View Full Version : How to connect Nakamichi ca-5 to Sony 670ES integrated amp
Mikeandvan
23-12-2017, 14:15
Just wondering how I connect my Nak ca-5 pre amp to my Sony TA-F670ES integrated amp, so I can use the Nak as a phono stage. Ta.
think most use the tape out
Mikeandvan
23-12-2017, 14:31
think most use the tape out
Well the Sony has tape 1 + 2, and the Nak same (as well as 2 outputs). So not quite sure exactly which sockets to put the interconnect.
tape out of the nak.(to an input on sony) i usually just took the output of the nak to the amp using just the phono, and adjusted the vc, but if you use the tape out you will bypass the pre
Mikeandvan
23-12-2017, 14:54
tape out of the nak.(to an input on sony) i usually just took the output of the nak to the amp using just the phono, and adjusted the vc, but if you use the tape out you will bypass the pre
Thanks Grant, you had the CA-5? Do you mean if I use the tape out I will bypass the pre on the sony?
I use the preamp output on the Nak to the aux input on my MF integrated and use the Nak's volume control to balance the sound level.
bypass the nak pre. then youll just use the sony pre. i just used both ..ie nak output to say aux set nak vc to where it was level with the other inputs.. but most folk take the nak output from the tape... both ways sounded fine to me
i use mine the same way as ian.
Throw the Nakamichi in the bin...
Mikeandvan
23-12-2017, 21:40
Now trying the Nak through output 1 into aux on Sony, sounds better than the Sony after a very brief listen, but bass is blurty as hell, just as well the Sony has tone controls. The sound was only coming out of one channel first off then I turned the volume up on the Nak and now its fine (when turned back down again its fine too), the balance is a bit fuzzy when turned, should this be any concern? I got the Nak off ebay a few weeks ago, so don't want to leave it too long if there's any issues, if its just a case of cleaning, then fine.
sound like it needs a good spray of switch cleaner mike
Mikeandvan
23-12-2017, 22:50
sound like it needs a good spray of switch cleaner mike
Thanks, do I need to open the amp to do that? Also whats the remote power on/off thing at the back?
yes,you can download or look at the manuals here :)
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/nakamichi/ca-5.shtml
Now trying the Nak through output 1 into aux on Sony, sounds better than the Sony after a very brief listen, but bass is blurty as hell, just as well the Sony has tone controls. The sound was only coming out of one channel first off then I turned the volume up on the Nak and now its fine (when turned back down again its fine too), the balance is a bit fuzzy when turned, should this be any concern? I got the Nak off ebay a few weeks ago, so don't want to leave it too long if there's any issues, if its just a case of cleaning, then fine.
I had a similar issue with mine when I first got it but over a couple of days the problem went away. I suspected an issue with the RCA connections at the time but it seemed to fix itself after being on for a few minutes. I have not noticed the problem since but do keep it powered up though but not because of the issue.
Mikeandvan
24-12-2017, 23:50
Nak is fine now, though after extended listening I'm preferring the Sony. The Nak through the Sony has very hard treble, unlistenable. The Sony is proving to be a rather musical and moreish listen! I only wish it had remote, as its a heavy amp it sits on the bottom shelf of my rack, hence I have to bend over to adjust volume, a real pain. Is the 700 or 770 worth paying the extra £200 for? The 670 was only £150 even though its flap is stuck open. I think a remote alone is worth a £100! The Nak may have the better phono stage but I'll have to pair it with something else to find out. BTW seen as I 've sold my Naim system after 10 years I'm having to buy new cables as well, and currently am using very cheap speaker cable, I'm sure my set up is worthy of better.
