I have recently upgraded to a pair of Acoustic Energy Corinium Loudspeakers.
I currently use a Naim Nait XS2 70wpc and Hicap DR.
I am now considering a move to to pehaps a used NAP 250DR or Supernait 3. The Corinium are a 4ohm load and would perhaps benefit more from a 100wpc NAP 250DR?.
Is the NAP 250DR 100wpc or 80wpc into 8ohm?. Would the Supernait 3 be just as capable as the NAP250DR driving my Coriniums?.
I know many forum users would perhaps suggest upgrading PRE AMP first and then Power Amp, unfortunately funds at the moment will not allow this. And If I go the NAP route I would be using my Nait XS2 as a Pre Amp with the HicapDR.
@EazyRyder i do not have your speakers which may be a big factor, but that not withstanding the SN3 is very good. I am suggesting the SN3 since you raise budget constraints. @Dan_M suggestion of a separate amp and pre-amp is preferred. .
70 wpc to 80 wpc means that you would have essentially the same power. No increase in capability. Even to go to 140 wpc would only be a 3dB increase. Your speakers are quite sensitive at 92 dB, and a nominal 4 Ohms, so if you are unhappy with how it sounds, then I suggest looking for an amp that can deliver lots of power (say at least 150 Watts) into 4 Ohms. That requirement would probably put you into a separate amps configuration as not many integrated amps can put out that much power into 4 Ohms. However there is no need to spend much on the pre-amp as all it really is doing is providing a place for a volume control and source switching.
Ideal could be pre/power, but you seem fixed on getting the power running with XS. That XS could easy be traded to a preamp.
Not sure about your source, which is the most important in the chain. You seem to be on the road to a mullet setup starting backwards, focus on watt, saying 70w, 80, 100w - is like many others believe watt decide performance. You risk a 25w will sound the best.
Never mind, the best you can do is listen for a home demo, indeed if your loudspeakers can be difficult, in a large room..
It’s a mistake to build hifi systems by numbers IMO. Naim’s little all-in-one box CI 102 is 150 wpc, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to sound better than a 282/250. The other problem is that tastes in musical reproduction are very subjective so what suits one listener might be less than ideal for another. In my experience, nothing beats a personal audition, but with Naim’s current reduced offering that might be tricky. If there’s any way you could listen to some of the options first that would be ideal.
Otherwise, perhaps decide what amp setup you’re aiming for and if it’s currently unaffordable, decide what short term compromises you can tolerate whilst you accumulate the necessary funds. I wonder if it might be worth talking to the dealer you got the Coriniums from.
The only source the OP indicates is a CD transport, so I stick to my opinion that the pre-amp is not much of an issue here. The thinking about the source being the most important element, (and the need for a good pre-amp for that matter), made some sense in the 1970’s when almost everyone had to listen to music on black plastic blobs pressed into a disc, over which an electromagnetic device was then dragged that produced a tiny signal, needing dramatic amplification and equalization. Then, almost anything could (and usually did) go wrong, opening up opportunities for expensive equipment sales to rectify things. But welcome to 2026!! I can leave now
Then I suggest running the system as it is and enjoying it. You can drive yourself crazy wondering if it could be better when there is no specific problem to sort. But that is what most of us do in this hobby so why should you get off free?
Have had them with SuperUniti, 250DR and now 300DR. Every step up the amp ladder, the speakers improved. Numbers are irrelevant really, the SuperUniti is rated 80W 8ohms (120W into 4 ohms vs nait xs2 at 100W).
A 250DR is completely different to a nait, being a fully regulated power amp. Oodles of power and lots of headroom, a significant step up. The 250DR is very capable, and will have far better control of the speakers than the nait can manage - improved bass control and general tightness/speed.
Our SuperUniti drove our SFs adequately, but we weren’t hearing the speakers at anywhere near their best. With the 250DR they came alive.
You seem to run a good CD transport as source, at least they get good reviews.
If you have the option to try home demo, or at least a dealer nearby ? maybe you consider buying second hand. This is often the difficult way to try new kit, if you have to buy before listen.
I can only speak from my own experience having owned a pair of Coriniums since Nov 24 paired with a Supernait 3 and NDX 2 I felt the speakers required more drive. My first step was to pick up a used Hicap DR in March which improved things. Since then I have gone on to replace the Supernait with a new 282 in May and new 250 DR in June which I found to be a significant step up especially at low listening volumes.
If I had my time again I would definitely skip the Supernait.
The name NAP250 derived from the total power output into 4 ohms (250w). The 250 is spec’d at 80wpc at a given distortion into 8 ohms. You should get ~125wpc at 4 ohms.
The regulated NAP250 has a much better output stage than the unregulated Supernait 3.
You are better off selling the XS2 and going for preamp and poweramp. I don’t understand why you would want to keep the XS2. If you go for a power amp like a 250DR, it makes no sense at all.
Your decision though. I have a wealth of experience with Naim amps and an 82 or 282 with 250DR will give you so much. An XS2 250DR doesn’t make sense.
