That combination is temporary whilst I transition from a 1-box (Nova) to a 4-box (300+282) setup.
No compariosn, just went blind. At least I know that the 300DR will be my endgame amp and it wont struggle to drive most speakers below £12k (or even above that but 12k is my limit for speaker spend).
I think the 300 is a safe bet. I didn’t really want to spend the money for a 250 but bought the 300 on the spot when it was swapped in Like you I got a sweet deal. I just would have been curious about your thoughts if you had compared them
Unfortunately, those 4 boxes won’t give you any music … you need a source.
…unless it anticipates the arrival of the SuperNova…
What’s with this SuperNova rumour? I doubt it will ever happen.
Think it’s just an oasis.
This so reminds me of trying to decode Harley Davidson nomenclature.
…not so sure, Naim seem to be making enormous strides in the integrated all-in-one field, reducing the box count as it goes, a wished for and rumoured 272-2 or 572 is another example of this. There has to be a desire to deliver more functionality into less space to tempt new customers and stay competitive (10 years ago the UnitI range would be inconceivable). If it were me that’s where I would be concentrating my R&D…
Although that is music to my ears (pun intended) I can’t see it happen. What more can a Supernova offer above the Nova? Not to mention that it would cannibalize sales of 200, 202, and the lower end of sources.
I will keep my fingers crossed for a 572 though. I would be very happy with a 4 box setup.
One might have said 4 years ago “what more could a single box Uniti product offer over a Uniti Star”? The march of innovation and component refinement eventually enables more to be squeezed into less space forcing its introduction into the marketplace regardless of cannibalisation. Competitive market forces tend to be the driving force that makes these decisions…
Well, the Nova got rid of the CD player which reduced potential interference and allowed more space for the amp/streamer. It improved sound and muscle. I think Nova presents the best that can be fitted in that box size. And the Nova can drive very well pretty much most of the speakers under £10K.
More may be squeezed into less space however would that improve sound? Naim’s separates have shown that that is not the case. In fact, Nova itself when compared to Star has shown that too. From what I can gather Naim’s philosophy is not about squeezing more into a space but rather less.
Which leads me to believe that there isn’t much more a SuperNova can do in my opinion. The only thing that is needed or can be sqeezed into a SuperNova is a phonostage. I’m not sure if the components have miniturised that much to allow that so I gather that would have an effect on sound. Unless the size of the box increases to the size of a Nap300?
A Supernova could theoretically lose the internal transformer and require a power supply. Would be a two-box solution with streamer, pre, and power amp in one box, and the PS for everything in another
I agree however pslosarc is talking about a one-box option. As a 2 box option the SuperNova wouldnt offer anything different from 272+250 combination. In fact, it would offer less since both components of the 272+250 can be upgraded in the future with power supplies.
You cannot upgrade a 250 with a power supply.
I’m not entirely sure that’s true.
OK hadn’t realized pslosarc is talking about a one box.
And agree that a 2-box Supernova would crowd the space around 272+NAP and and also NDX2+SN3. That’s why I said theoretically, but it could be one future way, with some cleanup of the product line.
But you cannot upgrade a 250 with a PS
…yes, for now. Will we be saying 20 years from now that “Nova will still be the best that can be fitted in that box size”? I would seriously doubt that. You cannot stop the march of innovation and componentry refinement and if you suddenly discover that you can fit more into less space why wouldnt you take that route?. The only variable would be the timeline by which these steps forward are discovered…
I’m pretty sure whether an amp can drive a speaker has very little to do with cost. There’s easy to drive expensive speakers and hard to drive cheap ones.
You could say that you get to a point where it’s unbalanced. I.e. upgrading the amp or source would bring more improvement, but if you have reasons not to, you could still get better speakers and improve the sound of your system.
Obviously don’t hook up bailey hills 1Ohm Scintilla’s to your Nova (or any other Naim amp).
I stand corrected