Here’s a link Richard posted last April.
Sorry - I should have said April 22 (not last April) for the link I posted.
Correct. AFAIK @Darran can service most/all of the ‘older’ NAP’s, PS’s and NAC’s.
He has serviced my 250, 140, HiCap’s, XPS and 82.
Brilliant, thanks Dave - I’d missed that post somehow.
Funny you mention 202/200 @YetiZone because I was about to also suggest an OC pre/power combo! (but didn’t want to make things too complicated )
Did some reading here on that even, I believe the sweet spot combo to aim for is then the NAC282 (which includes a NAPSC) with a NAP200 DR, no HiCap needed. The power amp has been easy to find at relatively little money for a while now. The pre-amp should now be more available in all the OC/NC system changes. When you go to that level amp the source becomes a lot more critical though.
Yes good thinking about bigger Dynaudios needing enough amp. For the Emits you have now “even” the XS3 will likely blow your socks off. But for the Dynaudio Contour 20i - some mighty fine larger standmounts - you should never go below NAP200 / SN3 indeed.
We 'll learn more in due course about where your system planning is leading you. What system in which room, and also all-digital, all-analogue, or need for a hybrid system, makes a big difference in the choices. System planning, end-game planning, is a very sensible way to save money and effort. It’s just that often one need to try things to learn where you want to go.
In that context, something that I haven’t seen you mention, is saving up and going straight for the NC combo of 222/250. With for speakers something like Evoke or Contour standmounts to succeed the Emits, depending on remaining budget. Has an upgrade path with the 300 power supply but appears to be mighty fine without it as well. Did you hear them at the hifi show recently?
All that planning is also fun, good luck!
@daddycool I generally prefer the simple approach with just a decent source (or two) and an integrated amp, but the used prices for the Old Classic pre / powers simply can’t be ignored at the this moment in time and it is something I’m seriously thinking about.
Likewise the NC 222 is an option for that same reason of keeping it simple but with a different approach incorporating the streamer & pre in one, but an NCS222 would have to be paired with a NAP200 firstly (due to cost) while I save for a NC250. Although, this approach does not allow for experimentation and maximising out the digital source if future funds ever allow. Yes, I did hear a full NC200 system at the Acoustica show, but was slightly disappointed as that system was being used with Focal speakers as opposed to Dynaudio, but sounded ok, but no where near as good as the 300 system at full chat with the big Dyns!
I’m a touch reticent about buying a 282, purely in terms of opening up too much of a window and exposing my RP6 - which I’ve decided will stay for now, as I was anticipating changing for my next upgrade, but as i’m listening more and more to digital these days that will plan will be shelved for now.
Thanks @YetiZone, some good deliberations going on!
In case you missed it this review from @garcon may help (or confuse) you further:
@daddycool Ah, that’s great, I’ll read through that thread later.
Yes, lots of deliberations! Have to admit, as well as eyeing up the tremendous value for money New Classic options, a part of me is also wanting to hold off and see what Naim launch in the first half of 2024.
The only risk of doing that is the potential for the ‘black box stash’ to get swallowed into a contingency fund for the house renovations - gulp.
200DR/202/NDX - start with that for 3k-ish
Get the HiCap and Stageline for your birthday and Christmas, respectively.
Hell, keep the UQ2 as the streamer for a while if funds are tight. You’ve got a great upgrade path where you’re starting from.
You’d be happy with any combo of that.
Thanks @Maury_Finkle The first NDX is an absolute bargain at the moment and is tempting, but the greater future proofing of the NDX2 and ND5 XS2 also appeal, albeit at greater expense.
Are you happy with your NDX (from your profile)?
Absolutely thrilled. May be the best VFM out there.
I won’t lie and say I’ve not been tempted by an ND5XS2. But the fact that the NDX supports native Tidal is enough for me when I want to get a little stream-tastic. I don’t want/need anything better than CD quality. This MQA/Hi-Res nonsense is for the birds. Most of my deep listening though is the CD rips i have on a drive - so the NDX is perfect for that. Sounds better than any of the streaming services. At a very compelling price point.
My TT gets very little use, which I suspect would be different for you. If that’s the case, a setup with a Stageline would keep you in music for months…
I went down a similar path to you a few years back and realised that I was trying to do too much too soon when all I wanted was to sit and listen to / enjoy music.