Bigman80
25-12-2017, 07:35
Nak is fine now, though after extended listening I'm preferring the Sony. The Nak through the Sony has very hard treble, unlistenable. The Sony is proving to be a rather musical and moreish listen! I only wish it had remote, as its a heavy amp it sits on the bottom shelf of my rack, hence I have to bend over to adjust volume, a real pain. Is the 700 or 770 worth paying the extra £200 for? The 670 was only £150 even though its flap is stuck open. I think a remote alone is worth a £100! The Nak may have the better phono stage but I'll have to pair it with something else to find out. BTW seen as I 've sold my Naim system after 10 years I'm having to buy new cables as well, and currently am using very cheap speaker cable, I'm sure my set up is worthy of better.The 730es I had was worth every penny I paid £450ish. Excellent amp but i think you can do better for the money if you go for a power amp.
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Something wrong somewhere if it's sounding off. Nak phono is sweet
Something wrong somewhere if it's sounding off. Nak phono is sweet
I'd agree.
If you're using it as a phono stage you need to be using the tape monitor out.
Alternatively, use it as a pre while using the Sony as a power amp only; I think it can be used that way.
Synergy can be a difficult thing to manage. It can be an electrical issue or a sound issue. Either way, good luck and merry Christmas.
I'd agree.
If you're using it as a phono stage you need to be using the tape monitor out.
Alternatively, use it as a pre while using the Sony as a power amp only; I think it can be used that way.
.
how would you do that?
yep i agree,the nak is bought just for the phono stage,if the sonys better something is wrong.
just take the output from tape to an input on sony. it bypasses the pre on nak.. obviously you select phono
i meant the other way round grant :)
sony would have a pre in. aka a external bar link on back
how would you do that?
yep i agree,the nak is bought just for the phono stage,if the sonys better something is wrong.Deck into the Phono input . Rca from the tape monitor out into the tuner or aux input on the sony.
I suspect, atm, your are outputting an amplified signal from the nak and then amplifying it again before it reaches the Sony's power amp stage.
walpurgis
25-12-2017, 10:10
You could really confuse things by taking pre-out on the Sony to aux on the Nak, then pre-out from the Nak to the Sony aux. ;)
You could really confuse things by taking pre-out on the Sony to aux on the Nak, then pre-out from the Nak to the Sony aux. ;)Whaaaaat?!
Deck into the Phono input . Rca from the tape monitor out into the tuner or aux input on the sony.
I suspect, atm, your are outputting an amplified signal from the nak and then amplifying it again before it reaches the Sony's power amp stage.
cool,i will give it a try,i have it in the naks phono input then output rca's on the nak going to the sonys aux.
walpurgis
25-12-2017, 10:34
Whaaaaat?!
I was kidding. Actually, I'd probably do it the way you've described.
ok ive done it,so what have i done and why is it better?
walpurgis
25-12-2017, 10:42
What does it sound like? You're using the Nak solely as a phono stage that way, not as a pre-amp.
I was kidding. Actually, I'd probably do it the way you've described.I know, so was I! Merry Christmas!
What does it sound like? You're using the Nak solely as a phono stage that way, not as a pre-amp.
ah got you,im just listening to ella and louis at the moment so not the best music to test it with,some Floyd coming up :)
just a thought but i wonder if that would be the cause of me not being impressed with mc cartridges?
ella and louis is a nice recording on vinyl
walpurgis
25-12-2017, 11:00
just a thought but i wonder if that would be the cause of me not being impressed with mc cartridges?
Maybe borrow one and find out? For some reason, there are phono stages that just don't 'gel' with MC's. Dunno if that would apply to the Nack.
Personally, I've always been happiest using MC's through a good SUT, regardless of what phono stage I had. Other do things differently.
What does it sound like? You're using the Nak solely as a phono stage that way, not as a pre-amp.And I think the way you had it, you were using both the Nak and the Sony as a preamp.
Mikeandvan
25-12-2017, 11:20
Thanks to all replies, I was using both amps pre sections which can't be good. So now going tape out into aux on Sony, I'll give it a days listen and report back, at present the hard treble still seems to be there, although to a slightly lesser extent. Merry Xmas.
ah got you,im just listening to ella and louis at the moment so not the best music to test it with,some Floyd coming up :)
just a thought but i wonder if that would be the cause of me not being impressed with mc cartridges?
