Naim 110 vs. 160
- Thread starter b-lilja
- Start date
My second naim power amp after a NAP140 was a CB 160 . The 160 was glorious especially in terms of dynamics and the 140 was no slouch . A NAP250 after was a comparitive disappointment . I understand the 160 was Julian Verekers personal favourite . My only qualification is that the NAP 250 can probably handle more difficult speakers than the 160 , but for easy loads I prefer the 160 . The 140 is essentially a 110 with uprated power supply .
Ian.
Ian.
SteveS1
I heard that, pardon?
This. The only reason for upping the ante power wise is if your speakers need it. If they are an easy load, attention elsewhere would yield far more.
Graham H
pfm Member
The 160 will keep a phenomenal grip on dynamic bass and drums; (try something like Elvin Jones on Blue Note MM45, Gettin It Together). Now tell me the 110 can do the same. It can't, but it has a nice euphonic sound. BTW, I have excellent examples of both 110 and 160, recently serviced by Naim. NAP 160 my amp of choice.
A lot of interesting comments - thanks. I have Rega RS3's - I think considered very easy to drive. ?
So here's my system: Very well set up LP12 w Cirkus, Hercules, II, Grace 707, Ortofon 2M Blue, unrecapped 32.5/HC/110, NACA5, Rega RS3s. Where would you guys focus?
I think the system is terrific, except that at times music with a lot of complexity breaks down. It's hard to know though if that's the recording or the system.
I have friends with what are supposed to be "better", and I much prefer mine. It has terrific purity.
So here's my system: Very well set up LP12 w Cirkus, Hercules, II, Grace 707, Ortofon 2M Blue, unrecapped 32.5/HC/110, NACA5, Rega RS3s. Where would you guys focus?
I think the system is terrific, except that at times music with a lot of complexity breaks down. It's hard to know though if that's the recording or the system.
I have friends with what are supposed to be "better", and I much prefer mine. It has terrific purity.
torstoi
pfm Member
I think a TPR4 to the HiCap + a pair of Kendeils will make the most fundamental change,
you'll think you have upgarded everything.
It's astonishing, or to me was a bit hard to believe, actually.
Particularly if your system is loosing track of complexer passages, this to me is a sign for tired capacitors in the PS & the TPR4 delivers quite quicker than the old HiCap solution,
aside from the capacitors.
The effect is that even dynamic, complex music is delivered with seamless ease,
wheras before the PS seemed to go out of breath after a big dynamic hub..
Secondly I would look in direction of a aftermarket subchassis like Sole.
The effect astonishingly is similar to a good PS like TPR4, the bass competence grows, the fine resolutions, the nuances that are portrayed, the positioning on the 'stage' is winning nicely.
From vfm, the TPR4 is unmatched to me, yet.
Probably the best item/ price I have come across yet ever.
you'll think you have upgarded everything.
It's astonishing, or to me was a bit hard to believe, actually.
Particularly if your system is loosing track of complexer passages, this to me is a sign for tired capacitors in the PS & the TPR4 delivers quite quicker than the old HiCap solution,
aside from the capacitors.
The effect is that even dynamic, complex music is delivered with seamless ease,
wheras before the PS seemed to go out of breath after a big dynamic hub..
Secondly I would look in direction of a aftermarket subchassis like Sole.
The effect astonishingly is similar to a good PS like TPR4, the bass competence grows, the fine resolutions, the nuances that are portrayed, the positioning on the 'stage' is winning nicely.
From vfm, the TPR4 is unmatched to me, yet.
Probably the best item/ price I have come across yet ever.
A long time ago I had a system comprising Supex 900, Grace 707, Linn (abt 1978) Naims 32,160 and Nightingale NM1 s
I think it was a sorta well known combo in the day.
It was nice
Playing loud the green light on the 160 would dim just slightly on loud passages.
I felt it was giving all it had ! which was impressive to my ears
But when it got old it started to blow speakers and no one in Malaysia could bloody fix it
Drove me nuts
Pity Naim couldn't put in a protection circuit
No more Naims after that.
I think it was a sorta well known combo in the day.
It was nice
Playing loud the green light on the 160 would dim just slightly on loud passages.
I felt it was giving all it had ! which was impressive to my ears
But when it got old it started to blow speakers and no one in Malaysia could bloody fix it
Drove me nuts
Pity Naim couldn't put in a protection circuit
No more Naims after that.
rontoolsie
pfm Member
Nightingales NM1- I always wanted a pair of those....imaged like bastards I seem to remember.
The green light on the chrome bumpers always pulsed to the music like crude 'sound-to-light displays'....Certainly when I ran 4 CB 135s with some active DBLs, they pulsed and eventually all blew. Replacing them only resulted in them blowing again within a matter of weeks.
My first Naim experience was borrowing a 32/160 for a day, replacing my A&R A60E...until that point I had NO idea that amplifiers could make that much of a difference. Even cassette tapes sounded really high end through that combo. This was a feat I could not replicate several years later when I bought a 42/Snaps/110.
The green light on the chrome bumpers always pulsed to the music like crude 'sound-to-light displays'....Certainly when I ran 4 CB 135s with some active DBLs, they pulsed and eventually all blew. Replacing them only resulted in them blowing again within a matter of weeks.
My first Naim experience was borrowing a 32/160 for a day, replacing my A&R A60E...until that point I had NO idea that amplifiers could make that much of a difference. Even cassette tapes sounded really high end through that combo. This was a feat I could not replicate several years later when I bought a 42/Snaps/110.
MVV
pfm Member
NAD M3, should have done it many years ago. Oddly both gems in the range and discontinued too early.
I reckon the Grace arm is what's making things a bit muddled during complex passages. Been there, heard the difference a top quality arm can make - it's not subtle. I wouldn't try to improve anything else in your system before the arm is upgraded since any other improvements are likely to make the problem more noticeable.
Mr Tibbs
MVV
pfm Member
That 'muddled during complex passages' thing is just an LP12 trait. I got all the way to Ekos 2/Akiva with Lingo 2 before I realised and bought a Well Tempered GTA instead which doesn't do that. I guess it depends if what you like about the LP12 outweighs what irritates, It took me a long time to realise that I needed a more neutral turntable.