Mine’s bigger than yours.
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NC 222/300/250 running here and they are just as good, if not better than when installed. Only upgrade was the Chord PowerHAUS M6 which opened things out nicely. The RusselK Red 150 are a great match for the system.
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Which is the French one?
Roger
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I recently demoed a 222 headed system. I’d heard all the hyperbole about it wiping the floor with an NDX2/252 but also about a different presentation.
When I finally heard it directly into a pair of 350s driving Titan 808s I felt that the 222 was extremely impressive. Separating out what the superior amps and speakers were doing and focusing on information retrieved I didn’t think, as a source and preamp, impressive though it was, was wiping the floor with my current system which is rung lower than the NDX2/252 it apparently beats. I left feeling my aged original NDX/XPSdr/282/SCdr was still the superior frontend. Which wasn’t massively surprising to me. The 222 was bare, both my NDX and 282 had decent power supplies.
So I felt it was very good but more grounded in reality than the hyperbole suggested. Indeed, my dealer commented simply “It’s miles better than the 272.” Which makes more sense. As an upgrade path they also thought anything short of a full 300 range (which sadly I’d caught them over New Years waiting on replacement 300 range stock) was not a cost effective upgrade.
However, the presentation is different. Information retrieval aside, I understand how someone might subjectively prefer the voicing of the NC range. And if they do, then they may prefer the presentation to anything the OC range had on offer.
I came away duly impressed. It’s great gear. But ultimately happy with my OC system. But realising I need better/bigger speakers for my size room.
I’ve had a couple years to get used to the casework on the NC range. Unfortunately my dislike of the industrial design has possibly intensified since seeing the units in the flesh. Possibly not a deal breaker in my currently very dark spot the rack is in - but really not my taste at all.
If the NC had existed in 2013 when I bought my current system, would I have still opted for Naim? I’m not sure.
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I don’t think that is a performance hierarchy so much as range hierarchy. There are no preamps of any kind below the 222. It’s where they start at. The 222 has no where else to go on that chart. In terms of range, then the 222 replaces everything from the 282 on down by simple attrition.
Naim simply don’t make that many separates anymore compared to the past.
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I don’t recall anyone saying that a bare NSC 222 ‘wiped the floor’ with an NDX2/NAC 252/Supercap pairing. And certainly not if the latter had a power supply on the NDX2. Even an NSC 222/NPX 300 system would likely only be in the ballpark of a bare NDX2/NAC 282/Hicap system, but with a different sound presentation. Given the list prices of OC it would be surprising if that were not so.
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I assure you there were some early adopters on the initial 200 thread who went from NDX2/252 to 222 and called it a massive upgrade.
And if you prefer the presentation, I think that subjective opinion is 100% valid. Just not one I share.
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I think current wisdom and the view from Naim is that the NAC332 bare sits between the 282 and 252 and once the NPX300 is added then the NAC332 betters a 252/Supercap DR.
It’s clear to me that the 300 series is where you need to be to better NDX2/252.
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A few people did mate, there was a dealer saying the new 250 beats classic 300dr
People got a bit excited
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That is probably (subjectively) true. But if you have a 252 already is a 332/NPX300 really a cost effective upgrade?
I suspect not.
I’m at that stage and a 552 seems to me to be the logical next move but my system doesn’t really want for anything.
A bare 332 is quite appealing though as there’s nothing shabby about a pre-amp that performs at a level between 282 and 252 in just one box.
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FWIW I had a 552DR for years and moved to 332/300 - you might be surprised what you hear.
G
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Well I think the preference in presentation is key. If you felt the OC presentation left something to be desired, even if you preferred it to other things available at the time, then you could very possibly feel a bare 222/250 beats a full fat 500 system.
I mean, I clearly didn’t feel that was true but I don’t discount others’ preferences. But this is really something where the buyer must find their own truth. Because that truth is not carved in stone or embedded in the product.
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Having devoured all NC threads I can’t say I recall that, but I’ll take your word for it.
In my opinion, saying that was likely down to over hyping when they were released. Anyone listening and comparing would not have said that unless the different presentation was very much preferred. It wouldn’t make much commercial sense to release a new product that was much better at a far lower price, unless costs had been drastically reduced. So I’d agree with you. An NDX2/NAC 252 system should and likely does (I’ve not heard it in a long time) sound ‘better’ than an NSC 222.
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I think that 222/250 should be viewed either as an entry level Naim system or as an upgrade from Uniti - I upgraded to mine from a Nova. In that light it is a brilliant setup that only requires marginally silly amounts of money. Outside of that comparison it all comes down to personal preference
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mate I completly agree, its preference. like with food, some people will no doubt pref beans on toast to a gordon Ramsay steak. I did find it strange at the time what was being said but its all opinions anyway
Well put!
I moved from a full 500 system to NC 222/300/250, because I was moving home and did not have space for 2 Fraim stacks in my new home and was minded to downsize.
I listened extensively to the NC 200 and NC 300 systems at dealers, demo days and even at Naim HQ. They of course sounded different to the 500 system, but it was a sound signature I found engaging, and not necessarily ‘inferior’ in a way I could no longer enjoy a Naim system.
Disclaimer: My Ears.
Different, but I knew I could happily enjoy 222/300/250. I also knew, from many years of setting up Naim systems, I could tune and set up the NC system and it would sound better at home than at dealer demos. So I took a deep breath and swapped my beloved 500 system for the NC 222/300/250, and pocketed a significant slug of cash in the process. By the way, I found the 300 an important part of the system, and for me, running the 222 bare was a compromise too far.
I must say, I continue to really enjoy the NC system. I never listened to a direct A/B comparison between the 500 and NC systems, but I must say I do not hanker after a return to the top OC system - much to my surprise and delight. I will say however, when I moved from 500 to NC200 I did upgrade my server from a UnitiServe to a posh Melco, which I suspect has made a significant contribution.
So, for me, there is life after the 500 system, but that is certainly ‘not a truth carved in stone’.
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NAP500 still available 25 years later. “Only” update made is DR?
NAP552 still available 23 years later. “Only” update made is DR?
It’s not moving super fast I guess 
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When I first heard the three box 200 system, my mental comparison was the 272/XPSDR/250DR which was my setup a few years back. I found the 200 system a significant step up in SQ, my ears, my taste in music reproduction, of course. More expensive, for sure, but had it been available when I moved on from the 272, it would definitely have figured on my shortlist.
Roger
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