Err… AFAIK, no, this is not true. For instance… the NC250 has Balanced Inputs, via 2 XLR’s. The Classic 250 has a single, unbalanced XLR input. There is more than just this…
Who told you that? You shouldn’t believe everything you are told, as it’s very different. There is lots on here about it.
Why make it more complicated than it needs to be? Naim call them Classic and New Classic, so I shall use the same terminology as them on their forum. If anyone takes it upon themselves to cook up different names, the onus is on them to clarify what they mean when they post.
It does of course beg the question on what they replace NC with in the future. Even Newer Classic?
The company that called the successor to the Nait5i the Nait5i is capable of pretty much anything on the naming front
An answer from another thread back in September.
Sure. Call them whatever you like. I’m going to call what Naim call them.
I will, because of my explanation above and additionally they are not labelled ‘old’ by naim as your red ringed screenshot clearly shows.
Given the meaning of the word classic, can the new models even be called classic yet? Although that may be what Naim calks them, surely in comparing them they are new models vs classic?
I have to admit the naming is complicated especially when you have a model sharing the same name such as NAP250. As far as I know there are so many versions with this NAP250 and to differentiate between very old, old, not so old and new, people have to add more information such as revealing if it’s Chrome bumper 250, olive 250, old classic 250, Classic 250DR, and finally new classic 250. I am aware my opinion means nothing but I think it would be better if we just drop the Classic and call it 350 or something entirely different.
It’s going to be hard to say without judging for youself snd depending on how far you are from a dealer, perhaps impossible.
My UK dealer was fairly honest that they aren’t convinced the New Classic is better. The changed sound signature not being their cup of tea. Of course they are in a vast minority, but I respect the honest view.
I wonder if they are in a minority - many commenters on here have expressed that they prefer the OC.
I wonder if that is because as Naim have got better at getting other aspects of amplification as good as they at first had timing, they now have more neutral sound, whereas some people prefer the less neutral “Naim sound”? (This is speculation on my part.)
Your speculation makes perfect sense to me.
Perhaps not. Dealers are in the business of selling kit.
Someone new walks in the door - NC kit is fantastic, best ever, unbeatable. Sell sell sell.
An existing customer who has a close relationship with the dealer - they may express different opinions or preferences in private.
Having heard NC now, there’s a definite preference aspect since the sound signature is quite different. But opinions on 300 series are all very positive.
It’s highly unlikely a minority of comments on the internet is representative of the larger population.
You may of course be right but I am taking the views on this forum to be representative of the larger population. Pure speculation on my part of course.
Better will be subjective but if it’s a case of New Classic going toward neutrality, I can understand the appeal. If anyone has experienced a non-Naim amp and perhaps compare them with the New Classic, some insight can be gained. Perhaps the New Classic will sound closer to other non-Naim amps out there now since it’s now considered to be more neutral and less coloured.
Thx for your reaction. I looking for amore open, crisp (fresh) sound in my set. I read that the 250 Dr sounds a bit “swampy?” compared to 250. Just wondering if anyone did the comparison.
Furthermore what difference in sound has NSC200 vs 282/NDX2
And how do these two changes add up?
The NC250 is just a much better amp and is at or nipping at the level of the 300DR but with speed, rhythm and presentation more akin to the 500DR. It sounds a bit thinner at first then you realize it’s tighter and deeper with loads more control.
No experience with the NSC200 but if you have the NDX2/282 presently I think it would make more sense to go NAC332