Having had my NC 222/300/250 for around 15 months now, I thought I’d kick off a thread for folk to share their views on Naim’s first NC systems - how and why they chose it, whether they’ve kept it and do they have any plans to upgrade it?
Like quite a few other, I eventually upgraded to the NC 200 Series from a NAC-N 272/XPS DR/250 DR and was extremely pleased with the resulting uplift in performance, playing through my 505’s.
Again like other contributors here, I was tempted by Linn’s Selekt offering, however, having auditioned the Edition chassis with dual power amps and dual Organik DAC’s, I wasn’t sufficiently convinced by the Linn sound to move to change. Perhaps a Linn preamp/Naim 350 would have been more attractive but was way out of budget.
And, to be honest, I remain delighted with my NC 200 system whether listening to internet radio, local streaming or Tidal and, by luck or good fortune, have not experienced any of the SQ issues around recent software updates.
Look forward to others’ experiences, comments and opinions.
I’m still extremely happy with my 222/250 combo - they work so well with my Proac D2R’s that I do think this is my final system. I did try the NPX 300 but for the small uplift in SQ I thought it was not good VFM at £6k. YMMV
I’ve had the 222/300/250 two years. I really like it just sounds right to me and was an advocate early days which I think bugged OC owners here. I do agree PSU is not good VFM but like what it does. IMO and stress this, the biggest uplift to system was adding a Puritan 156, something Naim actively discourages so won’t dwell on it now. I’ve tried some more expensive alternatives but have remained satisfied which underpins at this level personal taste is probably the most important factor.
222/300/250
Most I could afford initially as no real residual value in my previous kit.
Not really totally happy with the sound till I moved in steps to 332 with Linn DS3 Organik and cable upgrades all round.
I too have had my system for around 2 years now and I love it (aside from the odd software driven ‘glitch’). I traded up from a Nova and my 222/250 is driving a pair of kef reference 201/2’s quite superbly. Some his res has literally left me staggered at the music coming from those speakers. Will add the PS in time I’m sure, but in certainty not in any rush to do so, such is the performance I’m getting anyway.
I started with the 222/300 with a 250DR initially, and within 6 months I upgraded to an NC250. I was really happy with the system until I auditioned an NVC TT with NPX TT, which really showed the limitations of the streamer side. So once my dealer was doing a stock rotation on their 332/333 I upgraded to them. If I had stuck with my Aria phono stage and hadn’t tried out the NVC I would probably still have the 222, which for the money I think is a real bargain. I have kept my NC250 and I am not planning to change it.
Nice to read that the 222/250 combo works well with your Proac’s. Wish there was a 200 series pre-amp only available but probably not worth it for Naim to produce.
I have been loaned a 222, which I am using with PMC active speakers. The idea being box reduction. I am impressed, but find I have to be selective with my choices. Some music is absolutely great, but a lot of my collection does not produce on this set up as on my previous cheaper system.
With regard to people stating how good the 250 amp is, am I missing out on quality, by using the active PMC amps in the speakers. The biggest difference I notice is the channel separation which is great on well recorded tracks, but this can make the music seem a bit thin. Thoughts from you educated audiophiles.
The 222 is very revealing so it may well be that it reveals flaws in the recording/production that your cheaper system wasn’t able to demonstrate. I haven’t heard the active PMC’s so can’t comment there
I use active PMC twenty5.23i and would describe the sound as the opposite of thin (Albeit from a 333/332/2x300). I moved to active from passive with a 300DR.
Are you sure the correct model has been selected on the amplifier module? The reason I ask is that another forum member posted of a similar ‘thin’ sound some months back. It transpired they’d connected the wrong model number. Once corrected, a fuller sound returned.
Thanks for your reply. I am using the same model PMC’s as yourself. I don’t quite understand what you mean about model number, can you expand. Would you say moving to the PMC amps take away something that would be present in a full Naim system?
Yes, it’s an easy job. If you bought them new as actives it should be in the correct socket, but worth checking. They definitely shouldn’t sound ‘thin’ and the AV review certainly backs that up.
I don’t own the NC 200 series, but I’ve listened to it few times in different systems (with Focals, Harbeths and Totems). I have no doubt saying that the 222/250 is a great combo, I can’t comment about the NPX 300 as I’ve never heard it.
However I feel there’s something missing in the whole presentation and I suspect it’s the pre/source section that is the Achilles’ heel (the NC 250 is very good indeed).
IMHO air, soundstage and details aren’t there as much as I’d love. Is it the pre section? Is it the streamer/DAC? I have no idea, but I’d be curious to test the NC 250 with the 332 and NDX2 or 333. That should be quite something.
Maybe @BrendanD had this feeling too and that’s why he went from the 222 to the 332/333.
