Looking to upgrade from Supernait. Auditioned New Classic and PE when they came out and was impressed by each. Anyone out there with experience of both who could help me decide? Is it really worth the extra ££s to get the separates?
Listen to vinyl (Rega P3 so MM),Cds and Qobuz. Have all Cds as Flac, but need better interface for adequate SQ. Thanks in advance
I auditioned the Nova PE as a ‘Class D’ one box baseline comparison when listening to the admittedly more ‘sophisticated’ Linn Selekt DSM, dual amps, dual Organik’s as a possible change from my NC system.
As, as I indicated to the somewhat disappointed dealer, if I’d just walked in off the street to buy a ‘one box, just add speakers’ solution, I’d have chosen the Nove PE in a heartbeat! Less than half the price and foot tappingly enthusiastic.
Bearing in mind this was on quite a brief listen to the PE, I’d say it’s definitely worth a serious audition.
Of course, YMMV, depending upon your music preferences, listening room, etc.
Good luck,
ATB, J
If you were impressed SQ wise by either option then it’s really down to where you want to go in the future. Are you looking for a one box end game solution, or want the ability to upgrade further down the line ?
The PE is pretty limited on upgrades - just the Power-Line or even adding a separate Power amp - but that’s pretty much it. You’ll also need a separate phono stage.
If you go the NC separates route - say the 222/250, then you’re all set to go as it has a MM input for the TT. You can add a NPX300 PSU to upgrade the 222 in the future to make a great 3 box setup.
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I’m not sure that anyone on here has actually purchased a PE, but notwithstanding arguments about Class D, don’t start that one again(!), it looks a very promising box of tricks.
Unless you’ve got particularly hard-to-drive speakers or have a very large room, I wonder if the PE has much advantage over the standard Nova.
Since you listen to Qobuz, I guess you must have a streamer. Is it Naim? If not, keeping the SuperNait (which one?) and adding an NDX2 or ND5XS2 or even NSS333 might be a step towards an eventual move to separates and would give you excellent sound in the mean time.
Roger
Interesting
Do you feel your Supernait is not powerfull enough for your setup ?
Otherwise a Nova (Non PE) is a lot cheaper than Nova PE.
Not class D but ordinary Naim A/B amplication as with Supernait.
The new NC is amazing good, but at a cost.
If your looking for more power only ? a separate source into old Classic or even older kit will save a lot dosh if on budget.
The older Naim do have a slight different signature, but can be serviced , fresh as a new amp.
Recently I was tempted by 252/SC/300DR, thats a lot of sound for less than a new 222.
The Supernait is the original version and probably due a service. No i haven’t hot s Naim streamer, which is a main reason for looking to upgrade, as I also have all Cds as Flac, but sound isn’t up to par. Have a Stageline for the vinyl, which I’m happy with and output is PMC Twenty25s. Have looked at nd5xs2 SH, but wondering if a complete upgrade might see me into my dotage??
Another suggestion is maybe get an Atom HE and 250DR as a power amp. A few people here do use this combination, I believe.
Or you could get some active speakers to go with the Atom HE, which a few here have also done.
As for the Nova PE, it is very expensive for what it is, and the plain Nova will be more than adequate for many speakers.
Nova PE is an outstanding amp
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Which PMCs do you have? The twenty5 series can be upgraded to active, but the original twenty cannot. My Atom HE and active PMCs sounds a lot better than the same speakers passive with a Nova, and cheaper too. And with two 100W amplifiers in each speaker they will go extremely loud if that’s your thing.
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Sounds like a good recommendation.
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Yep, I wondered about converting the PMCs to active (if they can be) and running them with a NS222. That would cost about the same as a Nova PE and could be upgraded later with a power supply.
Roger
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Not sure you can connect a stageline on the Atom HE.
The classic upgrades are, from Supernait/ Cd5xs:
- your source is not bad, and you can’t upgrade today with a Naim cd player. So stay with it a few time, until it breaks. Then an Ndx2 will be an upgrade, the Nd5xs2 a sideway.
- So begin with a Nac 282/ Hicap. Into Supernait as power amp. Then 250 dr.
- Or take the NC road. 222 then 250.
I would be inclined to favor choice 3.
Need a flatcap or better?
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Most of the suggestions here do not include amps that can provide power to a Stageline, so you would need to buy one. I would be inclined to buy a Rega phono stage instead. Alternatively the 222 has a phono stage built in, so that covers all your needs. Partnering it with a New Classic 250 would be great, but there are cheaper options if you want to save cash or upgrade in stages. You could even run it into your Supernait power amp to start with. The only problem being that you need a special cable to connect a New Classic 222 to a Classic amp.
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Response under yours by Chrissu.
A P3 is fine, but if main source a bit out in the deep with higher end Naim separates.
As others point out, you will need to power up the Stageline if ditching SN
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I wwent from SN1/ HiCapDr with NDX as source to NSC222/250.3 and a day later decided to get the NPX300 to complete the set. I had the previous set up for 12 years and it was good but time for a change.
I managed to get all three ex-Dem or SH for £10k in total and if I get another 12 years life out of them then I am happy with that.
It is leaps and bounds ahead of the SN/NDX and if I want to go active speakers then I can move the 250 on for little loss. A222 seems to make sense (and the volume control is a big improvement on SN)
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