Retirement and the realisation that I have fewer years ahead of me than have passed helped me divide on one final system.
Between 2004 and 2011 I grew a Naim system to active DBLs with 552, a double ps 555 and a high spec LP12. In 2011 major events overtook me and by 2012 all had been sold.
I missed the music but not the mega box count.
Now I own a couple of Naim power leads - the rest of the system is Linn/Rega. Two speakers, 1 TT, 3 boxes and a QNAP and I am a happy bunny. That’s me more or less done. I will dem a Rega Aura next month. Thereafter my only spend will be on the music
Last week I replaced the NDX with NDX 2 to go along with the SN2.
Quite happy with the results and if another upgrade were to happen it would be adding a PowerSupply to the NDX 2. To be honest I have no plans to go in that direction but I have learned never say never…
Major reason for halting upgrades would be that I plan on retiring soon, most likely within the next 12 months.
The NDX 2 > SN2 > NAC A5 > Ovator S-400 is quite a lovely system and may just last me a lifetime.
Quite like this idea, thinking of a SN2/NDX2 and moving the Nova to my home office/media room. I’ll be working from home again after an unsuccessful two years in another business, which means more music time and family life. A Nova sitting on the edge of my desk, the NDX2/SN2 for the lunch breaks and Fridays when I don’t work and the girls are out. Heading for retirement in 3 years all going well, but might reduce hours and go longer…
Heading for retirement in 3 years all going well, but might reduce hours and go longer…
Don’t want to hyjhack the thread, but from personal experience, if you only work 3 days a week, have a 4 day weekend every week, have a flexible schedule so that you don;t have to be at work at “8/9am” and you can take one week a month off for travel and family things, its pretty much the same as full retirement. I have been doing this for over a decade–now 74 years old. Its pretty sweet. It also funds my hobbies.
Bailyhill
I added the 555ps to my NDX2 just after Xmas when I told myself I wouldn’t… but it’s astonishing how much better it makes the NDX2.
And after my recent trip to the Bristol Hi Fi show and spending time in the Naim room, there’s very little difference to my ears, with that combo, and the ND555
But to be fair, that’s with a 252 and a 250dr right?
Yes
My wallet hopes that what I decide when I organise my demonstration of NDX2/ ND555, my dealer will probably hope the opposite.
Thats a nicely balanced system as it is @seakayaker, theres always power supplies for both boxes and/or cable upgrades…but if you love what you have, its going to last you a long time and there isnt any point in changing. Enjoy!
I think I’ve fallen off the wagon…
G
Money terminated
Just bought a CD5 SI & Nait 5SI - I missed the pleasure & simplicity of putting a CD on …
I have ran that same system for a few years now. Last year I bought a Qnap TS253 A with twin 3TB red drives, purchased Asset, dBpoweramp and have ripped all my CDs into FLAC. Have the money sat in my account ready to purchase a ND5 XS 2 network player but I just do not feel motivated enough to carry it out. My Qnap sits here, mostly turned off and dormant. I find my laptop with a separate DAC so much easier than this NAS malarkey but mostly I just put a CD on, press play and enjoy. I find it far easier!
I get it …
Even easier, with Mac Mini permanently on as a combined store renderer, is pick up either iPad or iPhone, whichever is to hand (one or other is usually right beside me), then either type the first few letters of the name of the album I want, or pull up list of my music (my choice of just text, or with album cover inages visible), to browse either by artist (composer in the case of classical) or title and flick through in seconds until something catches my eye, press play and enjoy. Quite apart from spund quality, nothing could be simpler - no album ever lost because it went back in the wrong place, no reaching or pulling cases out to check or squinting to read the spine, no disc cleaning or fretting over because it has started skipping… And not even a network to have worried about setting up when I first started with streaming from my own collection (not that setting up was ever anything other than plug and play when I did use a network).
Further to my post last month, I had an Rega Aura installed today and first impressions are very favourable and it is a definate upgrade from the Aria it replaced. A nice little surprise was the discovery that what I thought was an Apheta2 cart is infact an Aphelion. Delighted!
That has taken away my final nagging “what if” thought and so my final upgrade is all done and dusted.
I have stopped upgrading my pre amp now. Can’t say the same about the rest of the system but I feel content that my journey on the pre amp ladder is complete unless I become wealthy enough to buy statement of course
Give it a week or so and you will be blown away. Please keep us updated, including other details of your system. When I demoed the soundstage increased massively after 7 days and then I had to return it.
Phil
803d3 very likely my next upgrade - to pair with the 250dr and 252 also
803D3 - Great speakers! I’m loving mine!
ATB. George