Possibly a lower cost (than 72) Naim pre-amp for this scenario could be a
NAC 32.5 with a HiCap
When my 252 went for service one of my 72s stood in for the 3 weeks or so.
It wasnt at all bad. Biggest issue was no remote/system automation !
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The 72 is not an Hifi amp and lacks detail but it is always enjoyable really canāt do wrong. Be it top source or crappy source, be it Nap 140 or Nap 300drā¦
Canāt speak to the 500 but the 250 has an XLR input and is not ābalancedā.
+1 for using a 72/HiCap. When my 552 was off being DRād my dealer lent me an elderly, unserviced 72. I was dreading the disappointment of such a downgrade, but the opposite happened, and I liked it so much that I bought it, even though I had no immediate use for it beyond as a stopgap. Itās still in a box in my basement.
The question comes up every so often, and Iām more convinced than ever that, in my experience, the 72 is the best VFM box that Naim have produced.
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Strange but true.
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I even used a dual railed 12S under the same circumstances. No problems and it sounded great. You can buy a lot of 72s or 12ās with Hi Caps for the price of a 552.
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