I want to add a couple commments to my above question:
1) Sorry, I should have stated the ML no.39, not the 390s. I checked a number of reviews, all of which stated that the pre-amp volume function in the ML generally superior to using a separate pre-amp, even using very high-end preamps, such as the Lamm L2 or the Audio Research Reference Two Mk II. Could there be something particular about Naim components which meant using a Naim pre-amp would produce a better sound? If so, at which model/combination of Naim pre-amp/power supply would I start to see an improvement, e.g. Naim 202, 282, 252, 552, etc.
2)Maybe a simple way to address my above question, given potential price difference between Naim and Densen equipment is, "at which price point does Naim equipment begin to definitely outperform Densen, and in what way?" The top end stereo Densen Beat-300XS amp is about US$3700 (the Beat-300 is about US$1100), while Naim amps range from $2800 (NAP-200), $4650 (NAP-250), $9850 (NAP-300), $23,950 (NAP-500). I read in many postings that many people switch from Naim to Densen because of similar sound quality (I often read better transparency)...which amps are being compared exactly?
Sorry for these 2 long posts, I hope this clarifies my questions.
1) Sorry, I should have stated the ML no.39, not the 390s. I checked a number of reviews, all of which stated that the pre-amp volume function in the ML generally superior to using a separate pre-amp, even using very high-end preamps, such as the Lamm L2 or the Audio Research Reference Two Mk II. Could there be something particular about Naim components which meant using a Naim pre-amp would produce a better sound? If so, at which model/combination of Naim pre-amp/power supply would I start to see an improvement, e.g. Naim 202, 282, 252, 552, etc.
2)Maybe a simple way to address my above question, given potential price difference between Naim and Densen equipment is, "at which price point does Naim equipment begin to definitely outperform Densen, and in what way?" The top end stereo Densen Beat-300XS amp is about US$3700 (the Beat-300 is about US$1100), while Naim amps range from $2800 (NAP-200), $4650 (NAP-250), $9850 (NAP-300), $23,950 (NAP-500). I read in many postings that many people switch from Naim to Densen because of similar sound quality (I often read better transparency)...which amps are being compared exactly?
Sorry for these 2 long posts, I hope this clarifies my questions.