume.
Power amps
Always been 29dB
(Except NAP 500 which is 30dB. Statement was also made 30dB to make listening comparisons normalised)
As a general rule anything launched in the last 20 years has the above gain structure. Other manufacturers have also zoned in on these gains too.
Adjustable input sensitivity
All newer pre-amps (and pre-amps in integrated products) have adjustable input sensitivity. This allows each source to be made to sound the same volume.
The adjustable input sensitivity does not change the signal path length and so has no change to the sound quality. The adjustment adds an ‘off-set’ to the master volume setting. When an input is selected the off-set is instantly applied.
(Stageline is about 6dB less than our newer phono stages, this can be normalised using the adjustable input sensitivity feature)
@Richard.Dane - Maybe there is a FAQ to be made from this…??
[As a NAC82 owner, I have this problem - but I have reduced it by using E phono boards, with a High Output MC cartridge (a DV 10X). The volume setting on Phono is now around 8 or 9 o’clock - much closer to the CD level. A few others on here have the same set up. ]
for any assurances or help .
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