I’d really like to see Naim introduce a more powerful stereo power amplifier in the 200/300 Series form factor.
Something around 160 W per channel would make a lot of sense to me. Not simply for higher maximum SPL, but with a larger power supply, greater current delivery and more headroom than the NAP 250.
Should I hold my breath?
The NAP350 monobloks exist already - 175 watts per channel into 8 ohms, 345 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with twice the power supply and greater current delivery than the NAP250.
Yes, I know. But I’m specifically asking about a stereo power amp, though. Something with more current and control than the 250, I don’t want to go the monoblock route.
Just curious why you are against monoblock amps? There are definite advantages to using them over a stereo amp.
I see zero chance. The beauty of the Naim form factor is the two 350s are still small in the scheme of things. Just get the monos and crank it!
As you go up the Naim range you get more boxes whether you like it or not. When it comes to power amps they have switched between monoblocks (135 and 350) and stereo amps with a separate power supply (300,500).
I doubt very much there is enough room inside the NAP 250’s chassis to locate a larger transformer or the extra power supply parts which would be needed to raise the power beyond the 250’s current power output. Keep in mind, going all the way back to Julian’s era, Naim prefers high quality, medium power amps, with massive power supplies and often regulation. They typically feature only a minimum number of output devices. Other companies which offer higher power amps gang the output devices together, and this has not traditionally been part of the Naim engineering approach.
If Naim were to add a new amp in the 200 series, from a dealer’s perspective, I would prefer a lower power amp than the modern 250, provided it could be priced meaningfully lower than the excellent 250.
If you have the budget for 350’s, they are breathtaking. They can even be stacked together in installations which feature good ventilation, if needed. They are still more compact than a great many high power amps on the market, and feature the full Naim DNA and Naim sound quality, which many higher power amps do not.
Good listening,
Bruce
There would be plenty of room if they’d build it non-regulated.
Your looking for a Nova PE poweramp section.
This will not happen in the Naim world, or I’ll eat my old hat.
Why not buy s/h Nap 500 and ignore its two boxes, you could even stack them if space issues.
You could buy any Chinese made 200W class D amp and ignore the performance if that makes sense.
I think Naim have the power amps well sorted in the NC boxes, short that is of a lower 100 tier. I’d rather see a separate pre amp and streamer in the 200 series. That ought to lead to a performance improvement over NSC222 and make step-wise upgrading to 300 level easier.
Roger
I think naim have maximised the amount of power and quality that comes out of that size chassis. Its probably untouchable in that regard. I rekon that if they could have made it more powerful without compromising quality, they would have. And dont forget that naim watts are much more meaningful than other manufacturers.
surely stepwise upgrade of 222 to 300 series is easy - add 333 as source to 222 then replace 222 with 332 and phono stage
Well that depends on quality of 222 preamp section as a standalone pre. From using the whole box you’d be using only half the 222 and I’m not sure that’s a stepwise upgrade. Compare with OC, where perhaps you start with 202/200, then add HiCap, then replace 202 with 282, then 200 with 250 and so on. Each step is an improvement and you’d mostly be trading in your old box for a new one. I just don’t see that route in NC. Nor do I see many profiles on here with both NSS333 and NSS222.
Roger
but you are looking at pre + power upgrades - pretty much the same steps are available in nc- add an npx300 power supply replace 222 with 332 then nc250 with 350. really the only difference is that the 222 replaces the oc 272.
with the nc i guess most people mixing series go for 333 + 332 +250 initially ten replace 250 with 350. i am one of the few going 222 + 350. i hae demoed 333 front end to 222 and it was a substantial improvement - the 222 is a good enough pre amp to show that clearly.
No I’m looking at one-box-at-a-time upgrades. That’s what I mean by stepwise and was how many of us (most?) upgraded under OC. You didn’t end up with a redundant half a box. I have not heard the preamp section of the 222 on its own, but according to HH, Naim reckon a 222 without a power supply is on a par with Atom HE, so I do wonder.
I did once have a 272 and it was the lack of a clear upgrading route when no successor was forthcoming that was the initial nudge that pushed me away from Naim in the main system.
Roger
I have to admit that the discussion here has made me reconsider the NAP 350s.
There happens to be a used pair of 350s available at a price that makes the proposition considerably more interesting. 350s looks like the most straightforward way of getting the kind of extra authority I’m looking for while staying within the Naim neat and tidy ecosystem.
i love my 350s - even with a lowly 222 front end - for me they were a major step up from the 250. i found the 350s to be the star of the nc range
Did you audition any of the other combinations before settling on the 222/350s? I’d assumed the generally recommended route for a three-box New Classic system was 333/222 + 250, or 333/332 + 250, so I’m curious whether you compared those options directly with the 222/350s.
And what were the sonic differences you noticed going from the 250 to the 350s, besides the additional power and headroom?