Naim NAP 200 and NAC 202 advice
Discussion
Afternoon,
I figured I should spend some money given what’s going on in the news. Enjoy something before it gets any worse.
I have purchased the Naim NAP 200 DR power amp and the NAC 202 pre amp. I don’t have it yet, it’s being dispatched soon. My question now is regarding the configuration and plugging it in. It looks like the pre amp is powered via a cable from the power amp, rather than being plugged into the mains itself. I’m assuming, given the price, it comes with the right cable in the box to do this?
Also, speaker cables. I’ve read that you should use the naim plugs that come with it. At the moment I have banana plugs at either end of some cable I bought just a few months ago. Can I plug these direct into the power amp or do I have to use the supplied plugs? If not, do the supplied plugs take banana plugs or do I cut the speaker cable and strip back to the wire and then put these in the naim plugs!?
Does anyone have some photos of the rear of these units all plugged in? Thank you. I’ve been to the naim audio site and looked at their instructions but some photos would be good too.
I’ll be plugging into my Cambridge streamer via phono plugs. This does take a balanced cable connection so I’ll upgrade at some point and my record player via my phono pre amp into the rca\phono connection on the amp. My speakers are the focal 826 . I guess my Audiolab dc blocker is now obsolete ( it did remove a nasty hum from my Audiolab power amp) but I’ll probably move my Audiolab kit to my office which will require a speaker purchase to go with it👍
Thanks
I figured I should spend some money given what’s going on in the news. Enjoy something before it gets any worse.
I have purchased the Naim NAP 200 DR power amp and the NAC 202 pre amp. I don’t have it yet, it’s being dispatched soon. My question now is regarding the configuration and plugging it in. It looks like the pre amp is powered via a cable from the power amp, rather than being plugged into the mains itself. I’m assuming, given the price, it comes with the right cable in the box to do this?
Also, speaker cables. I’ve read that you should use the naim plugs that come with it. At the moment I have banana plugs at either end of some cable I bought just a few months ago. Can I plug these direct into the power amp or do I have to use the supplied plugs? If not, do the supplied plugs take banana plugs or do I cut the speaker cable and strip back to the wire and then put these in the naim plugs!?
Does anyone have some photos of the rear of these units all plugged in? Thank you. I’ve been to the naim audio site and looked at their instructions but some photos would be good too.
I’ll be plugging into my Cambridge streamer via phono plugs. This does take a balanced cable connection so I’ll upgrade at some point and my record player via my phono pre amp into the rca\phono connection on the amp. My speakers are the focal 826 . I guess my Audiolab dc blocker is now obsolete ( it did remove a nasty hum from my Audiolab power amp) but I’ll probably move my Audiolab kit to my office which will require a speaker purchase to go with it👍
Thanks
Edited by oldaudi on Monday 28th February 17:07
Thought they might be a weak link. Focal and Naim seem to be the same business now and they recommend some of the more expensive focal speakers with these amps..... so I’ll enjoy shopping for some in the future, but for now they are only 5 months old.... I’ll trade them in for something.
oldaudi said:
Think i need to order a Snaic 4 cable!? Unbelievable 4 grand on amplifiers and you need to buy something to connect them... I guess I’m down the naim rabbit hole now....
Edit £200 ! Wtf!
You think this is the rabbit hole?Edit £200 ! Wtf!
Just wait until you feel a need to upgrade to a separate ‘improved’ power supply.
oldaudi said:
They are brand new so it’s good to hear that it comes with all I need. Thank you
You’re lucky to get them. I think both those items have been removed from production so that the necessary parts can be used in the more expensive amps. If you want to use a forum with lots of knowledge, with a healthy dose of cynicism, for Naim and most other makes, take a look at Pinkfishmedia. Much better than the official NAIM forum which has very strict rules about what can and can’t be discussed.
Tony1963 said:
If you want to use a forum with lots of knowledge, with a healthy dose of cynicism, for Naim and most other makes, take a look at Pinkfishmedia. Much better than the official NAIM forum which has very strict rules about what can and can’t be discussed.
PFM is an excellent source of info mixed with sarky comments that NP&E would be proud of.
OP, I see you’re on the Naim FB group and have all your answers - another fountain of information on there.
oldaudi said:
Panamax. Your line of work doesn’t have anything to do with shipping does it?
If it did I'd probably end up wedged across the Suez canal!Yes, "quality" cable are ferociously expensive if you get carried away. I can't believe the high cost of even speaker cable from the likes of Chord. However, beware the law of diminishing returns when people start telling you about all the super-expensive bits and pieces you (don't) need.
To the OP,
I’ve had the predecessors to your amps, the 102 and 180, since 1999. Yes, of course there’s better/different out there, but they’ve become my friends, and I doubt I’ll change them any time soon.
I previously had the 72 and 140, with a HiCap, and the 102/180 were never heard without the HiCap… pointless. I’ve also had the little NAPSC since I bought the 102.
My speakers are PMC Twenty.23s (bought used at a year old for a grand), with Avondale BlackLink speaker cable. Naim CDX CD player, a Yamaha streamer, all on a Naim Fraim stand.
I’ve had the predecessors to your amps, the 102 and 180, since 1999. Yes, of course there’s better/different out there, but they’ve become my friends, and I doubt I’ll change them any time soon.
I previously had the 72 and 140, with a HiCap, and the 102/180 were never heard without the HiCap… pointless. I’ve also had the little NAPSC since I bought the 102.
My speakers are PMC Twenty.23s (bought used at a year old for a grand), with Avondale BlackLink speaker cable. Naim CDX CD player, a Yamaha streamer, all on a Naim Fraim stand.
Tony1963 said:
oldaudi said:
Well they’ve arrived... after needing some help with a special Naim handshake button combo on the remote it’s now working. Needed to tell it to use the RCA inputs rather than DIN.
Anyone, let’s see how at all sounds today

Please please please... straighten that Cambridge box. NOW!Anyone, let’s see how at all sounds today



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