SN3 with Kanta2 or Totem Forest?

Hi-Fi Corner
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@JamesBKK As a source I use an ndx2 connected to a melco 1na/2ex. Unfortunately, in the last 3/4 years the prices of these speakers have only gone up quite a bit, so in the final choice that will also be a factor. If the climb is like this in the future as well, things will get more complicated.

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All I can say on that is that my Atom HE with active PMCs sounds no less Naimy than the previous Nova with the same speakers passive. Itā€™s just much better overall, with a speed and control the passive version couldnā€™t provide. People say that the Naimyness comes from the preamp. One Forum member swapped a pair of 350s for the active boards and considered it an improvement. Maybe you could borrow a set of the boards to try.

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An interesting point - please detail who made this comment and where.

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It was our friend @GraemeH

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Hi Geoff. I changed from a NAP300DR to the PMC Active Modules.

Best

G

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Ah, sorry, I thought youā€™d swapped to the 350s first. Maybe that would be a different story.

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@GraemeH @HungryHalibut

I thought that was the case. Glad you are both happy with your active modules.

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Maybe. Thereā€™s something about active though. Once you hear what it brings, you canā€™t un-hear it!.

Thereā€™s a video somewhere of PMC talking about the development of the Active Module where they preferred it to their powerful Bryston in passive mode.

At under Ā£2k I think they are a steal.

G

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I tend to agree, I swapped nap 300dr full superlumina loom for active ATC speakers. I still get the full Naim experience but betterā€¦ā€¦ suspect something is lost in the crossovers of unpowered speakers.

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It was a few years back at the Audiobarn when the Sopras were first launched and the demo started with NDX2/SN3 and then 272/250 and eventually NDX2/555/SN vs 272/555/300, obviously opinions differed but there was a consensus that the SN3 was a good match with the Sopras. Of course a 282/250 etc would do more. Caveat I havenā€™t heard any NC.

Regards,

Lindsay

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I agree, they are excellent all rounder indeed. Wow the Forests are much cheaper where you live. Here they cost around ā‚¬ 7,700.

@LindsayM you should try them with the NC series. Iā€™ve heard the Kantas 2 with the 222/250, itā€™s quite something!

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@Blacknote Prices have risen a lot, and there remains a big gap between the Forests and the Kanta. Me both speakers were not born that high, everything changed after 2020. In canada and also in other countries the prices seem very affordable compared to europe.

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This is the norm, Totem being made in Canada has better pricing in Canada, obviously the opposite for us with products that are made elsewhere. In Canada the standard Forest is $5800, the Forest Signature $8000, while the Kanata 2 is ~$15,000.

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@daren_p correct is the norm

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Unluckily, true story! No surprise in Canada they are a bargain.

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with the totems I use the nap 200 regular and nac 202. the harbeths I use a moon river integrated

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Unluckily Iā€™ve never tested a Moonriver amp, I wonder how it sounds. By the way we have a similar system with the Totems. I found the 200 DR to be punchier or more open. I was surprised at first as I remembered that the 202/200 was better IMO but not that different from a SN3.

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if you get a chance to try the moonriver I love that amp. It does not have a ton of power. But if you listened to say Kind of Blue. Side by side. Moonriver vs 200/202. no comparison

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Thanks, I would be curious to compare it to a HC/202/200DR for instance, Iā€™m sure they sound very different. Maybe it would be better to compare it to a SN3.

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@karld I recently demoed a very interesting system and the sound that came out made me question about the Forests for the very first time since Iā€™ve heard them. I canā€™t really point out what did what, but the sound was amazing to my ears (there was an Octave V70 valve amp and an Ideon dac). Speakers were the Blumenhofer Tempesta 20, they cost around the same price of the Forests, maybe slightly less. Needless to say Iā€™m very keen on testing them with Naim gear if I happen to do so.
You are from Germany, arenā€™t you? It should be fairly easy for you to find them in case you are interested.

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