Hi,
I currently have an olive NAC62/NAP140 duo (recapped a year ago) connected to a pair of Focal Aria 926. My source is a streaming device connected to a RME ADI-2-DAC FS. I still have an old Linn Axis with a Grado MC cartridge connected to the NAC but I’m too lazy to use it so now I only stream or listen to FLACs.
Would a NAIT XS2 (almost new and very affordable) would offer any worthwhile sound improvement to my current setup? If not, what’s the most sensible upgrade path?
I’d get a nice serviced olive Hicap.
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The XS2 might sound different, but I don’t know about better. Do you have the opportunity for a home demo?
Stick a hi cap in between
The benefit of the Nait is that it saves a lot of cables and rack and therefore it’s likely to sound better in compromised situations. If you have a proper rack and are not wary of some fiddling and positioning the nac/hc/nap sounds better. If not, the integrated amp is the way to go.
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I’ve just moved from a XS3 to 42.5/110/HiCap, to my ears the separate pre/power/ps sounded better! The I/O is worse, and I’m not sure how to solve the problem of having one more source than inputs, but the CB combo looks and sounds better. I’d demo the XS2 beforehand if possible.
I had all my units serviced after acquiring them.
As others have said, just find an olive Hicap in good condition that has been recently serviced, or have the service done yourself.
Then sit back and enjoy years of great music, safe in the knowledge that you have an absolutely classic amp.
Best regards, BF
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Just curious. Do you find the CB amps favour vinyl, or do you still listen to your digital sources just as much as when you had the XS3?
Almost impossible to find here in Canada 
Hello, no change really, I think I listen to about 70:30 vinyl:digital, but that’s a listening habit thing, I don’t think affected by any particular set of traits of either replay system. I certainly didn’t notice any shift in preference towards vinyl between the XS3 and CB setup.
I’ll be totally honest, I was totally and pleasantly surprised how much I preferred the CB setup. It was preferable from the first piece of music I put on, and that was just the 42.5/110, with original grey SNAIC4. I’ve since had them serviced and added black SNAICs, plus the HiCap.
I wanted to prefer the XS3! I was proud that I managed more than 25 years on my old NAIT3, and expected the same from the XS3 that replaced it. It was just curiosity that made me try the CB amps, I wanted to hear what the classic pre/power Naim sound signature was all about. The rest is history 
Obviously it’s your choice, but based on my experience I would be surprised if the XS2 was miles better than your current setup, regardless of HiCap. I think you’d have to consider SN2 or higher up the pre/power to make significant upgrades to SQ. I haven’t heard SN2, or SN3, or other pre/power systems with my sources, but suspect that’s what you’d have to go to for significant SQ upgrades from XS level or shoebox pre/power.
Maybe keep your eye out for a HiCap, if they’re rare it sounds like you’d be able to move it on easily if the upgrade wasn’t significant.
Keep us posted too, everyone’s different, sometimes other considerations than SQ play into our decisions, plus SQ is so subjective anyway!
Thanks for sharing your experience gthack. I’m vinyl-only so it’s good to understand the impact (or not in this case) when using a modern digital source. I love the 42-5/110 so glad yours has found a good home.
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