NAIM 112/150 v Musical Fidelity A308

[booktrunk]

Hi, i'm looking for a good stereo front end for my Rotel 1068.

I'm thinking along the lines of something like the MF A308 but was wondering if anyone has heard the MF and Naims baby pre/power combo.

The speakers will be B&W cdm 7nt.

I'll be buying without hearing with my particular speakers so all opinions appreciated Thanks.

Also, I'm not going to be able the listen pre buying except to test they work etc. so come on everyone gimme a hand

Cheers

Steph

[booktrunk]

Hummmmmmm.

I've had a little hunt round the net and asked a friend or two and they seem to think it's not the world greatest naim and maybe need to go slightly higher up the Naim chain.

Steph

[Warpaint]

You'll need to be quick if you want to find an A308. It's been discontinued for quite some time, and was replaced by the A5 series.

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/mf/en/Products/A5

[booktrunk]

Sorry...

I thought i'd said in my post but reading it again I haven't. They are both secondhand options.

Have seen a couple of A308s available for around £875 / £900

[andyAV]

Steph

I'm in the similar position wanting naim stereo processing for a 1068/1095 combo so I'll share my thoughts.

The 112/150 might be the baby in the Naim stables but if you happen to like the Naim sound it's probably going to make alot of the competition blush. If you like it but want to go up the Naim ladder on the processing side, you're going to have to look at the 202 ( at about £1500 ) as the newer 112x doesn't have the AV input for matching gain. On the power amplification side, the world is your oyster (albeit a very loud one) as far as the Naim power amps go. Only problem is that they really do sound better the more costly they go (I made a mistake of "just trying the next NAP model up" when demoing Naim CDPs). I'd be tempted if you are getting a good deal on the 112 to consider it - you can always trade in the 150 against a bigger power amp when money allows if it proves inadequate or sell it on ebay. Many reputable Naim dealers offer trade up options.

Remember that ebay prices tend to be bad for the buyer (often as much as a second hand model from a dealership) so don't use that as a guide of what the kit is worth when buying. Obviously sometimes you might get a bargain. If you do I promise to be dead jealous.

Andy

[booktrunk]

Thanks Andy,

That is a really useful post, gives me food for thought

[Mr_Sukebe]

You really need to listen to both to see which you prefer, they're about as diametrically opposed in presentation as hi-fi can be.
The Naim will give you great timing, make your feet tap and be fun to listen to. The MF is likely to have better tonal accuracy.
It's all a question of personal preference, and regardless of my own kit, wouldn't like to say one is better than the other.

I most certainly do have a personal preference, but you should be deciding, not me.

[booktrunk]

I've heard them but with different kit.

Heard the A308 with matching CD player, and N805s and also with Spendor Speakers.

What amazed me most in that test was how differnt speakers are. Both decent speakers, but sound completely different.

Heard the naim with some Keff speakers cannot remember which ones.

From my vaugue recollections naim great with things like Jool Holland and his friends, but the MF maybe nicer with classical.

Both nice just different, and to be honest it's the sort of thing that once you live with it for a while either way you just remember that as your default sound if that makes sense.

Would be nice to get Naim pre... I'm going to hunt on the net... To be honest the a/v passthrough or whatever you want to call it long term I think will be a decider on what Naim pre i go for if I go the naim route.

[karkus30]

Being a Naim owner (72 with a pair of 135s) Im going to offer you an alternative that seems to sit happily between the rythmic sound of the Naims and the more open sound of other amplifiers.

The amp in question is the latest LFD Zero, their are several incarnations, I have heard the integrated and have had a demo of the pre power. Against the Naim the pre power was excellent and was far more open and had better bass definition but had similar toe tapping qualities. The integrated was really, just as good............the one I found here http://www.audiolincs.com/current_st...p?pid=85&sid=3

is not the integrated I heard, I think its probably better as its the signature.

As with any amp a demo is needed to see if its the sound you like.

[booktrunk]

Oh well... made a decision.

A308 amp and A3.24 dac for around £1230 just couldn't resist.

Steph

[Mr_Sukebe]

Steph>
How did the dem go between the two prior to you buying the MF?

[booktrunk]

Loved the naim, but the low end naim well it's just slightly not there I think in the treble region.

It's fun but it just seemed to lack a little rasp that I like on vocals.

Maybe i'm just sad and enjoy sibilance however it's spelt. anyway what i've got for cirka £1.2k is bloody good value.

So i'm happy.

Now higher end naim stuff is great but it would have cost me a lot more so for the amount of money I spent I think i've got as good as I could ask for.