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Amplification for Naim Allaes

Seanf

Seanf

pfm Member
Having recently acquired some Naim Allaes for a good price, I feel my next move should be to upgrade the amplification from my Nait 3R to something more substantial. I’m not really familiar with multi-box Naim equipment but after reading a bit, it looks like a NAC 102 and NAP 180 might be what I’m after. I’m sure people here have opinions on this, so I’d be happy to hear them. I want to stick with the olive range and don’t have a fortune to spend, which is what led me to the above items. Thoughts and suggestions please...
 
Great speakers, they'll serve you well. Others will say otherwise but if you like how they sound that is all that matters. I initially drove mine with a 102/140 combination and they sounded great.

In terms of Olive gear the 102/180 combo will drive them well, but make sure the 180 at least is serviced as it greatly improves the sound. Eventually when funds allow you can add a Hi-Cap and NAPSC and then sit back and enjoy.

I took mine all the way to active (135s) and they sounded stunning... changed them 2 months ago after 14 years for SL2s.
 
A 102/180 would be fine. If you can find a 160, that might be worth considering, too. 250 would be really good, but then you have to use an external psu for the preamp and the price starts to get higher. I would have said also consider 202/200, as there are a lot more of them out there on the market, but not olive. If you are buying items unheard on ebay, there's a lot of older stuff out there which is in need of a service, and/or has been modified, maybe well, maybe badly, so try to get some idea of what sort of condition the item is in. Ask questions!
 
102/180 will work great with the Allae's, a fantastic combo and as others have mentioned make sure the 180 has had a recent service.

NAPSC and HiCap can be added later once funds are available for further improvements.
 
Any of the olive boxes would be fine, all are from the 90'ies so serviced definately a good idea

Notice 92/90.3 is a Nait 3 in two cabinets

Preamps available from that era
62
72
92
102
82 (Napsc mandatory)
52/psu

Poweramps
90
90/3
140
180
250 (preamp psu needed)
135 (Mono, Preamp psu needed))

Make sure to have good source sorted, these are revealing amps along with Allae's - any issues will be presented
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, it looks like I'm on the right track. I've seen a 102 including NAPSC and MM phono boards (important for me) for around 375 quid, which seems good to me so I might go for it. I think a serviced 180 might take longer to find and would cost a bit more though.
 
If you find an honest 180 that still needs a service, the service is only about £180-200 or so from non-factory service centres. It’ll then be good for at least another ten years. That might be better, financially, than travelling 150 miles for one that was serviced three years ago, for example.

I’ve had my 180 since new in 1999, together with the 102. Used to drive Intros, now PMC Twenty.23s. I’ve no intention of getting rid, partly because I love the sound, and partly because I just can’t afford the high level Naim amps that some friends have.

Good luck!
 
It's reassuring to know that people tend to stick with this combination. I've now bought the 102 and will post in the classifieds section later to start my hunt for a 180. I would rather buy a serviced one as I am based in Berlin and not sure where (and for how much) I could get a service done here. I tend to buy stuff in UK as the prices are usually better than Germany. I have close connections with a removal firm that does regular trips between Germany and UK, so shipping is not so much of an issue (I got my Allaes collected, packed and delivered by them, all paid for in that international currency of 'beer'). Thanks for your thoughts everyone, and if you hear of a nice 180 going cheap, please get in touch!

Sean
 
Oh dear, it looks like I'm a few posts short to be able to post in the Classifieds section!
 
I had Allaes for 5 years, they were great speakers. I see most of the recommendations above look at the power amp side of things, the biggest ever upgrade I did when I had them was the move from 202/200 to 282/200. The preamp made a huge difference (sources at the time were P9 and NDX). I would expect the olive 82/180 would be a super combo
 
Hifiman, it seems ideal to me. I'm just finalising payment and pick up of the 102, then I should be ready for the 180 quest.
 
wiresandmore said:
I had Allaes for 5 years, they were great speakers. I see most of the recommendations above look at the power amp side of things, the biggest ever upgrade I did when I had them was the move from 202/200 to 282/200. The preamp made a huge difference (sources at the time were P9 and NDX). I would expect the olive 82/180 would be a super combo
Click to expand...
52>82>102 - you’d have thought the the higher numbered pre would be the better product. Strange numbering system...
 
The numbering indicates the order that the pre-amps were originally developed. The 2 is for 2 channel.
 
Rack Kit said:
52>82>102 - you’d have thought the the higher numbered pre would be the better product. Strange numbering system...
Click to expand...

As seagull mentioned 2 is for 2 channel

52 is the fifth generation pre but delays in production the 5 ended up out of sequence, 82 the eighth, 102 the tenth and so on
 
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