System Pics 2021

Thanks for your kind comment. I’m not sure I can help on the SN3 front as I’ve not tried it with a power supply. It cannot use a 555 and needs a Hicap or Supercap. The DR tech in the SN3 is more extensive than that in the SN2 and the benefits of a Hicap will logically be less. I was originally intending to have just the NDX2 and SN3, but as I had the 555 left over as it were, having sold the 272, I decided to use it, and there it’s stayed. All I can say is that I don’t miss the 300 in any way, but then I swapped speakers to something more suited to the Supernait.

Your Kudos will benefit massively from your 300, just as my SL2s did. I effectively built a whole new system with the emphasis very much on source first, and I have to say I’m absolutely delighted with it. I thought my SL2s would be irreplaceable but the little ProAcs are an absolute joy and the whole caboodle works wonderfully.

Which probably doesn’t help you at all.

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I have a Hi Cap DR on my SN3, I’d say it’s a worthwhile improvement, but in no way did the SN3 ‘need’ it. I do have an ND555 connected to the SN3, so I found the Hi Cap added more detail and nuance to the sound, lower noise floor and all that stuff. It just let more of the sound of my source through. In the context of my system it was worth the investment, but I had my SN3 for 6 months without the HiCap and it still sounded great. Overall for me a HiCap is a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity.

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I bought in a Hicap DR on my SN3 and for me it was a very noticeable improvement, see if you can demo one is my advice and try for yourself.

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If you go from 282/ Hicap dr/ 300 dr to SN3/ hicap dr, you will loose 2 boxes but the downgrade will be massive.
I would go instead for something like Bartok into Townsend Allegri + into active ATC. You will not loose a lot on sound quality.

Thank you @frenchrooster. Sadly I had to let the Bartók go, due to a temporary cash flow problem. This is why my front end is now a RPi4 and a HiFiBerry DAC. Doing the 282/300DR no justice at all.
I thought, not only could I reduce the box count, (I have only one shelf left) but parting with the 282/300DR may of released a bit more cash.
I had a future project of NDX2, SN3 and a decent power supply. But having read the replies, perhaps that’s not a good idea?

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Thanks HH :+1:

Thanks @Huxleyaston :+1:

Thanks @Monkey_Jim

What a polite chap @DJM is, thanking those who replied to him, so nice to see.

Sometimes it is all too easy just to hit the ‘like’ heart.

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In the overall scheme of things, it’s still a very fine system by any measure, as long as it’s balanced with the right speakers.

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Should still sound awesome I’d say with the Titan 606’s though?

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I’d think so, they have a low impedance.

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The answer here is to try it out. That’s what I did. My dealer loaned me the NDX2 and SN3 and ProAc loaned me the speakers so I could see how it all worked. It’s easy to get into the mindset of needing to have X and Y, and that if you drop down a bit then the losses will be ‘massive’. But will they really. That’s not what I found, but as I said before I changed speakers at the same time. Mike makes the excellent point about how good the SN3 is with ‘suitable speakers’. If you were to change and were constantly thinking ‘it would be so much better if I still had the 282/300’ you will never be happy. When I swapped from 272/555/300 to NDX2/555/SN3 I reduced the amplifier but significantly improved the source. That, I believe, is why it’s worked out so well. Let’s face it, if someone cannot be happy with £15,000 of Naim there has to be something wrong.

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When I listen to my Nait2/ND5XS2/Allaes I sometimes wonder why we spend so much money on the big systems always puts a smile on my face when you click play and for less than 4k.

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In that case I understand. I had the same cash quickly need problem 3 years ago and had to sell my SME turntable. But I still enjoy music as before, with a Rega Rp10.

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But then you listen to your favourite piece of music on the bigger system and it all makes sense - to me at least. There’s a place in my home for both, sometimes more :grinning: .

I have my main and my study setup - the one, separates (albeit Olive entry level) and the other, the Atom (another entry level). They compliment each other in different ways and to me I have the best of both worlds.

It’s quite exciting for me, knowing there’s more out there to be had - but I don’t think of these systems I have as lesser than; they work perfectly in their environments and put a smile on my face daily.

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Don’t get me wrong, my 282/HCDR/300/SL2s/ND5XS2,MSCALER/QUTEST on Fraim (seems so much kit when you type it out) is my end goal setup and is excellent but at 8/9 times the cost, ever decreasing circles.

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Not sure about that – only a matter of time and you have a Hugo TT2… :rofl: :rofl:

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Heard them together and as long as you match speakers, that is a fine compromise between good sound and box count .

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Hi @frenchrooster.
Thank you. It is 10 years old now. I really must get the cartridge re tipped.

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