I deliberately went with a Naim Core to seperate my hi-fi from my computers, and it has been much more reliable and the SQ beats my older iTunes uPnP set up. The Core is in my office/media room with a Nova. Fortunately, when I fitted out the office a few years ago I put Cat6 Ethernet through, which links to the lounge were the main system is wired in.
What do you mean by Naim core? Is it the same as a Roon core?
Wow, I feel a bit thick now! I am reading too many threads and not recognising the basics! 
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Me to. But the political ones seem to be going better than the MQA and Roon ones 
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This is exactly what I was hoping to get from this thread! Sounds like a great set-up!
In NZ Naim is supplied with modified mains cables using a standard NZ Tapon termination.
The benefit of Tapon terminators is that here in NZ it allows us to legally take advantage of star earthing by plugging in all the Naim gear on top of each other. My SN 2 is plugged in to the wall plug first with Atom currently above it, looks funny but it works. I am currently not on separate power for Naim but will be in future. Naim Power-Line and Power-Line Light are available but again terminated with Tapon.
I am currently using a pair of NZ built Image 302 speakers. They have been in our family since early 90’s. My father was convinced that they held his system back, well the SN 2 begs to differ. 302’s came to life with Atom and they are another world with SN 2. I am really enjoying them now and that’s great as it allowed me to spend the funds on other gear. Saying that I have considered Kudos, ATC, PMC, KEF R3’s (KEF LS50 for Atom in office), Focal and Totem among many others. After listening to Totem Tribe Towers I am keen to audition them side by side with 302’s. Totem’s are brighter which I like, but no rush. I want to enjoy this process.
Speaker cables I am still thinking about but leaning towards WHS Phantom due to flexibility benefits.
I am feeding the entire system using Fibre 200mbs, via Ubiquiti AmplliFi Wi-Fi (https://www.amplifi.com/explore.html) router into a 24 port Netgear switch to CAT6 Ethernet patches and cables around the house. In fact all my gear in the house apart from phone and tablets is Ethernet connected.
Atom and in future NDX 2 are feed by Tidal. Qubuz is not yet available in NZ. If and when it arrives I would seriously consider it. All controlled on Gen 6 iPad or Samsung Galaxy S9+.
Re Roon, the impression I got is that once you set-up a Roon core you can still use your iPad as a remote, which would negate the need to use the computer to control music. Or was you concern that you needed to switch the computer on to be able to control it with iPad?
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I heard these last week with a Nova at Shore Hi-Fi and I thought they were amazing for a small floor-stander. They would be a serious contender in a small to medium sized room indeed. And they look the business. It would be interesting to pair it with a SN2.
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That’s cool @Mike_S, glad you got to hear them. How would you say they compare to your Forest Signatures?
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I think room size would be a big factor. The Forest’s are bigger, so need more air to move. So whereas I’d expect them to have a fuller and punchier sound in a large room, they would be too big in a small room and the Tribes may work better. I have the Hawks in my media room which are similar in size (but 2-way) to the Tribes and works great for the room. But when I tried the Forest in the smaller room, there was more detail, but at volume the bass was overwhelming, there just wasn’t enough air to move. In the larger room with the SN2, the Forests really come on song, and I’m delighted with them.
Interestingly, the review was Ho-hum about adding the HiCAP to the SN2, but most comments on the forum have been favourable, so I’m going to give it a go.
Totem Forest signatures, Naim cables that come in the box, 3.5m lengths of NACA5 cable. SN2 and NDX2 mounted on glass shelves with domes in a TV cabinet. NDX2 connected to Apple Time Capsule, Cat 6 Ethernet connection to Naim Uniti Core in another room. Also stream Tidal hi-if, via Naim App.
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My feeling is that HiCap made a massive difference to SN, but less so on SN 2 as SN 2 improved greatly on it’s own. Perhaps that made people question the true financial value of upgrading SN2 with HiCap during review.
In the end the blind test is the only way. If you hear the difference and benefits out way cost go for it mate!
I am very keen on XPS DR on NDX 2 when time comes, but on their own these boxes sound stunning. So I really don’t want to rush, but upgrade each part only if I am 100% convinced it makes listening my music even better. I want to savour each change, after all this should be fun…its about music not boxes.
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I can understand that, when I auditioned the SN 2 we used a pair of Forest, very nice speaker so I assume your Forest Signatures are that much better.
Hearing Tribe Towers I was surprised as they sounded brighter to me than Forest. I say surprised because Forest use alloy tweeter while Tribes use textile soft dome tweeter. They are very detailed to me.
Signatures use alloy / titanium, would you say they are bright? Have you ever compared Forest to Forest Signatures?
No, more sparkly at the top end, quite nuanced I think. But, they have a very long play in and are bright and fatiguing until they open after many many months, I’d suspect that the Tribes would become more neutral with time, the demos must be very new?
Interesting. Tribe Tower I think very new, but I don’t mind bright.
Good shout
I think the simplicity of this two box system is a real strength and for me is an end game set up.
Its a big step up in SQ from the brilliant value for money Nova - at twice the price it should be - and for me delivers a good enough sound so I don’t feel the need for separate PSUs, stacks of racks etc. Simple and impressive.
I have SN2 and NDX 2 and run these through PMC 25.23s and they sound fabulous. It sounds very musical and has (whatever the correct term is for ‘ooomph’) with enough detail, separation and soundstage to really lose yourself in the music. The sound fills my small/medium size room and it’s almost impossible to drag yourself away from.
I will be interested to see what people make of the SN3 (which I would consider) but I have no interest in climbing the ladder with pre/power separates.
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Hi Mike_S
I suspect this may be down to the speakers involved. It could be that the extra power provided by the HiCAP means a more challenging speaker is being better driven. Whereas those systems that are better balanced will respond less well to the addition of a HiCAP. My system sounded a little more weighty but not as sprightly and musical with one and I personally prefer the SN2 bare.
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I think I’m getting a HiCAP on demo and going with a XPS, but I’m getting confused and I’m on my second beer.
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What colour are your PMC’s? I really need to find a set in NZ to have a listen.