Keeping the NAIT 50 all depends on what speakers you are upgrading too.
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Yup. If one has a proper rack and pays a bit attention to setup, the separates are the way to go. I found that in certain circumstances where cables and good positioning was difficult, an integrated was simply preferable.
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Hello HungryHalibut,
I‘m agree too with that.
I would add two more points.
The Nait50 makes me thinking to the olive/CB sound presentation.
Generally the black range is more refined with more details, sometimes a little bit less engaging.
On an other side, it’s true that a combo preamp/amp should be engaging too.
And to complete the difficulties of choice in this particular case, the Nait50 produces a good level of details and a wider scene than the earlier Nait(s).
In this perspective, the Nait50 would be able to approach the classic combo.
So I would probably too make a test first without recapping to “observe” the sound presentation of both and in case of doubt looking for a recapping to test again.
I mean the recapping costs could be integrated later in the selling price.
And last but not least, the loudspeakers should perhaps need an upgrade to be at the level of the Nait50. A good old pair of Intro should be great for example.
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What speakers are best suited for the Nait 50?
There’s a whole thread here on that topic - Nait 50 speakers
But it really does depend on your preferred sound and also the size of the room and where speakers can be positioned for best results.
I myself use ATC SCM11
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One of the most underrated Naim product is the Intro.
But in fact, those loudspeakers are top allrounders with a natural -due to decoupling principle- coherent and engaging sound.
Certainly other loudspeakers could propose a wider scene and bigger bass but if you decide to keep the Nait50, the Intro is far sufficient to make impressive music in a 25m2 room or even more.
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I’ve heard the Nait 50 with the Harbeth Super HL5 Plus XD, what a match! Of course there are other great alternatives.
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In answer to your actual question the 202/200 will give a good uplift in sq over the consumer level box you have at the moment- not being sarcastic, I ran 202/200 for many years with much enjoyment. They may still be performing perfectly and could carry on for many years before needing the oft pushed service. Whilst they are two boxes in reality they will usually fit wherever you have a half size system- they aren’t that much bigger when looking at total volume of even a small room. Enjoy them, your father chose well, these amps were many hi fi enthusiasts gateway in to high end separates, isolating components for purity of sound used to be the mantra of naim before marketeers diluted the brand to suit mass selling with one box solutions that every naim enthusiast knows are compromised. With a good set of speakers I promise you will enjoy the kit with emotion and understand why your dad spent a hell of a lot of money on it back in the day
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A very refreshing post, Jonny. Thanks.
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Exactly that. There are certainly some items that need more regular servicing (regulated amps like the 250, for example) but the parts that are changed in preamps are so lightly stressed they will have deteriorated very little in 10 years. Unregulated power amps like the 200 will also still be performing very well after 10 years.
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It’s the first time I’ve heard the Nait 50 described in that way.
Roger
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Thank you Johnny, really appreciate the insight and kind words!
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As Richard has said only you can decide. A few years ago I owned a 202 with a HiCapDR into a NAP200… it was not bad, it was my first foray into Naim amplifiers… but if I am honest for me it was not outstanding.
However I’d be surprised if you dont prefer your Nait50, to me they are like chalk and cheese. That is a later design and offers incredible performance that was not really obtainable from Naim at that price or anywhere near it until recently.
In perspective I prefer my N50 over my previous 552DR setup. The N50 is phenomenally good for a high end half size integrated… it packs a massive peak power output - and if your speakers or 'phones can handle does sub bass surprisingly well indeed - as well as a natural and transparent high end and mids with no forwardness or etching… revealing wonderful tonal textures and subtle dynamics.
The 202 does however offer some advantages in flexibility even if not SQ… it has a tape out, a balance control, more inputs and a remote of course…
But I quite quickly went onto the 282 HiCapDR into the NAP 200…
If you do use your 202 - I strongly advise the HiCapDR to go with it - it does give the 202 a worthwhile, and in my opinion needed, lift in performance.
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Personally I would not rush into anything. It is a great act of generosity on your father’s behalf.
Without spending any money you could:
- try your father’s system as is into your existing speakers.
- try your father’s system with his speakers.
Depending upon how that goes could help you make a decision, however how about keeping both? We never know what the future holds and you might find that your accommodation changes (move house etc.) and you have room for two systems or you may end up with a room that requires more power etc.
Assuming you have the space to keep them (personally I would not store electronics in a loft) that is what I would do if I were you. Whilst I agree that we should not have to accommodate lots of things that our parents chose I would also argue it’s great to be able to keep key things your parents treasured - I would think that the Naim system is probably one of those?
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Thanks Alex! There’s definitely no need to rush into anything or make any rushed decisions. `I am enjoying my current system with my dad’s LP12 and my Nait 50, though my speakers that I haven’t changed yet since upgrading are lacking to make the most of it.
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Exactly.
