Yes, that’s good. I came very, very close to going the Pass Labs route, but a good pre-owned one just wasn’t becoming available, so I grabbed a Naim unit in the meantime and was hooked.
His speakers are not the best match with Naim. The reason he is moving from 202/200.
No the reason I intend to move on from Naim is like @Ian2001 to reduce the box count; temperamental cables and lose a column pf Hutter Racktime. Whilst there is undoubtedly an impedance mismatch between the Naim and the Zu and I definitely want to improve that it’s not the primary driver.
Your suggestions are good ones but, for me…
Nagra - simply put of my price range.
Luxman - attractive to some but not to me. I’d also be paying for functionality I don’t.
Pass Lans - similar to the Luxman but definitely worth consideration.
First Watt - wonderful but likely a tad large for what I’m trying to achieve.
Sorry to not have been accurate enough in describing your move from Naim.
I am still curious to discover what will work for you . Have to confess that the waiting is long, more than 1 year, perhaps two.
Sometimes readers are more in hurry than the buyers.
Why not a Rega Aethos?
Nagra is nice ( actually I also considered them ) but in order to get a real power out of them to have an external power supply or go for monobloc configuration… so kind of defeating the purpose of reducing the box count.
I found that in order to get a kind of jump or dynamics/alacrity I am used to out of Nagra, it is simply out of my price range. ( HD series )
The speakers are high efficiency Zu speakers. Generally matched with tubes amps. But I think to remember that Mike doesn’t want tubes.
So the list above is what some use in that case.
Honestly?
It has more power and inputs than I need. The inputs thing is not a dealbreaker but when allied to the need to scroll through inputs rather than just select them then, yes, it is. The lighting on the device is poor and for anyone with a VI such as myself that’s a non-starter.
Finally there’s my general experience of Rega. Great company with some iconic products but the consistency isn’t there. Over the years I’ve heard a P3 which sounded completely different to another P3. Rega refused to engage with the issue with the owner. Heard similar with the Isis and Osiris and a small number of other products.
To Rega’s defence, sample variation is not limited to them. I have had numbers of sample variations from Naim products, for instance. So it’s not really a fault per se so long as a unit performs within their acceptable sonic tolerance. What sounds good is subjective within that envelope.
If you are in the UK, I’d think that it is relatively easy to home demo an Aethos. A friend replace a vintage Naim kit ( due to noise issues he could not solve ) with one and very happy with it. So why not listen and see?
But by all mean, try Pass Labs and Luxman, too. They are not my kind of vibe but there are many happy users.
I only have heard the pair in a horrid audio show condition but just because speakers are highly efficient you should not exclude high powered solid state option.
I’ve a friend who uses a NAP500 with a over 100db. K-horns.
After being a Naim user for around 25 years I have ended up with Sim Audio Moon amplification and CD player (for my wife, who prefers using it over our Melco) and a Melco music library/player and Chord Qutest DAC.
The move was driven by the decision to purchase a pair of Klipsch Forte III horn-loaded speakers - which would not have been a good match to Naim. No regrets - the Klipsch speakers are easily the best speakers I’ve ever had at home and also the best I’ve ever heard anywhere.
I’ll always have an affection for Naim though as it’s been a very important part of my life.
There is no “Moving on from Naim”. But sure, everyone can make mistakes…
It’s a very fine amplifier , I had one , it was moved on for non audio reasons.
Plus it had no phono, and that led to additional boxes
Hey Nobuko @kuma
If this does not get taken this down send me an email. I am curious to hear about Nagra.
Best
Gregg
You are probably right, but most use however tubes amps , low powered, with Horns . It’s not a coincidence.
I think you make a good point re: sample variation generally but my point was much more specific.
With Rega there are two issues for me. Firstly the sample variation is not merely “this one is really good” versus “this one doesn’t seem quite as good”. It’s much more “this one is wholly unengaging and really doesn’t do most of the things the other one does”. I’ve heard an Isis which was superb. I’ve heard an Isis I wouldn’t have paid £300 for.
Allied to this is the response. I have seen some of the correspondence and communications on this kind of issue and frankly, for me, it was a long way from “okay, let’s see if we can find what’s wrong”. Indeed it was so far from that it was offensive, slightly aggressive and lacking in self-awareness as to how badly it presented. Doubtless this won’t be the general experience. Nevertheless…
That aside, I’ve laid out the specifics of why it’s not for me and I won’t be deviating from that.
Bear in mind I’ve had two different versions of the Eneium amp. First one had what appeared to me to be a major fault. Second one arrived with a damaged remote and isolation feet but the bigger issue was the lack of mid range warmth and engagement. Now it may just be that it didn’t do it for my friend and I - one man’s “unengaging” is the “brilliant clarity” of another - but it may also have a quality control issue.
I would also look at a Nait 50…
Downside two inputs, no remote.
It lives up to the hype, well priced and drives my Harbeth P3 ESR
It has a wonderful warm , rich sound but can also do delicacy . I’m amazed at it
Best wishes
Ian
PS I think it is probably the best Naim integrated that I have heard
I’m genuinely interested in this as a call. As per my earlier posts, two inputs is not a downside. I need streamer and TV only. Get an optical out for the TV and it’s only one input. Lack of a remote is not a deal breaker for me. I tend to set volume manually after I’ve put the TV on and before sitting down. For music it’s a small downside but not so much.
That just leaves whether it betters the 202/200/HCDR and NAPSC. My intent is to downsize with an uptick in quality. Interested to understand where you’d position the 50 in relation to the above.
" My intent is to downsize with an uptick in quality. Interested to understand where you’d position the 50 in relation to the above."
Exactly my aim as well - I might get shot for saying this , but I am as happy with my Nait 50 as I was with my 200/202/Hi Cap /NAPSC . All in the size of a box equivalent to a UnitiQute
Getting hold of one may prove difficult though
best wishes
Can’t argue with your happiness but are you also suggesting that it actually sounds as good?
.sjb
It sounds very, very good - I don’t have a Tardis so I can nip back and compare like for like and I don’t have the PMC speakers , but I am having a great deal of pleasure from it .
My 200/202/Hi Cap/NPSCC/Phono Stage go back to around 2002 the Nait 50 is using trickle down products from 2023