I suspect that there are quite a few forumites are interested in a 3 box system due to space cost etc. Now that we have more “New classic” boxes to select from any thoughts on which 3 box system is best. Aware that most (nearly all of us) have not heard the later iteration 300 series boxes but we do like to discuss options. For starters I see:
NSC222 (£5700)
NAP250 (£5700)
NPX300 (£5700) Total = £17100
or
NSS333 (£7900)
NAC332 (£7900)
NAP250 (£5700) Total = £21500
Second option is more expensive, but in Naim world pricing not too far apart?
My thinking behind the post was to see if there was any consensus within the forum as to which 3 box system provided a good/better value for money versus (expected?) sound quality system based on what is known so far.
Interested to compare.
If option two is not better bit of an own goal from Naim but given £4.4k premium it certainly should be.
Whilst I’m not in the market for more Naim gear the 222/300/250 is not making me want to look at alternatives - long may it last.
I’d go Chord and Holo if I was to move on.
Edit: amended option to read as intended.
Agree that the more expensive option should be better but I was wondering what, if any, impact there is on the system between using an external power supply on the NSC222 versus the bare NSS333/NAC332.
I also am not in the market for new boxes having just moved to new classic and liking it a lot, but who knows in the future when second hand/Ex demo boxes become available.
Naim’s philosophy is quality of power is fundamental.
The 300 neatly achieves this with 222.
The other options have more space for components to be isolated and will be better as a result but will always be compromised on power unless you use 300 which clearly adds boxes.
It’s a finger in the air at the moment but know where you’re coming from.
Enjoy the lowly 200 in the meantime .
Agree the answers may not be fully known today. But boxes are out, albeit very limited. Demos will be done and people will listen and draw conclusions. This can act a point to collect some of those conclusions.
What can be said for sure today: it will also depend on your mid- or long-term aspiration/budget, target system, and personality whether you like to “stick” or “move” or “do upgrades”.
With the 300-series NSS/NAC, you can still add 2 NPX300 without the need to exchange any boxes. (Though leaving the “3 boxes” constraint.)
Upgrading from the NSC222 you will have to replace it (at least partly); but you can keep the NPX300 (if moving to the other option).
Please note that in the EU there’s less of an increase as you go up the range it seems. 1 & 3 are exactly the same price, where in the UK there’s a 3.5% increase. And the difference between 1 & 2 is 5% more in the UK.
But it does seem that Naim have used different conversion rates. 7900 GBP is currently about 9000 EUR, the 12k GBP for the 350 is about 13.8k EUR (priced at 14k), so not too far off either.
Yet the 5700 GBP for the 200 series is about 6.5k EUR, while it’s priced at 7k (+7-8%).
.
but give it time!
