Hi Rick
You make a good point and if anything I think the SN2 needs a lot more than 200 hours.
It took mine 2 months to get there (turned on throughout) but once it had been properly broken it,
it sounded terrific. I think murphy1 was right to say he suspected his SN2 was faulty.
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Four days in so far and it is already blowing me away, I do not wish for any better! 
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Yes, it was an ex demo unit and it was in my set-up for well over 2 months with music constantly playing through it 24/7, other observations I’ve made since going back to xs2 are, volume control on sn/2 needed to be at 12 o’clock and only 9 o’clock on xs2 for same output (roughly, I know different pots are used) and trying a well run in hi-cap dr on sn/2 sucked what life there was out of it where as on xs2 I got more of everything and better control of the low end.
I’m not a SN2 owner but afaik 12 o clock would be pretty darn loud and I think most operate around 9 but I’m sure others will confirm, if so it was probably dodgy alright
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When I heard an SN2 (using PMC’s Twenty5.23), 12 o’clock would have probably left lasting damage to my hearing… I don’t think I went beyond much beyond 10 o’clock (it’s a while ago), but I am not into very loud music anyway…
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Hi Hollow, yes my Brand new (4 days old) SN2 is usually at about 8 o’clock but when I want a bit of volume I only need to go a little over 9 o’clock.
Gave it a good 10 minute blast tonight though as loud as I could stand and the volume was just under 12.
It was amazing! With my Nait XS 2 the sound would have hardened and bass control would have suffered but with this amp the bass stayed controlled and the sound was not harsh, just very, very loud!
In fairness though an element of this will be down to my 4 day old NDX 2 - I had an ND5 XS 2 with my nait.
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No Naim amp I’ve ever heard, including a SN2, would need to be cranked up to 12.00 volume, unless perhaps for party volume levels with inefficient speakers. If it needed that level into the same speakers as the XS2, I’m inclined to agree that maybe something’s not right here.
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Yes, 12 on mine was ‘party’ loud. This was just for a quick test, I could not listen for long at this level.
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Party loud at 12 o’clock was for me the SN2s greatest ace up its wizards sleeve. It’s particular voicing coming into its own.
Before that my XS2 got a bit rackety and shouty at 12 o’clock, whereas its big brother was like a well organised firework display with big booms and screaming banshees in their rightfull place.
Better still than my Karan integrated - which at 12 o’clock compresses the air in my listening room so much that the saturation oversteps the detail, making listening like it’s going through a gate compressor.
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When I used to run a SN1 it was very very loud at 12. Even going past 10 stopped being fun for listening, although good for a party. Definitely sounds like a faulty unit.
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Excellent description of what I hear!
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Yes, I find my XS2 seems to ‘harden up’ the treble and vocals at higher volume - “shouty” is a good description - not on all recordings but definitely most rock.
If the SN2 does not do this in most owners’ experience, I am booking a dem as SOON as funds permit!
Still love my XS2 though - it wiped the floor with my previous Linn Majik I (early model).
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I demoed both and ended up with the XS 2. Not that the SN 2 wasn’t impressive in the dealer’s showroom it’s just that I felt the XS 2 would be easier to live long term with in my untreated room. Never forget that it’s very much a question of balance - source/amp/speakers/ROOM/etc.
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Indeed! Balance is everything. I went for the SN2 because I was changing up to the NDX 2 as well so very much a case of wanting all equipment to be ‘balanced’ which to me meant having a source good enough to exploit the extra capabilities of the amp and vice versa.
I am using the same speakers, NEAT SX1 floor standers, confident that I will be maximising their capability. At some point in the future I may upgrade them and my source/amp will be good enough for that change.
That said, I do believe that the SN2 is a good step up from the XS 2 - using my Oppo 105 I can hear how it is improved with the SN2. It has a more controlled sound now. Is it worth £3,249 vs the £1,999 or so of the XS2? In my opinion yes, definitely providing it is achievable financially. We all (or some of us 
) have limitations to our spending and other alternative demands on that resource.
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In my experience, balance is what it’s all about, mainly - I have learned a lot from my slimline ‘active’ days and balance has been a key moment from those days onwards, regardless of how loud the volume control is. Enjoy!
That sounds like someone remembering when they used to go to the gym a lot. 
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Give me Bruce Lee over George Forman all day long!
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I believe that the SN1 is often paired wrongly. It needs inefficient loudspeakers so that the volume knob can be around 10.
I remember well the first time that I heared the SN1 into B&W CM1’s fed by a simple ChromeCast Audio. Tchaikovsky Symphony 6, part 1 - around minute 9 - (to be precisely 9:37) a sudden ‘BANG’ filling an entire room with sound. Sound so full that it could be cut in slices if you wanted.
Its capability to handle dynamics is great. Its less refined unfortunately - but a hicap quite improves it.
Ergo, the Supernait likes to work. Its a real workhorse, much prefered by me over these elitarian, glimmery sterile sounding new Unities.
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The SN1 is a bit of a sledgehammer. You know it has hit you when you crank it up. Pre 252 I added a Supercap and that added more refinement than HiCap.
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Nicely put, Crispy! We definately talk about the same amp.