I’m looking at upgrading speakers now my LP12
Is at Klimax stage with support from my Naim 552 and Nap300 both with separate power supply
Currently on B and W 804 D3 I’ve just retired and have time To finally enjoy my vinyl
I would welcome From the excellent knowledge pool on here - Any ideas on game changing speakers ? Is active essential or money spent better on the speaker
Thanks as always for all opinions
R
I wonder whether ATCs would suit you?
I’ve had active speakers for longer than I had passive ones so I’m not sure I can objective.
What exactly do you mean by ‘active’? I ask this because traditionally in a Linn/Naim system it’s meant using an active crossover and separate power amps for the HF and LF units. Now it more usually refers to speakers that have an on-board power amp or amps. Of course if you did mean the latter then it would be a big change as you would no longer be using your NAP300.
A lot depends on how much you want to spend! Unless you happen to have a couple of spare power amps (xome people do) and an active crossover it would be an expensive step to activate your system, and whilst it would maximise the capability of your speakers (subject to amps being optimal), it may well be that better speakers passively would be more effective value for money. I compared B&W 802D2 and PMC MB2 and preeferred the ,atter - of course you might not as with speakers one persons wonderful can be so bad as to be unlistenable for someone else. Your profile says you have a Supernait: I’m not sure how good that amp is at controlling demanding speakers, and from the Naim range I’d expect to want at least a NAP300 on my PMCs, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t sound good with a lesser amp, especially if you don’t go for realistic sound levels in a large room. I seem to recall reading that B&Ws are similarly quite demanding of amps, though I’m not certain.
of course going active with active speakers, as opposed to an active system, would ensure power amps are right for the speakers, also removing the need to choose an AXO. Whilst I haven’t heard ATC speakers other than loving the sublime midrange unit they have in SCM40 upwards, I would expect them to be good, and the SCM40A is remarkable value for money, though for me it would need subs otherwise I’d be looking at 100 upwards. There is also PMCs activating module option for several of their Twenty5 range, which again is very good value for money and may be worth exploring.
Thanks for all the feedback, my profile must be out of date I have a 552 pre and 300 dr power amp these days. In reference to passive active -yes I meant using the crossover and adding another 300 - I will look at the ATC -I AM ALSO CONSIDERING THE NEW R5 audio vector and the Kudos range. Just wondered if a bigger investment in a passive would be better than a smaller investment in speaker to give me some cash for the other Naim boxes need. R
In my opinion, without going all the way to a mega expensive passive Statement system, an active 300 system would be hard to beat.
Try going active with Kudos speakers and 2x300s (or 3x300s if going to Kudos 808s!) and I believe you’ll be very excited.
Two not one more needed with a 3-way speaker! Of course you don’t need as much power on mid and treble, but quality wants to be as good which can be a challenge unless you have identical amps across the board
Nice set up you have.
I think at the level you are at I would engage with a good dealer as multiple options are available.
I chose active ATC speakers for a number of reasons but chatting through with a dealer and listening to some options is likely the way forward!
Thanks for taking time to advise
Dealer advise is key but I do find the forum helps with insights and knowledge on where to start as to where I’ll end up ears and cash I have rather than dreams take care of that stage lol
Thanks again I’ll add ATC to the List with the kudos
R
@Ronan - as you mentioned the Audiovector R5s (which I’m yet to hear I will add), I did demo their R8s vs Kudos 808s (both passive & using single power amp, Nap500) and found the R8s far better. They remain the best loudspeakers these ears have ever heard, so depending upon your budget & room, larger Audiovectors may be a route?
Yes, agree, with so many options it’s nice to narrow it down a bit before engaging a dealer.
A while back I was frustrated with Naim and thought I would explore other options - listened to a 30k linn DSM and a similar value chord system - I liked the linn and did a home demo.
Having lived with the linn for a couple of weeks on a home demo it was very good and had detail to die for but ultimately I missed the Naim sound.
Point here is the demo is important and the home demo is king!
Best of luck and it’s worth putting the effort in - going to some dealer events is often informative and worth doing as a place to start.
I switched to active ATCs a few years ago. I’d heard a pair at a local hifi show and was so taken with the sound they produced that I had to investigate further. A couple of in-shop auditions followed, at one of which I met a couple of guys from ATC who reckoned that active SCM40s were a sweet spot in the range. However, I was still uncertain whether they would work in my smallish lounge, so an extended home trial came next and when the ATCs had to be returned and my previous PMCs were put back, I immediately ordered a pair of ATCs. I have never regretted that decision and would only change them for something else in ATC’s active range.
However, I’m aware they’re not everyone’s cup of tea so auditioning first is vital. One of the things I love about them is the way they disappear and paint such a convincing picture of the musicians in front of me. But I listen mostly to acoustic recordings including a lot of classical so that may be less of a priority to others. They’re also very revealing and will not hide any deficiencies elsewhere in the chain, so they do need a high quality front end. And finally, although they sound very good at modest volumes it’s at something closer to a realistic level where they’re simply outstanding.
That’s my two pence worth, hope it helps.
Roger
The R8s are of course around DOUBLE the price of the Kudos 808s… Just sayin’….
Firstly, Naim don’t make the active crossovers any more, so you would be looking at used, and secondly they have to be set up specifically for the speakers you are using. That was either Linn or Naim speakers in the past. I’m not sure, even if they were still available, whether they could be configured for use with any other speakers.
It used to be said in the past that it’s better to get the best passive system you can afford before considering going active. If you think about it logically that doesn’t actually seem to make a great deal of sense. I mean, if you can afford to activate, which means buying an electronic crossover, power supply for it, additional power amps, cables and possibly racks, then you can certainly afford to buy a better passive system, right?!
One other thing to consider is that active systems used to be notoriously fussy about set up details and were apparently prone to ‘drifting off’ if all was not exactly as it should be.
Although other companies do make active crossovers which can be used with Kudos speakers.
As in get the best amplifier you can afford rather than spend your budget on 2 or 3 lesser amps and the rest off the kit.
Then if you feel the need to go active, then buy the same amplifier to go active.
I get that. But let’s say the best amp I could afford when I bought it was a 250. I now have more money available so I could go active with another 250 etc. etc. But that means a 250 is no longer the best amp I can afford. I could now get a couple of 135’s and stay passive. Obviously one has to make a decision to go active at some point if that’s the long term objective. Back then 135’s were Naim’s top power amps so I suppose it’s at that point that one would go active, though I’ve seen many active systems with 250’s.
It means exactly what i said get the best amp you can afford and not 2 lesser ones
Which is exactly what I’ve just said. The point is that until you reach the top of the range you will never have the best amps you can afford (probably) if you have the funds to go active. Which is why the statement to “get the best passive system you can afford before going active” doesn’t make a great deal of sense. What does make sense is not to buy an active system using lesser amps in preference to buying a passive system with a better amp, which is what you mean and is correct. But that’s not quite the same thing.
And that was always the dilemma with passive vs active.
Do you go active with lesser power amps or passive with a better power amp? Of course if you can afford to go active with better/the best power amps, then dilemma sorted.
Like others have pointed out, I avoided this dilemma by going active ATC speakers.