If I remember correctly, big B&W speakers were problematic for NAP500 due to their low minimum impedance. B&W were a very popular pairing at one point but moving up to the biggest model (don’t remember the model name) wasn’t so straightforward. If my memory isn’t completely askew, the NAP300 handled them better. Wasn’t there some sort of modification offered, either for the speaker or the amp at the time???
Yes, it was felt that a pair of NAP300s bi-amping the top B&Ws could drive them more effectively.
The modification was made quite early on. It was found that something within the B&W crossover could trigger the protection in the Naim amps, so a small modification was made. FWIW, I think the mod is applied to all early models (NAP200 upwards) at service time. I’m sure @NeilS can confirm or otherwise.
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Richard.Dane
Naim amps are Class AB.
This is true for the Statement as well, correct?
I believe so, yes.
If the Statement power amps were fully Class A then they would likely heat a gymnasium.
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Only if they were in a gymnasium!
If I remember rightly the negative speaker wire does not go to the traditional ground as the unit is bridged…this is also suppossed to improve load tollerance…and drive…I am sure someone will correct me…
Yes, we always update the protection circuits if required when units visit the factory:-
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Regards
Neil.
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Naim have in the past stated that their amps are unconditionally stable. Below 2 ohms though the protection kicks in. So, I’d imagine the answer to that is not so straightforward. Especially when it comes to a speaker with a nominal 4, 6 or 8 ohm impedance that may dip down to below 2 ohms at certain frequencies (mercifully not so common).
If it were me, I’d want to match the NAP500DR with a speaker that has a relatively easy impedance curve, and one that doesn’t dip too much below 4 ohms at any frequency.
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I know the website is not super reliable, but as it says “capable of prolonged output into 2 ohms with no discernible impact on performance” I would expect it to be true, and any extended time below 2 being not good.
Richard,
From all I’ve heard over the years with Naim amps, I think this is the trick in speaker-matching which many don’t appreciate and, as good as a NAP500DR is, one mustn’t forget the ‘500’ aspect is combined channels in to 4-ohms.
There are quite a few speakers out there which cite high efficiency (~90db - more with Focals) but when the bass units chime in more at higher SPLs, the impedance curve can drop away, which presents a material challenge to anything but a current-pumping mono-block.
IMV, it’s a shame Naim didn’t produce the equivalent of a 500 mono – although I suppose they have with Statement (and more of course). I recognise there would perhaps be a conflict with thinking around active here but that seems to have fallen out of favour in the wider market some while ago.
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I guess it is because they avoid using multiple paralleled output transistors, for claimed sonic benefit. However, given that the Statement is a bridged amp rated at 746W into 8 ohms, a monoblock consisting of half an S1, or single S1 unbridged as a stereo amp, should be capable of 186W RMS into 8 ohms, a significant improvement on the other NAPs. (And despite being bridged the S1 can apparently cope with loads at least down to 1 ohm, so unbridged should be equally happy into half an ohm or less, with 5.5 kW potentially available on transients into 0.5 ohm.)
Perhaps the cost is seen as too much of a hurdle other than for the very rich, who’d simply go for the Statement - the answer to that may be to compromise a bit with other parts of design instead of the no-compromise Statement, making it more like 1/3rd of cost instead of half.
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I found out these specs: Impedance modulus min/max (20Hz–20kHz) 3.1ohm @ 44Hz
15.0ohm @ 1.5kHz… I take it no issues here for the NAP500DR to handle comfortably… And yes, the sound is absolutely amazing so no concerns here, just the OCD in me reacting here 
I know just enough about impedance to be dangerous. On my speakers, Focal Maestro Utopias, the manual from Focal stated an impedance of 4 ohms nominal, 3 ohms minimum. But elsewhere it is reviewed at a dip of 1.7, a “dip” not continuous. I’ve never noticed any clipping nor does my 500dr even become warm to the touch. The sound is great been running it for 4 years so I guess no problem.
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