Just done an edit to that effect.
if Naim can update the input circuits of the NAP250, to Statement spec (so, Balanced XLR) , then clearly, the same could be done to other NAP’s. Doesn’t have to be, but could.
There was an almost legendary thread where a member had one item out of kilter and identifying it was a nightmare.
I am so, so glad I have a CD player, a phono stage and a Nova . That thread was the best advert for system simplification
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I see a number of fundamental changes with the new range …
a) The use of balanced connectors
b) The “soft-switch-on” which is, I assume, to encourage users to switch things on and off and not leave things powered-up 24/7
c) The signal from the pre-amp is no longer routed through the external power supply (so what about star-earthing)?
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444 is part of my number plate. Had it for years. A chinese friend will not travel in my car.
As a designer (and Naim enthusiast) I share your concerns…so we test, test and test.
A reed relay when used correctly is designed for over 100 million operations.
A good potentiometer is designed for 1 million.
It’s a little more complex than this but I hope this helps.
During dev IIRC the Statement volume control was tested 1 million times.
…and they sound great
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Yes, I know I was just referring to the text of that statement by Signals which seemed categoric in the way it was worded.
You couldn’t bypass just the DAC stage with the 272 either. Otherwise, I’d have hung on to my nDAC when I got my 272.
Roger
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Thanks for that, much appreciated! And the rest of your replies above. Hope we’re not taking you away from anything that might delay the release of any other New Classic kit 
Don’t agree there. I prefer olive SUPERCAP to SUPERCAP 2. I prefer NAC 52 to 252. I prefer 135 to nap300 to name a few.
New design and new circuit technology doesn’t always produce a better audible result. What I do think this generation will achieve is streamlining the products- As there were some people who didn’t like the box count. For purists the older lineup was perhaps more suitable.
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Finally it’s Friday!!
Best regards Potentiometer tester
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@110dB could you please clarify where in the Naim power supply heirachy the new power supply fits compared to the XPS DR and the 555 Ps for the NDX2. Thanks.
Defining “better” when it comes to something that should touch our senses is rather challenging 
For naim sales it is however important that a majority of the customers believe it’s great or better otherwise new products will get a rough ride. Still it’s totally OK thinking it’s not
Hi Kryptos,
As a headphone amplifier NSC 222 is better than Atom HE. (better DAC, filter and volume sections)
Atom HE is more affordable, smaller and has an array of connections for many types of headphones.
The separate left an right ground on the Pentaconn and 4 pin XLR technically improves channel separation. If the sockets are clean this advantage is very small. Channel separation can sometimes be overrated as an influence of sound quality. CD vs Vinyl etc. However connections are not always linear. i.e. is not that there will be a pure flat -90dB ‘left’ on the ‘right’ but non-linearities of left on right and visa versa. Keep connections clean and 1/4 inch is great.
I’ve been using an NSC 222 for a long time now as my main system and I don’t want to give it up.
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My Auralic Vega G2 has a relay-operated resistor ladder volume control and I have never encountered any reliability issues. I sometimes visit the Auralic forum where users are quick to raise problems and have never seen any such issues raised there, either.
Roger
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Just catching up on this thread and new products which I like the look of.
I am sure I will give them a dem at The Sound Org (York) one day even though I am not in the market for such.
Richard
My guess - is that ‘for now’, the NAP300 will continue.
But the new 300PS has ‘300 series’ written on it. So… we already ‘know’ there is to be (probably…) a 300 Streamer - and so I think we might ‘guess’ there will be a 300 pre and and 300 power.
That 300 power may or may not be related to today’s NAP300, like the New 250 is related to Yesterdays 250.
Just speculation, on my part. But based on what has been revealed by Naim, so far.
@110dB, does the NSC 222 without NPX 300 compare favourably with NAC 202/HCDR/NAPSC or would the PSU be needed to achieve a comparable SQ?
Consider also that this would initially be through a NAP 200DR.
The NPI team (New Product Innovation Team - a multidisciplinary team at Naim) started working in 2017. They formulated the range, features, upgrade paths, feasibility studies and technology routes.
Then there’s engineering, production, approvals.
Complex products tend to take 2 years, complex platforms 3-4 years.
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Despite my positive reaction to the looks of the new design, and my expectation that the sound will have improved (but let me say here that I think it will be in a “hifi” sense, not an emotional sense)’ my beloved 52, supercap and 135’s are staying exactly where they are.
Why? Because I absolutely love the way it all presents the music. I have yet to hear anything I would rather listen to my music with. For those who wonder, yes, I have listen to many brands, and everything Naim has made (Olive series onwards) except the statement amps.
I am so happy to be content with my system and not feel the urge to “upgrade”.
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