Which NAC is the preferred choice

[TheFinisher]

Hi gents ,
I currently have a choice of 2 Nacs that I have to use along with CB 135’s and an Olive HiCap , it’s a bit of a mish mash I know ( olive with CB ) , I have a cb 42.5 and an Olive 62 , which would be the better option ?

[Richard.Dane]

Try each one and then choose the one you prefer…

[HungryHalibut]

Have you considered selling the 62 and getting a 72? Or selling the 42 and getting a 32.5? Or going wild, selling them both and getting a 52/Supercap?

[Themanwithnonaim]

My favourite NAC was a 42.5. My biggest hifi regret was selling that pre so I’m totally biased. If you end up using the 42.5 then go full CB and change the hi-cap as well !

[Wugged_Woy]

You know. You need a NAC72…

[Fatcat]

Question

How many hifi experts does it take to turn a simple question into a not so simple question.

[PerF]

@TheFinisher

I have a cb 42.5 and an Olive 62 , which would be the better option ?

Suggest you try yourself to form an opinion.

Setting things up better than stacking as pictured would benefit more than differences between preamps.

FWIW Nac 62 was entry level preamp around 1990, replaced 42.5 from the 80’s - indeed they are very much similar inside with 62 having an extra input.
I own a 62 in my collection of vintage Naim, sounds great.

[TheFinisher]

Well I also have a 252 but that’s not going to be used with this system, I will consider a 72 if it’ll be a noticeable improvement over the ones I currently have.

[TheFinisher]

I did wonder if stacking was less than ideal but I’m limited by the lengths of the cables , I literally put the system together just before I placed this thread .

[suzywong]

@Fatcat

How many hifi experts does it take

Many are called, but few get up………

[quad57]

I had a CB 32.5 and an Olive 62. I found the 62 to have superior dynamics.

[Xanthe]

One… others then add to the confusion.

[alto]

I have owned the Nac 42, 42.5, 62, 32.5, 72, 82, 52 first generation and 52 last generation pot 8.
I came back to the 72 powered by a DR supercap. For a few months now I’ve been using a single Din source input connected directly to the 729 circuits without going through the source selector; it’s a small plus in terms of dynamics and clarity. Then 3 x nap 250 Olive with Linn isobarik in tri passive amplification. I had the opportunity to listen to the Nac 72 with one of the first nap 500 on Linn Isobarik and it was great.

[TheFinisher]

Even better now … aside from the olive Hicap

[suzywong]

@TheFinisher

aside from the olive Hicap

Olive rules ….accept no substitutes.

[TheFinisher]

I thought the same until recently when I acquired my first cb bits

[suzywong]

Lovely!