Personally I find my CA5E is about the same quality as my first Kinshaw Perception phono on MC but prefer my second Kinshaw (I now have 2) over the Nak for MM. However I have been using the output RCA's rather than the tape out so will probably have a further experiment tomorrow.
Lawrence001
25-12-2017, 11:26
Should sound more than listenable if set up properly and amps all working fine. Can you stick up some photos of the connections at the back and the settings at the front? Do tone controls on the Nac effect the tape out? When I was young with some basic system, I found they did but not the volume obv. Might want to send the nak back if the Phono is playing up. Is there a mc/mm switch at the back? Or load settings etc?
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Thanks to all replies, I was using both amps pre sections which can't be good. So now going tape out into aux on Sony, I'll give it a days listen and report back, at present the hard treble still seems to be there, although to a slightly lesser extent. Merry Xmas.
if it helps i can bring mine over at some point to compare ? i can bring the sony 700es over too :)
I had a listen to a 770ES recently and they're very nice amps. However, the owner is now on the look out for a Denon PMA-850!
yep and im on the lookout for a Nakamichi PA7 :D
One sold last night on Ebay I think!
Mikeandvan
25-12-2017, 13:14
if it helps i can bring mine over at some point to compare ? i can bring the sony 700es over too :)
Thanks Jamie, that'd be great, be good to hear your system in your place as well, to compare acoustics, as I think my flat is responsible for much of the audio woe I suffer!
Mikeandvan
25-12-2017, 13:30
Should sound more than listenable if set up properly and amps all working fine. Can you stick up some photos of the connections at the back and the settings at the front? Do tone controls on the Nac effect the tape out? When I was young with some basic system, I found they did but not the volume obv. Might want to send the nak back if the Phono is playing up. Is there a mc/mm switch at the back? Or load settings etc?
Sent from my NEM-L51 using Tapatalk
Well the Nak has tape 1 + 2, play and record, I undersand rec is 'out'. So tape input 1 'rec' has rca lead going from there to Sony aux, of course TT phono lead goes to Nak phono. Tone controls are set to 0, the Nak does indeed have mm/mc switch, with adjustable loading, mine is set to mm, 100 pf.
Thanks Jamie, that'd be great, be good to hear your system in your place as well, to compare acoustics, as I think my flat is responsible for much of the audio woe I suffer!
no worries,we'll sort something out after boxing day if you like,what part of brighton are you in?
Mikeandvan
25-12-2017, 19:43
no worries,we'll sort something out after boxing day if you like,what part of brighton are you in?
Hove, actually.....................Near palmeria square, you?
is this weird? i have the cd player going into the nak,using tape out on the nak to the sony aux,if i turn the nak off i still get sound through the speakers:scratch:
RothwellAudio
04-01-2018, 16:59
No, not particularly weird - that part of the pre-amp is simply passive (it would seem) with the input being routed straight to the tape outputs as well as the main pre-amp.
walpurgis
04-01-2018, 17:01
No, not particularly weird - that part of the pre-amp is simply passive (it would seem) with the input being routed straight to the tape outputs as well as the main pre-amp.
I've come across that several times with Japanese amps.
No, not particularly weird - that part of the pre-amp is simply passive (it would seem) with the input being routed straight to the tape outputs as well as the main pre-amp.
is that good? im getting confused here :),i used to use the naks output rca's to the sonys aux,that way the naks volume output works,with the tape out it doesnt work. all i want to do is use the naks phono stage and by pass the sonys one,which is the best way to do this?
also if i use source direct on the sony is this cutting the nak out?
it would appear to my ears it sound better using the naks output 1 rather than record out
i preferred taking it out of the nak's out personally
also if i use source direct on the sony is this cutting the nak out?
No, your source direct just bypasses the tone controls.
Thanks Jamie, that'd be great, be good to hear your system in your place as well, to compare acoustics, as I think my flat is responsible for much of the audio woe I suffer!
I'm not so sure. it won't be responsible for the hard treble, that's distortion coming from somewhere. Is the top end still hard with a digital source? If not, then look to your turntable set up.
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