Given your current system @Kacper , even I wouldn’t feel the need to switch to the new series, at least until the other separate components arrive.
I agree, the issue here is not whether the new current series is better or worse than a system of your level, but to understand how this new series performs.
And there is certainly a great theme of synergy between the components: even for me, it wouldn’t make sense to mix old and new series at your level, if not the NPX 300 power supply.
Instead, it would make sense for someone who wants some improvement on systems that are lower than yours. I believe that Naim has done a fantastic job with the new series and will continue to do so, gradually evolving current products, as they always done in the past.
On one thing, I strongly agree: the new series has a different sound signature and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s very pleasant. That’s why, at my level (certainly lower than yours), I preferred to keep both systems, each with its strengths and synergy (also taking into account the environment, the intended use of the specific system, other components it needs to interface with and speakers).
This new sound signature, is it getting more towards being natural?
I can see how the new 250 could now be an inpovement over the old 300dr, as the new 250 certainly has more grunt now, this will surely give it much better control over the bass and the speaker as a hole.
Remember the 300 dr is really only a 250 dr in two boxes and a slightly bigger power supply i think, its certainly not like comparing the 250 dr to the 500 dr.
Plus the new volume in the new gear will be massively better than the old pot, this has got to be where the main inpovement has come from.
Plus a newer better design obviously, but we need to remember the 250/300 and the old pre amps are from a design that is very, very old these days, and really not much changed over them years apart from dr.
Just an update on the nsc222/npx300/newnap250 set. Now 3 weeks later everything is opening. In the first weeks it was mainly punch and high tones that stood out. Now a kind of detail is released that is unprecedented. During a live concert with your eyes closed. in clouds of artists who play separately and then perform together. e.g. right behind a drum set where the drummer goes crazy. in the middle of a singer who is just singing for you. On the left a piano that continues its melody. This cohesion has never been seen in any naim set. And yet it feels very familiar. I had my doubts at first and missed my nap300/ndx2. I now understand that they were needed to develop the nsc222/npx300/newnap250 set. thank you
Has Naim ever claimed that a 300 is intrinsically sonically superior to a 250? As far as I recall, Naim stated that the 300 is more powerful than a 250 and has some technical differences such as a power supply in a separate box. With difficult speakers, the extra power may translate to better sound but for speakers within the capabilities of the 250 there is no implication that it is sonically inferior to the 300. I suggest that customers have taken the leap of faith that the 300’s different architecture implies an improved sound rather than simply, as Naim material says, more power.
Yes, Naim have always claimed that the NAP300 is a superior performing amp to the NAP250, (otherwise what would be the point) and a listening test should certainly bear that out.
For all that it will be interesting to see how the new NAP250 has moved things along if it can indeed meet or even exceed the performance of the old NAP300 as has been claimed by some here.
For me the 250 dr is musically superior vs the 300 dr I sold. The 300 dr is technically superior to the 250 dr and with demanding speakers and appropriate space it gives a better bass, macro dynamics, and more open soundstage.
But within my system, my easy load speakers, my non Naim pre, my room, the 250 dr gave just better results and is more agile and a bit faster vs the 300 dr, more musical to my ears in the context given.
As been said, the 300dr is a 250dr split into 2 boxes. This gains separation and i think a slightly bigger transformer? But its basically the same isn’t it ?
The NAP 300 DR is a little more powerful than the NAP 250 DR (90W vs 80W) and so if your speakers are difficult to drive or have low efficiency, or indeed you play music very loud, the 300 will have an edge. But that does not imply that the 300 is sonically better than the 250 when the speakers and volume are within the latter’s power capability. The splitting of the 300 into two boxes may have been necessary to accommodate the larger transformer and other power supply components needed to achieve 90W rather than because it might give a sonic improvement.
The transformer in the NAP300/DR is the same as that in the NAP250.2/DR. They share the majority of amplification components and really the main difference is spreading everything out between two boxes, separating the amplification circuitry from the transformer and also providing greater thermal tolerance with extra heat sinking and fan cooling. The result is a superior performing amplifier.
So the main cost difference is another box for the transformer? Wow. Naim can’t afford to not repeat this performance improvement in the new classic range.
I went from a 252/250 DR to a 552/300 DR and the difference was very significant. How much of that is attributable to 300 I can’t exactly say. There is a lot more drive and control, much improved low volume quality and for me, the main benefit is complete effortless control of complex music at high volumes, whereas the 250 DR would lose some coherence when pushed.