Best matching amp +/+ dac/streamer for Vivid Audio Kaya 45

Hi-Fi Corner
1

Hi all,
I’m not completely new to this forum, but this is my first post / request for advice.
Early last year I bought a set of Vivid Audio Kaya 45. At that time (and still) these speakers are driven by a Naim Uniti Nova. The used loudspeaker-cables are The Chord Company Epic X (2 * 3 meters) / Ohmic bananas.

Although I am very satisfied with the sound-signature of especially the Kaya 45’s but also Naim (Uniti Nova), I still have the impression that there is “more potential” in the Kaya 45’s than I am currently getting out of them.

The importer of Vivid Audio (Terrason) recommended Mola Mola (Kula) when asked, but indicated that Luxman, Naim and Accuphase could also deliver good results, although the person in question could not confirm this “first” hand, since they do not carry those other brands and have not been able to test them themselves.

At this moment I really want to keep the Kaya 45’s, so I wonder if you have any upgrade-suggestions regarding the amp and or dac/streamer section. I’m not unwilling using / testing other brands than Naim, but after comparing it with for example Marantz and NAD, I must say I find the “Naim sound” most pleasant. Besides that, I do not know a single audio-store who sells both Vivid Audio, Naim and/or for example Luxman, Accuphase, Linn or another highly recommended brand, so I could compare it one-to-one. Therefor, my first-choice upgrade-path would be within the Naim brand, but it’s not “holy” for me.

I assume that I will have to stretch my budget compared to my current Naim Uniti Nova (new price approx. EUR 5,000.00). However, I do not want to go too crazy, so I could go up to approx. EUR 15,000 (Amp / DAC / Streamer). With the remark that when the total amount of such a set is a little bit more but significantly better, I am sensitive to that, I hope you understand what I mean…

My listening room (living room including open kitchen) is approx. 5.25 wide, approx. 8 meters long and approx. 2.65 high (PVC floor, normal modern furnishings and no acoustic adjustments).

My priorities in the field of sound are clarity, transparency (i.e. no “woolly” / smeared sound), clear placement of instruments/vocals but also “oompf-bass” when the music requires it.

Music preference is very diverse (actually everything except hip-hop and Dutch “hook-up” music).

Before I had Vivid Audio Kaya 45’s, I played with Focal Electra 937 BE (limited edition), also a speaker with a fairly clear / transparent “sound”, which I also found (and still find) very pleasant.

Although the bass is certainly present in my current set-up, I sometimes miss the “full (pit) deep” bass with some types of music, although that could also very well be the character of the Kaya 45’s.

Experiences with a subwoofer however did not yield satisfactory results.

My apologies for this long story, but in this way I hope you will have all the information you need to answer my requests as good as possible !

I’m really looking forward receiving your upgrade-suggestions (with the use of Vivid Audio Kaya 45’s or other sortlike speakers) within the Naim-brand or other (highly recommended) brands like Luxman / Accuphase / Linn etc…

Best regards,
Jan

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Always assuming you wish to stay with Naim, the, perhaps too, obvious next step would be an NC NSC 222 + NAP 250 pairing, highly thought of by many in this community.

I’d strongly advise an audition at home to see if you like the effect with your Vivid’s.

ATB, J

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Hi Jan, Sorry but I am not familiar with your speakers, but an alternative approach if you would like to try Naim is to go for a second hand ‘classic’ set up. These items are now crazy cheap on eBay and for Euro15k you could get an NDX2/NAC282/NAP250 and XPS/ Supercap power supplies. After trying such a set up for a few months you could either keep it or sell it on with little or no loss :slightly_smiling_face:. Note though my comments are referring to the UK. I am guessing you are based in Holland so maybe buying second hand is not so favourable (?)
Good luck with your search.

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The Kaya 45 are a 4ohm speaker 89db efficiency. I’d suggest the NSC 222 and the NAP 350 . I think your Vivid’s will really enjoy the power

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Hi Manlad, thank you very much for your feedback and suggestions. You are right, I live in Holland :slight_smile:

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Hi Osiris, Thanks for your feedback. Like mentioned, since I don’t know any stores with both Vivi d Audio, Naim and/or other possible upgrades, a home-audition with NSC222 / NAP250 is a good alternative.

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Hi Opus, thanks for your feedback. I don’t have the (technical) knowledge regarding ohm / DB etc., but I guess you mean the more power the better and you therefor prefer NAP350 over NAP 250. Thanks, I will keep that in mind and will try to find out if I can notice the (audible) difference between them :+1:

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Hi Opus, NAP350 is a mono amp, so I will need 2 of them, each costing EUR 7.500,00 meaning EUR 15.000,00 per set just for the power amp section. I guess that will sound awesome but a “little” above my Budget :slight_smile: But your point that the Vivid’s need/enjoy power is taken :+1:

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Nova PE if you want a one box solution.

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Sorry my mistake. I thought there was also a stereo 350

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Thanks, I will add that to the suggestion-list :+1:The Naim Uniti Nova PE has 2 * 150 watts 8 Ohm versus 2 * 80 watts Naim Uniti Nova so I am curious what the souund differences will be and how it compares to NSC222/NAP250.

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@RvL has the Kaya S 25 with Naim. He can communicate here.
Richeroo has or had the S12.

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What about Aavik (u-580)? To my ears the same rhythm and drive as Naim, but a bit more organised, natural flowing (also to my :ear:’s)

As I see you mentioning Terrason, I’m presuming you are from the Netherlands.
Might be worth looking up the website from de Dutch importer of the brand over here. Think you might find something within your budget over there and stick a nice streamer to it as well.

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Hi Rene, thanks. I have already consulted Terrason and they advise Mola Mola (they are distributor for Mola Mola as well). They also mention that other brands such as Naim, Accuphase, Luxman should also work fine with the Kaya 45’s, but cannot state that with certainty since they have not experienced that themselves. That’s the reason I ask this forum for additional advise / experiences. Best regards, Jan

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Dear Jan I loved vivd since the beginning so i Will share my 5 cents.
Between vivd and molamola there is an agreement and Lawrence is always demonstrating with Mola mola. By the way mola mola sounds fantastically, however to me it is not a fantastic match because it is proposing a clinical sound with vivid. I definitely prefer the naim match, but not the nova, the 300 series, this is what they deserve….however in South Africa lab Lawrence is using an old Jeff rowland.

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Hi All, I’ve not been here for a while.

Not sure how much difference there is between the Kaya 25 and 45 regarding amplifier load. I had the 25s on a NAP200 first and that worked absolutely fine. Later I updated to a 250DR and that was a significant improvement in authority, control, dynamics and overall sound quality. Which is to be expected tbo. :blush:

The Kaya 45 is an awesome speaker btw! :ok_hand:

2 Likes
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Hi RvL, thanks for joining this topic, much appreciated. Happy to see there are more Vivid Audio owners/fans. Indeed, I’m very happy with my Kaya 45’s. That’s why I want to pay that much attention in driving them the best way possible (within my Budget-limits) :slight_smile:

1 Like
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Jason Kennedy’s video review of the 222/300/250 had a pair of Vivid’s in the background, not clear whether these were the speakers used for the review though.

https://the-ear.net/review-hardware/naim-new-classic-and-the-rhythm-divine/

ATB, J

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Thanks Osiris for pointing that out to me, I hadn’t seen that one yet and will read his/listen his review thoroughly !
Best regards, Jan

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No problem, I also hoped there would be such one (preferrably at the same price as one) :slight_smile: