Hello, my system is HiFi: Naim NAP150X, Naim NAC 282, Naim Hi-Cap, Naim CD5, Naim NAPSC, Harbeth M30. What would you say is the weakest link and best upgrade? Thank you for your help.
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Is CD your only source Mike?
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Sorry I should have said. I have a qutest taking input via usb from my MacBook most using Apple Music. Thanks for responding
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I would consider a better streaming device than your MacBook/USB. ND5XS2 or NDX2. After that, the 150. I would also move from Apple Music to Qobuz. Enjoy the forum.
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Iām the wrong guy to offer upgrade advice but nice to see a NAP150x keeping such good preamp company.
Hope upgrade turns out for you.
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Until recently I had 112x/150x (pre powered by āa power supplyā), with Rega P3 and CD5x/FC2x. Then I found a nice 155xs to replace the rather tired 150x, and not long after that came the much more significant and worthwhile upgrade of 112x to 82.
After a few weeks, as an experiment, I swapped out the 155xs for a Linn C2100 I had floating around. Result: big gains in focus, grip, resolution, etc. As you would hope given that the C2100 was Ā£1400 when bought in 2005.
It seems the 150x and then the 155xs, nice though they are, do not let the 82 show fully what it can do, whereas the C2100 doesnāt hold things back to anything like the same degree.
Iām actually surprised what a good pairing the 82 and C2100 make. Iām not inclined to change either of them any time soon.
So if I were you Iād think about a power amp upgrade. I guess a 200DR would be the obvious option, but bear in mind that you could get a s/hand C2100 for maybe Ā£400-500 if you felt like going an unconventional route.
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You havenāt said how youāre playing on the Macbook. I strongly recommend Audirvana as library/rendering software, following instructions to optimise the Mac. It certainly works well on a Mac mini, which has the advantage of being able to run headless (no monitor of keyboard). There are two versions of A, a subscription and a stand-alone and priced are quite low. Last time I looked they offered free trial. Also then offers ability to stream online as well as playing your own stored files. (I use a Mini running A, originally into a Chord Hugo DAC, now Dave, and if is certainly up to feeding Dave.
Otherwise if it were me Iād be wanting better speakers that can do full bass.
The āweak linkā is your power amp. I could accept the 150x with a 202 but not with a 282.
A good (S/H) Nap 250 seems the obvious choice but you might even find a 300 at a good price.
My 282/300 was a very nice place.
Never a better time to buy S/H Naim, enjoy.
.sjb
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Thanks SJB - thatās what Iām coming round to. There seems a big change in s/h price for DR. Would you think thatās important for my system and slightly tight budget?
The CD5 improve very well to a matching Flatcap2.
Hopefully your CD source works properly for the time being, otherwise a new PSU might be wasted as repair of CD5 can be complicated.
Another challenge is Flatcaps are likely discontinued by now, maybe available second hand.
Another source need to of high level, since you have a rather revealing setup.
Many users donāt really pay attention to importance of source, I doubt a Macbook is topnotch.
Conclude: source first, then your poweramp or if you have other weak links, no mention of racks, cables, mains - hard to comment on that.
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Itās hard to answer.
I probably wouldnāt pay any more than a 10 to 15% premium for DR over non-DR.
However, you also have to factor that if the unit was DRād and serviced relatively recently it might be worth pushing the boat out further.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with non-DR Naim amplifiers though.
.sjb
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The 250DR is very different to the 250.2. I really like the DR and find the 250.2 much more slow and lardy. Iād definitely pay more for the DR.
Of course, adding the 250, while controlling the speakers better, opens the window much wider to your rather inadequate source. Thatās where Iād be looking next.
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Another vote for a 250. Anything less is really not worth bothering with. An olive one is fine with a 282, and not expensive now.
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Statement with little truth
Thank you. In the end I went for a 250-2 that has been serviced by Naim and upgraded to DR.
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A very wise decision.
Upgraded to dr? By who?
I would assume it had been done by Naim, as they had serviced it. Must have been a few years ago at least thoughā¦
Thank you all your advice. Much appreciated. As above, I followed what I thought was the best and so now will live and listen. Is there any way now to end the thread?
Yes by Naim. I have the paperwork.