This is the beauty of most Naim gear - no matter what you get, you enjoy listening to it. It makes you come back for more because it sounds so good.
The constant upgrading and swapping and spending more money and then asking people on the forum if you’ve done the right thing is just the icing on the cake.
Yes @Maury_Finkle’s is one of the many interesting routes you can take @YetiZone .
Please note that for a digital-only system there is now also the Atom HE plus NAP250 DR at the interesting prices you mention (even sealed OC series NAP special offers at dealers in the UK).
Would be enough to drive most Dynaudios, some happy forum members with that combination, and something very simple and actually relatively cost-effective. Budget left for a PowerLine (or two) or that dedicated mains or a Muso (also special prices for those here in NL now) for upstairs.
Choices choices! Especially when buying ex-dem/pre-loved several comparisons become moot. If you add everything up total cost of the various options is often surprisingly close.
Drove me nuts, so I settled on what I have now, and so will you eventually
@YetiZone
Just read your latest thread, up to date, and caught up on your latest thoughts.
Interesting read
Hope you’re enjoying the journey.
KR
R
Actually this is one of the things in my mind as well.
I (now) remember that (again) from when I had a much lesser digital system. Qobuz via Audirvana on a MacbookPro via USB into a DAC-V1 into my Nait 2. The streams from Qobuz seemed thinner for lack of a better word. The rips on the Macbook through Aurdivana were snappier, more zing. Sometimes too much of that depending on the recording, or sometimes really flat, whereas the streams are more constant.
I now have Qobuz via my new digital front end but I notice the same thing compared to the rips on the USB stick. Hires music there can be really nice but sometimes doesn’t sound like real added value. I wonder if that softening effect has to do with streaming via Wifi instead of fixed ethernet. I should do an experiment with that I guess, perhaps you know.
Anyway, it looks like I will not only be buying some more vinyl again, but will also rip some more used CDs. There are one or two good music shops in town that focus on used CDs. But, no stress there, just slowly discovering a whole new system level again that now makes all these things more noticeable.
Thanks @ratrat It certainly is a journey, especially so when having to consider all the budget related options and variables, this compounded by a clean sheet approach.
@daddycool & @Maury_Finkle I tend to look at Naim’s streamers as Swiss Army knife devices that are wonderful at covering a multitude of approaches to listening to music, but to me the primary role is as sophisticated CD player with a CD collection immediately available to play via a phone or tablet - love this facility.
I have considered the Atom HE / NC250, and it is affordable (just) but slightly concerned this could be diluting the source first approach somewhat. Only a dealer demo would confirm if it gets close to a NCS222 / NC250. Would think not, but as an interim solution for a year or so, it could work…
The last word is certainly justified here.
Might have been suggested further up already but you could use a Nova or even a Star as a starting point, later add a 200 Series NAP 250 then beyond that swop a NSC 222 in to replace the Nova/Star, that still gives you options even from there, a NPX 300 driving the NSC 222 and even evolving further towards a 300 Series system as funds allowed.
Using a HE Atom to the same end will probably only make sense or appear preferable if you’d intend to repurpose and keep the HE Atom longer term rather that leverage its trade in value.
Based on appeal and resell value I’d probably lean towards a Nova, worse case it can be used as a one box solution as a Step 1, a HE Atom cannot!
@Mr.M Ah, that’s an interesting approach. Have to admit, I hadn’t even considered or thought of the Nova at all. I’d forgotten (or missed entirely) the fact that it is upgradable by adding an alternative pre or power amp, and I have always liked its form factor too. Another option to consider.
Pretty sure there are others on here with Nova + NAP 250 (200 Series or DR). The fact you can start with just the Nova is also beneficial and it is known to pair favourably with a NAP 250 and is indeed designed to do just that.
In my case I went from an NDX2 + Supernait 3 and did a straight swop for a 200 Series NAP 250, I happened to have a Linn Selekt DSM I could repurpose with some minor changes, which is essentially doing what a Nova could in your scenario.
My logic at the time being that the NAP 250 would fit in to any system and allow me to make choices later as circumstances allowed.
I still have that same setup today and may in fact continue to evolve the Selekt DSM towards a full Organik (dual mono) source config.
Very interesting you have the LINN Selekt - something I know little about, but the concept looks very interesting from what I’ve seen on their website. How did it compare to your NDX2?