So, I have inherited a huge (see later) stack of chrome bumper and Olive kit, which I have up and running and enjoying immensely! However there is a rub…
Currently using:
CDS1+PSU
Flatcap + NAC82
NAP250
SBLs + correct cabling
(+turntable and reel-to-reel and WiiM)
Moving it to the room that we use the most gets the other half - somewhat fairly, we are good with compromises! - not liking the SBL “black slabs” and requesting something else.
I’m considering Neat Iota Alphas as a substitute - bear in mind this is a compromise (again, “see later”. Aware they are rated at 4ohms, but anectodial evidence says they are fine… Someone dissuade me! Absolute perfection is not required - it’s a kitchen/social/pool table area.
Question 2 - and the “see later” is: I have the following available, what should I swap out from current setup if you could/would? Should I build a second system? Assume the Naxo 3s are redundant to me!
NAC32
NAC72
Hicap
Naxo 3-6 (chrome bumper)
Naxo 3-6 (Olive)
Naxo 2-4 (Olive)
NAT01
NAXO (but… sheesh, has a rattle inside, count this out!)
And the mystery box - Naim, but no identification, chrome bumper, a dial on the front and 7pin DIN + kettle lead on the back. Half width. Heavy.
Hey hey welcome JJtheH! V interesting question!
The current setup looks v good. I don’t like SBLs either (heresy to some on this Forum!) and IMHO Linn Isobariks would be perfect. I used an 82/s’cap/250/Isobarik system for years.
WRT a second system, you’ll need a power amp. Might as well get another 250. The 32 and hicap would be a good match. Check with Naim re last servicing dates. The mystery box is almost certainly the power source for the NAT01, with a 7 pin DIN socket. Need a reasonable aerial. Then have fun choosing speakers!
You might want a better DAC than the one in the Wiim - always its weak point.
Good luck!
ADRIAN
Is the mystery box a NAPST (power supply for the NAT01)?
If you have any interest in FM radio and are prepared to install a suitable aerial, keep them - otherwise somebody who is will likely buy them.
Swapping your Flatcap for the Hicap is a no-brainer.
No harm in trying either of the preamps, they are good but on paper your 82 is better.
Given the age if all this kit, there’s no guarantee that it will be working as originally intended unless it’s been serviced.
Regarding your SBLs, I’m not sure the Iota Alphas wouldn’t be a bit of a disappointment in comparison. I quite liked the larger Xplorers but maybe you want something more unobtrusive. If you really want something that is not visually intrusive, Shahinian Larcs, possibly the world’s smallest floorstanders, might be worth a try.
Please verify if in fact the 32 is a 32.5 as the dot-five version benefits from the dual rail power supply of the high cap and sounds better than the single rail 32.
So if you have a 32.5 vs 72 decision, you need to have a careful listen to chose.
I myself have a 32.5 with 72 cards in it, as I have a complete CB 32.5/HC/250 as my primary system which I bought in 1982.
My current sources are LP12/Koetsu, a Naim Core, and ND5xs2/nDAC/PS555DR
So don’t be afraid to use a modern Naim source on older Naim systems. They sound absolutely musical - foot tapping.
I also have a Bentley Edition Mu-so 2 that delivers me nightly to slumberland in a very soothing way.
[quote=“JJtheH, post:1, topic:39820”]
NAXO (but… sheesh, has a rattle inside, count this out!)
[/quote] not if the box is not Olive or CB. There’s a slim chance the rattle is the brass suspension system incorporated on the later XO’s.
Thanks, and oops, completely forgot to include it in the post - have two additional 250’s ready to go. Isobariks - from a quick look - are wildly out of price, and, well the WAF for a communal area
Fully understood on the WiiM - that’s the casual/party listening input, so least of my concerns at the moment. The first play on the CDS however, was jawdropping. Glad I have kept hold of everything I’ve ever owned - and some.
I think it is worth listening to the Iota Alphas but they are quite different and didn’t really hit the spot for me when I heard them.
I had SBLs for years in my main system and then my office but was passing them on and auditioned some replacements. The rest is an Atom HE and NAP 250.
The Iota Alphas were interesting, especially at lower volumes and with quieter, delicate music such as acoustic guitar. The ribbon tweeter really stands out then. I thought the bass was a bit ‘clumpy’ though, lacking detail and rather slow, very much the opposite of the SBLs. With louder and more complex tracks I just didn’t enjoy them much. All seemed a bit congested and confused. No issues driving them with a 250 incidentally.
I know Neat are popular on here, and the Iota Alpha is easy to position (and easy on the eye) but just wasn’t for me. I ended up with ATC SCM11’s but there would be plenty of other options for you to try. The Larcs option is definitely one, heard them at the same session and they are beguiling but perhaps more for classical music. I nearly bought them though and could still be tempted.
If you can get a good pair of Sara’s with the proper stands and you have a nice wall to use them against then the could be perfect. However, Sara’s are quite coloured and can make some music sound wonderful and some sound a bit drab. It all depends on your taste. If you are into the ‘live’ sound then you’ll love them but you could struggle with anything classical. Bariks are even better but they are monsters!
Re “WAF”, one thing I understand about SBLs is that they are designed and intended to be positioned with their backs directly against a wall. Many other speakers don’t do well like that and need pulling some distance from wall, where a smaller speaker might suddenly seem a lot more intrusive.
One thing worth trying is running the SBLs active with those two 250s and the SNAXO 2-4, guessing that is what it was set up for. Active can be dramatically better than passive, and there are / have been a number of members on here who have raved about them. If it then sounds so wonderful perhaps some gentle persuasion of the other half is in order (some people use bribery, supporting expenditure on some non-hifi luxuries).
Otherwise a hunt for speakers can be challenging, as they all sound so very different from one another, and you really have to hear first (powered by tge amp you will use). Several on here have changed from SBLs, one other being @HungryHalibut, who moved to a pair of PMCs, though improved those by changing to the PMC active amp module.
Edit: Just realised I was wrong about @HungryHalibut, his were SL2s.
