That all looks very nice, and very 2020. Presumably the Naim lives in the cupboard. Your lovely system reminds me of that previously owned by @Bart with NDS, 555 and Supernait 2, and some larger Devores. Just don’t get tempted like he did and end up with a 552 and 500 too!!!
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To be honest, no difference to my ears!!
I’m pleased. But actually surprised too since I wasn’t the only one suggesting getting the right hand speaker out of the corner.
Main thing is that it works for you.
good to see the old CDS555!!! Great CD player … owned for a while before switching to streaming! Mistake in hindsight — should have still kept the 555
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I think that because I moved them in the morning but did not listen again until early evening I had probably forgotten what they sounded like!
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I think so, it’s still a great and iconical piece of kit regardless of performance
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Ah yes, I see them now - the glass and feet made them look like something else. I thought long and hard about the NDX/SN route but went the way I went - if I’d gone t’other way I can see I’d have ended up with what you have, though probably with the ProAc Tab 10, which has always appealed. While your setup is considerably more source first than mine, both get a long way towards the sound of the big systems for about a third of the price. As @KenC would say, Enjoy.
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Thanks for the warning HH. Like you I came down to a small system from something much higher up the naim hierarchy including a 552/500 with huge B&W800s. I’ve imposed a three box limit, so my dealer thought this was the best I could do. Interesting differences between this system and the 272/250 one. I could see why many would not feel the difference was worth it, but I feel the new system is more nuanced in every respect, even though the old system had more drive. My dealer says there’s a lot more to come. Let’s see. That’s exciting if it happens.
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Great — 
.
Yes be careful! One day you wake up and, “What have I done??” Just kidding - listening right now to Ragpickers Dream” and it sounds fricking awesome.
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Yes Bart! Your system must sound amazing, great front end, great amps and whilst I don’t know Magicos, except by reputation, they must be ‘fricking awesome’, if you like them more than your old DeVores. I am hoping, if I can upgrade my living space, I’ll have space for some Gibbon Xs on the end of my Supernait 3 in the future.
I DO like them more than my old Devore Nines. I had the X’s in my home for about 3 days, but they were too much; a little too big (imposing) size-wise, and the bass boomed a lot in my room. I’ve since come to appreciate “sealed box bass done right.”
If you can audition Magico A3’s or A5’s (which are more on par with the X’s) I’d do it. Although the Devores will be easier to drive.
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Hi Bart,
I didn’t know the Magico A5 were available. It doesn’t show on Magico’s website. Have you auditioned them?
I did listen to the A1 and A3, but not the A5.
I found the A1 quite surprising considering their size. Nice speakers for small rooms and near field listening.
The A5’s are shipping just now. Nice review on TAS, and a few other places.
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You left out the Q’s. And needs a new thread.
I’ve just seen the price difference between UK & US for the A5s. £24,900 vs $21,800. Now I get how Americans must feel about Naim pricing!
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To put it simple: performance.
A series: classic box design, more affordable componentry, yet highly performant
S series: more sophisticated box and crossover design
M series: state of the art
The Q series is slowly being discontinued. They keep producing the gigantic Q7, but not sure it sells a lot.
I spent a few hours listening to nearly all Magico speakers in exceptional conditions: enormous listening rooms and no one around (did not listen to the S5 and S7)
All Magico products are extremely well built (all closed box design) and perform astonishingly well.
I tried some British and French speakers, but have been always disappointed with the low end. I even was giving up the idea of being able to listen to a correct, under 65Hz, reproduction .
In terms of sound, I’d form two groups: the A series and the S/M series.
The S and M series being extremely flat, the WYFIWYG kind of speakers (What You Feed is What You Get). The low end is… the best I ever heard. If you like the “Naim Sound”, well this is exactly what the Magicos will provide.
The best cello and piano reproduction I have ever heard was through the M2 (surprisingly, not through the Q7)
I always thought that well integrated ribbons tweeters couldn’t be outperformed by any dome. Well, I was wrong.
The S and M series tweeter is simply amazing, extremely fast and precise. Violin with gut strings sound so silky and natural (it can sometimes sound harsh… if you enjoy baroque music you certainly now what I mean.
There is no such thing as a perfect speaker.
But Magico raised the bar up to a new level.
As for my personal choices, I was planning to buy the S1 MkII (the Q1 being discontinued).
I couldn’t believe that a pair of speakers could provide the clean low end I enjoy (like through headphones), until I heard the M2. Unfortunately the M2 were out of reach.
The S3 MkII aren’t that far from the M2. So I end up buying the S3 MkII to which I added SPODs.
These PODs are ridiculously expensive but, believe it or not, they make a very noticeable and immediate difference.
If price isn’t an issue, then go for the M2 with MPODS
The S3 MkII with SPODs are, IMO, the sweet spot.
The A series is also gorgeous option to consider.
Of course, all the above is my opinion only, speakers is something rather personal. And I encourage you to audition before buying.
As @Bart suggested a different thread could be more appropriated.
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Hi Folks, this is an update to https://forums.naimaudio.com/topic.php?oid=69004037262748424&coid=159503632588890 (page 20, post date Jan 25th)
Changes done:
Wall mount for TT, added Thorens TD 2001 (mid), TD 126III (right), Musical Fidelity phonoamp
Added Carts ELAC ESG 796H, Ortofon Vega and OM Super 40, Lyra Delos
Changed HP amp to Muscal Fidelity MPX (balanced), added HP Focal Clear
Changed NDX to NDS, added CHC PS-555
Added tuner Yamaha T-85, added input selector for TT, TEAC tape deck, Yamaha T-85
Changed Power bar and cabeling to HMS and B-Fly, added several B-Fly bases and IC cabels
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Great write-up.
Did you listen to the M3s as well? How did you find that they compare with the M2s?
We seem to appreciate the same kind of bass response - sealed enclosure, high resolution, high quality. I am thinking of buying one of them but am a bit concerned that the M2 will have to little low-end energy (in my 26 sqm room). I do like the Massive Attack records you mentioned in a previous post, partly due to the bass, but I do not like it boomy.
Best regards
Hans