To my complete surprise, from all my high power / high current amplifiers, it was the Naim Nac 122X / Flatcap 2X / Nap 150X combo that showed the LRS+ true sound presentation: super clear, spacious, palpable and engaging. What an amazing sense of control!
After a few hours of listening, other positive aspects emerged: the bass is surprisingly powerful and they can play at lower levels like no other of my system combinations can, perfect for late night listening.
Usually I use the Naim combo with a pair of Thiel CS.5 or KEF LS50, but never like this… so powerful, revealing and transparent.
I don’t recall seeing the Magnepan brand connected with Naim, and it is a nice surprise.
Although the Nac A5 are my usual cables with the Naim combo, this time I am using the excellent Van Damme LC-OFC 4mm (2x3m) mainly because the Nac A5 are too stiff.
Can someone explain how this 50w power amp can drive such a difficult load with such ease?
There used to be a very prolific forum member (they left a few years ago) who drove a giant pair of Maggies with wither a NAP300 or 500. They absolutely swore by the combination. If you search the old forum, there might still be content related to that.
FWIW 50w is just the constant maximum output. Naim amps can swing huge transient currents and cope with very low impedance.
Where one amp might be rated at 50w with an 85w peak handling, Naim amps are extreme. My 250 is rated at 85w but will swing 500w. It goes a long way to controlling a loudspeaker when the going gets tough.
I bought a pair of NAP 135s after they were paired with some LRS+ speakers to demonstrate they were working well. I was quite surprised. Psychologically I didn’t expect them to have the sound they did.
I got the LRS and now LRS+ after my aging SBL:s died. Fast and fun speakers. I started out with the old 135:s but they were a bit harsh sometimes (using a Linn Klimax DSM as source). now run with an “opamp rolled” Kinki EXM1 integrated (replaced the 5532 IC opamps with discrete class A opamps, Burson V/7 Vivid). still use the NACA5.
the LRS+ holds at 3-4 ohm.
they are also quite focused when it comes to room acoustics, figure-of-8 polar and line source vertically
That reminds me to try the Nac A5 speaker cable…
About the LRS+ harshness: they can easily get nasty on the treble but I have found that set-up positioning helps a lot… until it doesn’t. Some of my amps were not suited for the LRS+ and the treble shouting was the first evidence of that.
Good to know about the synergy with the Kinki Audio
Just changed the speaker cables from the Van Damme LC-OFC 4mm for the Nac A5 and I am find the results very similar… perhaps with the Nac A5 the sound is a tiny bit tighter, controled, impactful in the bass department.
But the VD looks like a good, manageable alternative to the Naim cable when the conditions require it.
