Ok, so I decided to use the CA 640P for now- it’s rather good and punches well above its weight. I’ll upgrade it at a later date.
Got an email from Duncan/Naim confirming what @HungryHalibut and @Christopher_M had already suggested.
And yes, although they will never replace a full system, the Nova and S400s do sound good together. At least in my “space”. 
Thank you so much for all your help.
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Lovely pics, looks inviting to put up some music, also with the Revox there on top.
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Thank you, DC. The only bummer is that the B77 can only be used for replay or any other ordinary tape deck for that matter. I think the flagship S1 system has the same issue. Oh, well!
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I don’t want to open a new topic just for this but I am having some “evil” thoughts. Anyway to use the Nova as a preamp connected to the 250-Supercap? What interconnect and input/ outputs?
An, no, I’m not considering the new Nova PE.
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You cannot use the Supercap, but you can connect the 250 to the Nova using its din 4 to XLR lead.
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You can’t use a Supercap to power either a Nova or a 250, so it’s no use here (unless you have a Naim phono stage that it can power).
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Thanks, Nigel!
Thank you, Chris!
You have two options here with a Nova and a 250. Either using the pre-out on the Nova to the 250, or bi-amping by using the 250 off the Nova and the speaker outputs on the Nova concurrently to a pair of two-way speakers.
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Tony seems committed to the Ovators, which don’t have biwire sockets but yes, it would be an option with biwirable speakers. Whether it would improve things is very speaker dependent.
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There’s been a slight improvement in sound with the 250, feeling fuller - not punchy - but rounded if that makes sense. The SC used to make a hell of a difference. We’re getting there though!
Thank you, gentlemen!
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I’m not suggesting you do this, as you are downsizing. But, when my NDX2/555PS was off-line for a relay repair on the NDX2, I ran a Star through a 252/SC/250 and is was surprisingly good.
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Thank you for the suggestion, Mike, but I’m trying to downsize and the 250 is already an extra box although it has made a difference. I just want to keep the number of boxes down to a minimum. It’s tough as I was so used to the 282/250/SC synergy and fullness. Is is an experiment and all suggestions are valid. Maybe a change of speakers as many have suggested.
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If you are contemplating using a 250 with a Nova, you’d be much better off with a 222/250. Maybe what you need is some PMC twenty5.21i!!
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Also trading everything in for NC series 222/250 was suggested, and since it now looks you’ve reconciled with needing two boxes really, that may again be a suggestion.
edit: @HungryHalibut beat me to it!
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Great minds think alike, DC.
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……also a few grand worse off.
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Maybe the new Nova PE’s amp capability would be adequate for the S400, just(!) requiring swapping the Nova and 250 for it…
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I don’t know if this is a bit of a sideshow but are the S400s in the same positions with the Nova they were in with your big rig? If so, I think it would be worth placing them a little closer to the back wall, in search of a bit more heft. It’s a delicate balance though, too close and speed and airyness are lost.
Talking only about with a Nova here, not Nova and iconic NAP.
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