If you don’t need the phono stage in the 222 and / or you don’t plan to add an NPX300 power supply to the 222, then the Atom HE is the one to go for. This is not just me saying it because I have an HE, it comes from discussions at Naim, which Chris and Osiris were both party to. Of course, if you can find a 222 used for £3,000 or so, there is something visually appealing about the 222/250 combo, and you get the system automation that you would not get with an HE / 250. It depends on how much you want to spend.
You certainly - if you went the 262 route - don’t want to be playing lossy Spotify through a 250 and ATCs, it will sound like crap.
You can slave the 222 and 250 together, so that the app puts them both into standby. You can’t do this with the HE, though as I understand it the 250 has a music sensing feature so it will probably go into standby anyway. I’m just not sure how or if it works. It’s hardly the end of the world but anything to save power is good.
So, no sooner a word than a blow: I had an offer accepted on a NC250 that should be with me by the end of the week.
I have looked up Naim’s legacy cable compatibility chart but it doesn’t list the Nova (or the Atom). I have done some reading around, but I’m still confused as to the correct cable I need to connect it to my Nova (and in time the Atom HE - which I assume would require the same cable as the Nova). Is @HungryHalibut or anyone else able to advise please.
the cable I need to connect it to my Nova (and intern and AdamHE).
The NC 250 comes with a pair of XLR cables for a balanced connection. These will plug directly into the back of the Atom HE.
If you want to connect to your Nova you will need to buy special cables from Naim or elsewhere. The cost will probably be in the £ hundreds and you will possibly struggle to sell them later.
The necessary cables do not seem to be shown in the comparability chart. You would need either a Din to 2 XLR cable or two RCA to XLR cables. Either would need to be wired correctly as the Nova has single ended outputs whereas the 250 NC has balanced inputs. You’d need Naim or a dealer to advise here.
I would bite the bullet and swap the Nova for the HE now. It will sound better and you’ll avoid wasting hundreds of £s on cables.
It’s great that you found a 250; was it the one on Pink Fish by any chance?
@HungryHalibut it wasn’t that one, no. It was an eBay purchase. I just looked it up though, very similar price but mine’s a bit newer.
I appreciate your sagely advice! Great to know the Atom uses the standard cables. I will definitely go down this route but would like the 222 eventually.
Sounds like a plan. The HE and 250 will be excellent. If you do think about a 222 later, and don’t intend to add the NPX300, try it first as you very likely won’t hear a difference, or not one worth £4,000 anyway. I’ve just had a look and there is a nice HE on eBay, one month old.
So, I thought I’d report the upshot of this thread, and thank you all for your valuable advice.
I have, on the recommendation of @HungryHalibut as well as a fair bit of reading around, decided to keep the SCM11s and have bought an Atom HE and NC250. I am very happy with the result.
I have not had a great deal of time to dedicate to proper laid back listening sessions yet but have played a fair selection of music that has allowed me to hear its merits and I must say I’m mighty impressed. Installing the Atom and NC250 simultaneously obviously hasn’t allowed me to assess them individually, but together, along with the SCM11s, they perform phenomenally well to my ear. The Atom + NC250 combo is much more authoritative than the Nova and gives a lovely separation to instruments. I am noticing many new small, but enjoyable, nuances to tracks that I must have heard a hundred times before. There isn’t the wonderful vocal warmth that I loved the Harbeths for, but the detail that the new setup manages means that I haven’t found myself missing them.
I’m sure I don’t use the most accurate/appropriate terminology to describe the sound, but I hope I convey my meaning. I’m sure you get the gist!
I doubt this represents the final setup, Naim make ‘upgrading’ far too enticing but I think I’d have to spend a fair bit if I wanted appreciable improvements. I’m certainly very happy for the foreseeable.
Good work, it’s nice to see decisive action. And what a good choice! Thanks for reporting back. Don’t worry about your description, it’s much better than airy fairy reviewer speak. So long as a system sounds natural and engaging, makes sad songs sound sad and happy songs sound happy, it’s done its job as far as I’m concerned. What’s interesting is that many systems cannot do these ostensibly simple things. Don’t be in a rush to upgrade, unless the funds for a 333 and 332 drop to your lap. I love my Atom HE, it’s an absolute bargain.
Yes, I saw that. I have a little challenge for you, if you have an hour to spare. Try it in place of your 222 and see if you hear any difference, and if you do, whether the trebling of the price justifies it. I’d be genuinely interested to hear your thoughts.
There are some tests best left untouched! Not going there
In fairness the 222 is 2.5 x the cost of the HE. Even if 222 is better then it won’t be 2.5 x better but , as we all know, hifi doesn’t work like that!
So I tried the HE vs 222 comparison and, as we learned at Naim HQ, bare boxes nothing in it really, both into my NC 250, but…… add the 300 to the 222 and it’s a whole new game.
But of course it is, you’ve spent a whole heap more money!
As I remarked previously, if I’d bought my HE first, I’d have been very seriously tempted to buy a second to replace my 272.
Fab, thanks so much. It’s an interesting proposition - to get that whole new ball game it’s necessary to spend £11,400, which is obviously an awful lot more than £2,300.
. And the considered opinion of many who initially reviewed the 222/250 pairing.
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