Interesting how opinions and perceptions differ.
I personally think the 552DR is the best product that Naim make (well there is Statement S1, but that is not in scope for me), and the 202/200DR that I use daily have given me 14 years of daily enjoyment… Not as good at the next level up, but I am quite sure going up to 282/HCDR/250DR does not really give that much more musical enjoyment… I have them both, and get to play the same song on both many times to compare, the 202/200Dr really is just as enjoyable to me.
Like many, I didn’t particularly fall in love with 252/SCDR based systems no many times I heard them (quite a few systems) and tried to like it, but still not enough to part with hard cash.
One of my friends when he upgraded from 202 to 252 SCDR had the same observation (a bit underwhelmed), sold his 252/SC for a 552 and has been happy with his 552 since then.
In fact his system has a most wonderful musicality which I thought was due to his Sonus Faber Stradivari speakers (40,000 Dollars), then for fun, we tried a 282/HCDR in place of the 552DR. All the magic (that I had heard for many years) was gone… all the magic was coming from the 552DR, regardless of which source we had tested all these years, from NDAC555, Linn KDS, Naim CD555 and Chord Dave, Chord Hugo, Chord Hugo TT…
So why didn’t I upgrade myself? well…Money…I have Dynaudio speakers (around 3000 GBP level), which are designed and engineered differently, they play rock and dance music very well, that level of resolution which a 552 offers, isn’t really required at that price level, and not essential for the rock songs I enjoy. One does not need a 552 to play Pearl Jam.
There is no point matching a 552 in terms of cash spent and result achieved with speakers that are not price compatible, or engineered at the same level of precision as a 552.
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552 DR can be had for a reasonable amount now used - if trading in and you want it - and you are used to buying high end hifi … if you really want it of course… and I had to scratch that itch.
Yes Naim divided the tree into the forward / invigorated and more neutral / nuanced - the 202 and 252 follow the latter - and the 282 and 552 follow the former.
I have owned every NAC from the old classic range into the 500 series and certainly could quite well characterise the different qualities… and I think which side of that tree you follow falls into personal taste
As far as speakers - yes you really need to have descent speakers - but without room considerations you are throwing money down the toilet or at best in a lottery… I often talk about the importance of room/speaker matching-coupling. Personally I find many consumer hifi floor mount speakers lacking - the balance is wrong in my opinion - I like the tunability of quality stand mounts on quality stands - but that is my personal preference honed over 40 years of hifi experience and twists and turns and dead ends … and a little bit of professional music/studio recording engineering early on in my career at the BBC.
Room reflections are the last part of the chain - and no fancy electronics can really compensate for that - even so called ‘DSP’. You can can of course go high end headphones with a good headphone amp - and for serious high end for some that is the only achievable path… as listening spaces tend to be shared spaces… unless you have an understanding partner/spouse.
HNY
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Yes thanks for encouraging for 552, it remains an aspiration but I enjoy both my systems (202 and 282 based) so much now (and even more with the Cisco 2960 in place), I keep thinking, why not just buy more music now and stop spending money on hardware upgrades. Cash is short, but even if had the cash I am not sure than even a 552 will make me enjoy the music more. I heard the mighty ND555/Statement Preamp/Amp but when I played my usual songs, the enjoyment I got didn’t increase in line with the price increase. In fact not that much at all. I would still buy one if I won the big lottery though 
Let’s just say it wasn’t any more rhythmic than my 282/HCDR. That is what I listen for.
As for Music, I have posted on this forum the 2 Bryan Adams Royal Albert Boxsets I purchased recently are superb, wonderful, there are many concerts out there still to be purchased on blu ray…
Even the new Chord Quartet Mscaler remains aspirational, but not sure if I will be willing to part with cash for that also. I enjoy music as much on my Chord Mojo 2 as the big Mscaler/Dave…
Unlike many of my friends, I got into this hobby only to enjoy the music, I am not a hi-fi guy. It is only a means to an end for me.
Over the last 14 years that I have been on the Naim forum, there not been many (if any) fans of the 202, I don’t understand why… It was the 202/200 that made me a lifelong Naim fan
HNY.
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The NAC202 was an excellent pre-amp and for those who had a 5 series pre-power and were looking for the next step up, a NAC202 was a great upgrade.
I think if there was a criticism to be made it was perhaps that it really came good with a NAPSC and I know many felt that it should have come so equipped as standard. However, I feel that having the NAPSC available separately was important, not only to make the NAC202 more accessible price-wise, but also so you experience the difference adding a NAPSC could make by doing the demo with your dealer.
The other criticism came about if you got the hierarchy wrong and tried upgrading the power amp first; a NAC202/NAPSC/HICAP with a NAP250.2 just didn’t work so well together. The combination sounded a bit leaden and didn’t excite in the same way as the same amp with a NAC282, or even the same pre-amp and the NAP200.
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