Very strange. Many note the Spendor ‘hot’ tweeter, but I have absolutely none of that anymore. Initially, it took quite some break-in, but at about 250 hours, it is smooth as silk and incredibly extended. There is zero harshness. This, I believe, simply comes down to room interaction and placement for this speaker. I love mine to death. It is the most engaging and resolving speaker I have heard in quite some time, with bass response that just floors me at times at how quick, deep and agile it is.
Well I suppose unless the simple explanation is that the knob is mounted off-center on the pot. (In this case the LED would move farther to the left than to the right.)
I get the feeling that some folk are just perturbed that the degrees of rotation from 10 o’clock to 5pm are ‘wasted’ and not generally needed for listening. It offends their sense of ‘rightness’.
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This is an interesting point.
it is a verification that has been done, led moves always more to the left than to the right, it is another question asked to naim, and naim confirm this asymmetry like normal. Without commenting the sarcasm (on many previous posts) that I honestly don’t understand, because on this forum we are to help each other, the two strange situations are:
the first: the 282 does not have the same behavior;
the second: the person who bought the 252 finds this behavior abnormal, especially because two years ago he had another 252 that behaved exactly like the 282 with the difference that it was able to act more on the volume maneuver because it was qualitatively better,
We have written an email to official naim support because we want to know if is normal this situation.
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It is indeed normal that the volume knob is not 100% centered, see here:
However, I was wondering if it might be so far off center in this case that it would explain the high volume. I.e., because the knob’s LED might show 9 o’ clock although the actual volume pot under the knob might actually be in a position that would be equivalent to 10 or 11 of the LED on a normal 252
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I think you are right Svetty, certainly for those new to Naim. After 30 plus years of Naim ownership it seems normal to me.
A point sometimes missed is that going to a 252 from a 282 you can play louder while perceived volume is the same. This is due to reduced distortion on the 252. I would imagine that this is the same going from 252 to 552.
I dunno, I had a Rotel pre and power amp before and the usable volume range was more or less the same as now
This is all sounding like…
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Same system, 9 O’clock is loud but does sound great!
Just added a recapped/serviced 252. Compared to the 282, I need to turn it up to 10:30 or higher on some sources/material. With the 282 I never turned it up past 9.
Also, the balance is even on the lowest volume. With the 282 you had to turn up the dial a bit.
the same experience here - 252 vs 282
This is a long thread and I haven’t read all of it. But my issue with Naim is that I often can’t play it as loud as I would like without it becoming harsh when played closer to live sound levels. So, Svetty, I’m wondering if that’s some of what’s being discussed here–not just where the volume knob is set.
No, I don’t think so. The gripe expressed in this thread relates to the limited usable rotation range of the volume control.
If you perceive the vibrancy and PRaT of Naim as harsh at more dynamic volume levels maybe you are better considering other brands?
One of the things I love about the 252 (coupled with the 300DR) is the ‘non-shoutyness’ at higher volume (10-11ish, say. I don’t need to go much higher).
It was this shouting I didn’t like with the 282/250DR. How much of the rotation in use had never bothered me, with either.
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So you have is a very well sorted 252, Bravo!
I haven’t read all of it either, but with my 282/250DR, if I go beyond 9 o’clock my ears start to bleed - I cannot conceive of going to 10/11 o’clock; but it doesn’t bother me and I wonder why it does others? If it sounds good at the levels you desire, who cares where the volume knob sits?
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Again, my issue isn’t the rotation range. Yes, Stilts, it sounds great at 9 or 9:30 o’clock–that’s why I own the equipment–but sometimes that isn’t the equivalent sound level of a live performance. Interestingly, on some albums, particularly the 2XHD re-releases, I can turn the volume to almost 11 and get the sound level I wish I could always have.
Sorry, I meant no criticism. Just - wow - I must be getting old, or you have a better room than me. I tried turning it up to your levels, but at around 9:30 it became just too much. I’ll get my slippers…
You need to compare the speaker sensitivity, without knowing this it means nothing