Hi, I’m after some advice on the next upgrade step wrt speakers. I stream a lot using an NDX2, CD555PS, and a NAP300 pre is a 282. My room is relatively small and I’m currently using stand mount Amphion Argon1s. I’m really happy with the Naim side of things but wondered where next regarding speakers?
Photo for interest. I will get around to buying two Fraims at one point
Have a look at the Neat range - the new Jet range ( only 2 , stand mount and floor mount ) are receiving great reviews. Stand mount may well suit - Neat have great synergy with Naim
You have a top class system that I suspect is being held back significantly by the speakers.
Room interaction and personal preference make a huge difference to speaker selection, but assuming you wish to stick with smallish standmounts I personally would look at models from Kudos; Neat and ATC. All match well with Naim.
The Kudos Super 10A’s are among the best I’ve heard from a small speaker. Good luck with the search!
A speaker upgrade will hopefully enable you to hear your system at its maximum potential but it is almost impossible to predict which will work best in your room and for you. Some demos followed by home demo is always the best way to go. Some good recommendations already but perhaps also consider the stand mount offerings from PMC / Proac / Dynaudio to see what works best for you. There will be many people who have used a particular speaker in their room successfully and to their taste but they may not work for you. Good luck with the search!
As a 300Dr owner in a small room I can very heartily recommend a pair of Kudos Titan 505.
They work very well up against the room boundary due to their isobaric design and offer a sublimely cohesive sound. They simply get out of the way of the recording and let you hear the music. Get some good isolation on them (I use Stack Audio Auva) and they image better than a projector.
Best if you give dimensions, and shape if not rectangular, and maximum budget.
Looks very under-speakered to my taste, with an amp capable of controlling much more.
I can’t speak from experience with a nice system like yours, but I love my ProAc D2R for the just right amount of well controlled bass to my taste and obviously nice details with the ribbon tweeter.
I believe It’s an excellent sound balance in a bookshelf.
A design with the front port was important for me so I can bring them closer to the back wall when needed. (Sometimes I move my system in another living room)
Not sure what you you are looking for, but this is my little happy experience if it can help.
Everyone will be along to recommend their own speakers
Well, with the info provided it’s hard to do otherwise.
I have had 4 pairs of Proac with Naim. They have all had the ribbon tweeter except the Tab10Sig. All mine have been Rosewood. You might try the D2R to start ( my upgrade path from the Tab10Sig). The 300DR will support a D40R, a K6 or a K6Sig. I have had those with my older 300 and my current 500DR. My only caveat is that Proacs eat power. That should not be a problem for you, but don’t aim too high. Your dealer will know.
I chose Wilson Benesch Precision Series P1.0. The Wilson Benesch Discovery 3zero is even nicer but at a higher price point.
It depends on the budget but I can recommend the TAD-ME1s.
I have them at the end of an NSS333, NAC252 SCDR, NC250 system and they are doing wonders. They are very pricey but if you have any plans of upgrading your already great system, they will follow through. They work also very well in large rooms.
You could also look at Focal Sopra 1 or Divas.
Speaker searches can be hard going…… I would have a good conversation with a few dealers and do a few demos to narrow down choice for a home demo.
Good luck
Gary
There are some great speaker choices here.
- Budget?
- Would you say that you want more punch and boogie, more delicacy and tonal accurancy, more bass depth, more sweetness and a less tiring sound if you turn it up, more stereo image or is it “can I have all of that please?”
- Would you consider spending a bit less on speakers and leaving yourself room to swap the excellent 282 for a 252?
Hi many thanks for some great recommendations which I’ll do some research on. In answer to a few questions raised (which might help to refine choice).
Room size is 4 metres x 4 metres.
I prefer delicacy tonal clarity rather than bass heaviness which I find tiring.
I’m happy with the current Naim setup and at the moment have no desire to change things. The speakers are my next upgrade (budget circa £3k to £5k.
As a speaker choice I really like the look of Kudos 505s but never had the opportunity to hear them.
The upgrade path for Naim equipment is quite easy to follow, speakers not so easy!!
Thanks all for the help.
There are lots of fans here of Neat, ATC and Kudos - all great. Of you want more delicacy and less fatigue, you might well find Spendor and Harbeth well a listen too.
You can certainly afford good new speakers. However, ex-dem options can get you a lot more for less. While the room size may cut out big floorstanders that need a lot of space behind and around them, there are some floorstanders that really don’t need that and that will work brilliantly with your 300. You don’t need to restrict your
Listening to stand-mounts unless you choose to do that.
My audition list for you would include ATC SCM19. Neat iota Alpha and Spendor (probably Classic). I’ll let those more familiar with the Harbeth, Kudos and ProAc ranges comment on which boxes to hear from them.
Once you have a short list of 2 or 3, I would encourage you to try hearing them in your system
In your home.
Finally, I am a fan of 82 and its successor the 282 - there is an 82 playing here now. However, given how transparent your system will be after a speaker change, you may find the boisterous and permanently vigorous character of a 282 to be more obvious and a bit of a limiting factor (and potentially a bit tiring in a long session). Many who have found that have swapped to a 252 and found that it was a huge help - see the various threads on that issue.
I would expect that any speaker that suits you with 282/Hicap/300 will suit you at least as well with 251/Supercap/300.
Your ears and your system in your room will decide of course, but that possibility may be worth bearing in mind if spending anything like 5k.
It’s very likely that your room will have poor bass performance because it is square. If you are happy with the performance of relatively small speakers which do not have extended deep bass you will reduce this problem, and moving to larger floorstanders may well make these bass issues very noticeable.
Have 5x4 room. Harbeth 30’s. 282/250. I manage to not have a bass problem (3.5mish ceilings)
Impossible to say what work for you but
-harbeths smoothness seems to tone down forward ness of 282
-vocals, acoustic, classical brilliant detail and timbre.
-rock is good, but imo opinion not forte.
-electronica-good. Not sure as good as some sharper’ brands.
I love them, but think speakers are probably one of hardest things to recommend as so personal.
The reason I matched Naim with Harbeth for 15 years. The SHL5+ which was matched with NAC 282 still sounded a little smooth to me. Anything else with Harbeth sounds too smooth and pale to me ears, lacking verve, drive and life.
Hi, I’m a Dynaudio fan, and in your case I would suggest the Dynaudio contour 20 i. Especially this i-version has very good overall sound; good from the highest 22 k to low bass.
see: Review Dynaudio Contour 20i
Dynaudio is realy great: analytical & precise, but still musically warm sound like Naim
Wish you lixtning pleasure when trying a pair of these.