I’m curious, I am lucky enough to own a Nova which outputs to a pair of B and W CM8 series 2 loud speakers, I’m considering replacing these with a pair of Naim S600 ovators, do any of my more knowledgeable friends have any opinions on a Nova/S600 combination?
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That’s a massive difference. I’ve the cm5’s and the s600. The cm5’s are with their bigger siblings like the cm8 and cm10 on the warm side whilst the s600 are far more transparent or neutral if you like. I’d say that it works, but you have get to become used to the different sound. Also, s600 need space around them like the B&W’s but in a different way. I found that rear space is very important for bw’s, but side space is more important for s600 since they have wide dispersion. If they are near a side wall, odd things will happen to their sound signature.
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Hmmm thanks for that info, I hadn’t considered the differences such as you mention.
I wonder what has made you consider the Ovators, as they are far from a common choice for the Nova. Other than being massive and needing lots of space, they really deserve far better electronics than a Nova. If you really fancy an Ovator, the 400 would be far more appropriate, unless your aim is to win the Mullet of the Year Award, 2023.
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On paper, the proposed combo’s a no. But then again, so is my own set and I couldn’t be more chuffed.
So I say if you can give them space to the sides as @Ardbeg10y and Naim advises, then try the S600s at home if you can. You might be blown away. Or you might not. Either way you learn something valuable.
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@Nickd nice as both Nova and S600s are, it is not a combination to, imho, even consider. Why?
I have S600s active with NAP300 DRs - they sing and it was, according to Naim, what they were voiced to work with.
I also have S400s with a Nova and a second pair of S400s with NC222 + NC250. The latter really comes alive. The former is a good combo, but lacks any emphasis. Nova + a NAP is no substitute imho.
If you wish to use S600s, then at an absolute minimum, NAC252 + SC cap DR + NAP 300 with whatever source(s) suit you. You posed the question, @HungryHalibut makes a few very valid points; there are more appropriate combinations. Happy listening!
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Thanks HH, as I’ve come to know from you, very good advice and I did wonder about the electronics suitability but had no way of knowing. The thinking behind the possibility of buying Ovators was to buy a ‘step up’ in the speaker quality department, not that I’m dissatisfied with the B and W’s, but you know, forever upwards! I am aware of a pair of the S600’s at what I think is a very good price. Also, as has been confirmed, I can’t really achieve a great deal more side spacing. So, never mind, I’ll have to give them a miss. As for the “Mullet of the year awsrd” I’ll give that a miss too, thanks again!
Thanks SH, again sound advice (no pun intended!) it seems with the advice I’m getting this is becoming much less of a good idea, oh well, never mind! Thanks again!
Mine seen from the side.
You may want to improve on your B&W’s eg by (half) closing the bass reflex ports et cetera. I’ve a reason that I still use B&W’s, try sound good for av purposes, but in hifi terms they have a bit too much mid bass which clutters the sound. In your situation I would try eg Proac Studios. A friend of mine has the 140’s and they sound very nice for both av and music, but are a step more in the direction of music compared to B&W’s cm series.
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Yes. Thanks, I have done the bass port plug thing, first at 50% and fully closed off and that has improved things a lot, gonna have to have a rethink! Like what i see of your room and kit by the way, very nice!
Thanks again!
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How much distant are yours from side wall? Mine are about 65 cm each side, i reckon more space would be much better
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Rsch, I had them first in my study room which is much smaller. They gave a transparent sound there, but the timbre (word should work for an Italian 
) was lean and there were overtones at certain frequencies, presumably caused by them being too close to a wall. I’ve them in my living now and following the photo above, the far loudspeaker is about 1,5 m from the window. The nearby loudspeaker is from the center of the bmr unit to the French doors about one metre. We’ve the French doors always open, so that ensures that the first reflections on the side get lost in the kitchen
Unlike in my study, the Ovators sound right in my living. In my study they were like super analytical headphones but in the living they are easy and have that oh so deep bass.
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In my small_ish room they pretty balanced, however the Sats formerly residing here sound much more open with more scale and breath, being now in basement room with 3/4 metres on either side and 3m+ apart
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Mine are utterly brilliant even with Nait50 btw
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I’ve a kind of problem that I run them active with 2 nap 200’s. It’s impossible to play much with them.
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With Snaxo BMR ? Brilliant! Which preamp ? I’ m pretty disappointed that Snaxo Is no longer available. My dealer has still a 600 plate for active operation and sometimes i’m Touring with the idea to go active, i already own two NAP 200s
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If the S600s are an extremely good price, and, the absolutely crucial consideration, their sound character is exactly what you want, then I suppose relevant questions are 1) will the Nova drive them sufficiently well to be enjoyable, and 2) is upgrading to better amp realistically on the cards in the future? The answer to the crucial proviso and question 1 can of course be found by audition.
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People will say that S600s are “too much speaker” for the Nova, but I’ve been driving them with a SN1/HiCap for years with no problems. They sound great!
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Yes, snaxo bmr.
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That’s very interesting because i once pulled the trigger on a pair of S-600 speakers to go with my SN3 & HiCap DR. After some sane advice here, i cancelled them and went with a pair of n-SATs instead. Needless to say, my hankering for a pair of Ovators is still smouldering deep inside…
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