I went through so much equipment including some very esoteric stuff (Audio Note etc!) to finally end up with a Mark Levinson amp and cd player along with Magneplanar speakers
So everyone is now asking why didn’t I keep that system?
Quite simple….. every time I played it I was worrying whether the ML stuff would perform ok. Even though the ML’s had a fortune spent on them to bring them up to today’s standards and they were serviced…basically too needy…. Mark Levinson now doesn’t have a UK approved service centre
The Magneplanar speakers were amazing but I just didn’t, and don’t, have the space they really need to sound their best
The XLR interconnects I used were worth about £1k by themselves! I only paid a little more than that for my current Naim amp!!
It was nice owning such a ‘high end’ system and I enjoyed it very much but as you get older you just want an easy life… so before we moved into our current house I sold everything
I am now rebuilding a system from scratch and went with Naim as I’d loved the ‘Naim’ sound some years ago and I can easily get them serviced/repaired if necessary
I don’t miss the dream system as I can just relax and enjoy the music through the XS3, CD5si and current demo ATC SCM 11’s rather than being on edge all the time; it’s a nice feeling
I can relate to that having sold 552/500. Looking at comments here those fighting are more often those with top end systems. Might be higher expectations when having invested a lot.
I’m happy to now own more mainstream hifi so I can just enjoy my music without worrying how much it’s going to cost to get it serviced yet again especially when there is nobody in the UK that can do it properly
I made a similar one myself, although in my case it was with Naim.
I also had a full 500DR series system (seven boxes), and I sold everything off within a few weeks.
The idea of having to send equipment back to the UK in case of a problem didn’t appeal to me, especially as customer service has become somewhat less reliable.
I decided to go for products that are either made locally or from manufacturers whose service centres are easy to reach by car.
The only exception is the speakers.
For us, the decision was more complex. For years we had a relatively simple Rega system consisting of a Rega integrated, Saturn CDP, Rega speakers and P9 TT. With age and disability, the system got increasingly more difficult to operate. We used it infrequently. A home renovation destroyed everything other than the P9. On top of that, my dealer could no longer offer the home support we needed. It was time to start over with a different dealer and new equipment. We chose Naim b/c it was easy to operate with our disability.
We started with a SN3 and ND5XS2 and kept the P9 and changed to Spendor speakers. We upgraded several aspects and finally settled on a NC system. Naim is really easy to operate. Dealer home support is great and we love the sound. Box count increased.
Although my N50 setup is pretty good I would miss the 500 setup. Naim at both ends of the spectrum (barring Statement) allows me to listen to both setups, then realise what I’m missing.
Like many people on the forum I had a period when I upgraded quite quickly with Naim though only up to a 282/SC/300 although that was still quite an investment for me and I did find myself agonising over my system a lot I then bought a 102/180 for £500 and honestly combined with the LP12/Ittok I enjoyed it more and sold the 282 based system.
I then went up to an 82/SC/250 all Olive which was my favourite system I’ve ever owned but probably due to set up, the hot and cold nature of the LP12 it could sound sublime or ordinary so I again sold everything apart from my speakers and started again.
I built several LP12’s one almost from scratch and also upgraded a very basic Rega deck, experimented with lots of different streaming solutions and tried Quad amps, Hegel amps, passive pre amps and even an old Nad c372.
I eventually ended up back with Naim an SN2 which is an incredible amp for the money on the used market, a Rega P8 I love the simplicity of Rega and apart from possibly an RP10 or P10 wouldn’t change it, a very basic Wiim streamer and Chi-Fi Dac all connected to my old Dynaudios and I haven’t changed very much in four or five years.
I’ve really enjoyed my journey so far (most of the time) and still like messing about with more budget stuff in another system I have but I am a music lover first and foremost and consider myself more a hifi hobbyist than an Audiophile, have discovered that compromise and the physical space a system sits in are key when system building and that as soon as you find yourself listening to the system rather than the music it’s time have a big rethink.
To be honest Mark Levinson gear always had a reputation for being both temperamental and difficult to get an official service more than 2 years after end of production even when a service centre was in country. I also take a cynical view of any company who pushes out the founding member and keeps their name.
I agree that highly esoteric systems can be difficult. So much so that I think it’s highly important to also review the service capabilities in country. Often that will mean choosing a domestic brand if the goal is to keep the system and maintain it for life.
The good news is I don’t at all think there is only one right system for someone. People get really hung up on the idea that they’ve “found their brand”. But all they’re doing is hobbling their options.
I wonder how Psychoacoustics plays out with our audio gear. If I swap between headphones, one usually sounds worse. Used apart they both sound fine. Our hearing gets used to audio sources.
I am enjoying my “Bedroom” setup right now. A Lehmann Audio headphone amp brought out of retirement, and an economic Bluesound Nano Node.
The danger is that we listen to the system rather than the music at times.
Interesting reading this from the OP down. If you step back it looks like there has been some drinking of the upgrade Kool Aid. The question being can I upgrade because it must be better rather than can I upgrade because my system has serious flaws.
Well we all have different priorities and those priorities often change. Love my main system but the Qb is sublime particularly when fed by the UnitiCore. The OPs arrived in a good place👍
Naim amps I think are a solid choice. Even older ones once serviced are great. I think we’ll balance system with not too expensive a CD Player and good used Naim pre power and then a great pair of used speakers is the way to go. Then sit back and enjoy.
Me too, over the last few weeks had my whole 500 system up for sale. However the only component virtually sold was the CD555/PS DR which is the most i’m fond of. So i did a U turn. Despite having other three CDX2, i don’t want stay with the rest of the system with a lesser source, nor i wanna a streamer or vinyl like my friend Antonio Trebbi suggests. In fact the next week end, i will sell him the Sondek. So for moment i only have the Ovator 600 on sale, since i want something smaller and lighter, plus i’m streamlining another system with the IBL, going back to passive and selling Snaxo, HC, NAP 200, After all i have an unused CB and Olive trio ti play with.
I liked the original Levinson kit, I believe John Curl did some really nice visionary kit back then. Service and support of such expensive stuff is necessary in my book, should be mandatory but alas not always.
Their later kit didn’t move me at all, not interesting IMO.
I can just agree to above, let it be CB or Olive, even later stuff is safe ground. Still have some of my old kit, never really want to part with it.
Nait 50 was my last Naim purchase in this life. Can’t see myself ever going for NC range, although its lovely and cool.
I might be looking at Rega’s new Pre/Power in case the lottery comes in.
My father who was a electronic engineering consultant always said he believe the Pass Labs designs were great. I recently bought some PMC FB1i from a guy who built his own amps based on the Pass Labs designs.
I expect the trouble now us finding ones in good condition.
Im only looking at upgrade of cd player by adding a goid DA converter and maybe using that as the preamp and using Nait XS as power amp.
Possibly Flatcap or Hi Cap for the XS at some point. That’s all now.
Nait 50 is internal NC design I initially had plans moving to 332, 333, 250 but I don’t feel it’s worth it today given how good Nait 50 sounds in my place and knowing how little I miss the former 500/552. In a bigger room with large floor standers it might have been a different thing of course.
Currently dreaming away about a pair of 96dB Devore Bronze partnering Nait 50..
It seems to me there are two good reasons for changing a system. One is because it has serious flaws. The other because the owner has heard a setup which sounds better and can comfortably afford to make the change. Both seem perfectly legitimate reasons to me.
I initially had plans moving to 332, 333, 250 but I don’t feel it’s worth it today given how good Nait 50 sounds in my place and knowing how little I miss the former 500/552. In a bigger room with large floor standers it might have been a different thing of course.
