Hello All: I have an olive system with dual 250s connected actively to SBLs. I recently acquired a pair of Shahinian Obelisk speakers which have only one set of binding posts on the bottom and an internal crossover. How can I connect the Obelisks to my 250s and run them actively? I was thinking of bypassing the internal crossover and installing two new sets of binding posts on each speaker - one directly wired to the woofers and the other to the top tweeters? Similar to removing the external crossover on the SBLs. Alternatively, could I just add one additional set of posts directly to the woofer and leave the tweeters connected to crossover? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
Are you suggesting using your existing Naxo/Snaxo as the active crossover for the Obelisks? If so I doubt that will give good results as the SBL (S)Naxo is tailored specifically for that speaker (Although it may work with IBLs and other Naim speakers). You would need to get a customisable active crossover in order to get the correct crossover frequencies.
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Thanks for the quick reply. Yes I was planning on using my SNAXO with the 250s. Even if I the got another external crossover though the Obelisks still have only one set of binding posts. I see what your saying - my proposed modification may work provided I had an appropriate external active crossover - correct? Also, couldnāt I adjust the pots inside the SNAXO to fine tune the Obelisks?
The pots in the Snaxo only vary the relative volumes at each frequency, they donāt shift the actual frequencies. Also, isnāt the Obelisk a three way design using Super tweeters? You would need another Nap250. Given the unique design of the Obelisk Iām thinking this sounds like a challenge. And of course you will negate any resale value if you perform surgery on them!
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Why not just run the Obelisks as intended - passively, via their crossoverā¦? Remove the (S)NAXO and just use one 250. No āsurgeryā needed - and no effect on resale. Simpleā¦!
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I drove my Obelisk 2ās with 2 x DV HX100 in passive bi amp configuration very successfully. Have you thought about bi amping with NAP 250ās as an option? The NAP300 is the amp that John Burns at Pear Audio recommends for Shahinians which can drop to 2ohm and be tricky even for a NAP500
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Iām guessing these are the original Obelisks with only one set of binding posts so no option to passive Bi-amp.
He only only needs one set per speaker Mark. Thatās all mine had. Bi amp not bi wire 
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Gotcha
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Thank you all very much. I actually bought these speakers new with my father 35+ years ago and they are in near mint condition and still sound amazing. (Serial #s 111 / 112) Totally rethinking any modification. How would I connect a bi-amp configuration using the 250s? Is that possible?
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Naim can make you an Interconnect fit for purpose. I have considered the active 500 option for my 808ās and I was told that I could bi amp with two as a āmake weightā until I could fund the full 3 x active. Richard might clarify for you
A single olive 250 isnāt really up to the job. If you really want olive, a pair of 135s would be better, but still not ideal. As @Cohen1263 says, a 300 is really what you need if you want Naim amplification, but of course the preamp has to be up to the job too.
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Or even a pair of NAP-180ās, as they seem to work well too, maybe, depending, ābetterā than the regulated NAP-250ās. Plenty out there on the forums regarding Shahinian Obs and Naim amps. It is more a try it and see in my mind.
I actually had a pair of Ob2ās on the end of my original Uniti1 for a short period of time. It certainly wasnāt a great match for sure, but then again, it wasnāt terrible by any stretch providing one is careful with the volume control. The NAP-250 was certainly an improvement as it should be, but still wasnāt the best match going either.
Iād like to power the Obelisks with my two 250s in passive bi-amp mode if possible. I assume I would eliminate the SNAXO but can I use the HICAP to bi amp the 250s? What about speaker connections? I have a 102 as preamp.
Oo-errā¦ You have the only Naim Preamp I could never get on withā¦ Pleaseā¦ try an 72 or 82ā¦??? Your 102 is really a weak point, at presentā¦ IMOā¦ (YMMVā¦ 
)
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You can bi amp using sockets 2 and 3 on your hicap. You then just use one set of outputs from each nap. Itās not the best way of getting the most out of it but it wonāt cost anything to try.
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Thanks Marksnaim. Thatās exactly what I was going to try. I was also thinking of using 2 to 1 banana plug splitters at the speakers or taking one from right and one from left at 250s. I try it and report back. Thank you all.
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Could someone please explain how this method works or is indeed biamping? (iām genuinely curious)
Both hicap sockets are sending left and right channels but you will use only left on one amp and right on the other. The theory being that the amp is less stessed if itās only driving one channel I guess. Itās certainly a lot simpler than full active but you are still putting the signal through the speakers crossover.
Thanks for that but do you know if the power is distrubted between the two channels equally? If so Iād only be getting half power from each amp which would effectively be the same as having one 1 amp. Not sure if pos from one side and neg from other will give full power from each amp. I will try both and post my findings. May also try active wiring with SNAXO just for kicks if it fan be done fairly easily. I would bypass the intetnal xo and connect tweets and woofs directly and individually. Iāll let you all know what I find.