The Naim New Classic range - Part 1

Yes, but…white display as current NDX2 and the rest in green. I consider it a must have :slight_smile:

No and I should. Roy George and Paul Stephenson have separate earth rods IIRC.

I have multiple MK sockets being fed from a separate switch and spur from the consumer unit…I’m a beginner :wink:

7 Likes

Went for a brief looksie/listen today…

The NPX300 wasn’t fired up.

So the NSC222 into the NAP250, into Kudos 606’s.

Initial ‘visual’ impressions (IMHO) - like the new casing, not as enduring/classy as the Classic, however very acceptable. Not sure about the longevity of the perspex/acrylic centre front - only time will tell.
The volume knob looks not quite right, but grows on you. The white lighting has 3 levels, dimmest setting tones down the white halo on the knob.
Remote is as per previous, now with a white light vs previous green. There also looks to be white light indication of volume level…

IMG_5077

‘sound’ impressions (IMHO) - no humming, volume setting has a good range.
TBH, it sounded OK/good, however I was a little disappointed…note - no NPX.
(I was prob comparing it to my own system which is not reasonable.)

In summary, well done Naim. The streamer/pre does not interest me (will keep my Linn).
A ‘300+’ series amplification set-up, esp if mono-blocks, would def be of interest - dependant on SQ.

All in all, looks promising.

IMG_5073

IMG_5074

IMG_5075

Lets see what develops…

24 Likes

Can the lights be shut off?

My thoughts exactly, hopefully one for a future firmware update…

Yeah, I don’t want lights with my hifi, the low dim glow of the green Naim logo is the limit for me.

3 Likes

I’ve asked direct questions about the central glossy plastic section a few times now, yet to get any formal Naim feedback, probably won’t in case anything someone says comes back to haunt them one day.
It’ll surely be a dust/cleaning headache, at least old classic can handle the occasional stroke of a microfibre cloth, I’m less sure about the new casework, just a case of be more careful than the careful you’re already used to I guess!
It would be appreciated if someone in R&D just gave an indication of the reasoning for the design and if it provides any performance benefits, not much to ask is it?

5 Likes

300DR is very good - i would wait and see - but gut feeling is no - not worth it. May also depend on what speakers you have.

3 Likes

I think this is one of the positive things about the extension (living room) that we added to our place in France. Apart from being a nice room it also has a separate consumer unit with a 6mm spur for the Hifi. In addition the earthing is all new under the foundations of the cellar which was also extended as well. As part of the village renovations with fibre and burying the mains supply cables plus a brand new substation. The naim kit is very quiet and a much simpler chrome bumper system which sounds pretty damn good.

2 Likes

Don’t think so…only ‘dimmed’.

1 Like

That’s probably reserved for several years for the 500 series

1 Like

I went into my dealer today for a non Naim related matter and he showed me the new boxes all I can say is they look very good indeed the clarity of the volume control for a person like myself with Diabetic eyesight problems was very good particularly the option to dim.

We had a brief discussion on the new kit and it all seems very positive indeed will pop back and have a listen when it has a few hours under it’s belt.

Will be interesting to see what is released in due course??

8 Likes

How much better do we think the NSC 222 with NAP 250 will sound compared to NDX2 with SN3? Will it be worth the €2,100 more?

5 Likes

If you have the NDX2, I wouldn’t be replacing it with the NAS222. I know it’s the latest great thing, but perspective is important. Wait for the new 300 series amps and use them with the NDX2.

12 Likes

What scale are we using here to define better?
I imagine if you can afford it or are willing to fund it, you’ll always find a way to justify the purchase.
I’ve got a SN3 + NDX2 and have spent a little time with the new 200 boxes, they perform very well, you’d not be doing badly with either system realistically, a new SN3 + NDX2 is still a £10K 2 box system after all.

4 Likes

I have a NDX2 with SN1 plus HiCap. I was considering upgrading the SN1 to SN3. That’s why I ask.

3 Likes

I thought just that right off the bat, I’d expect an NDX 2 with a 200/300 Series NAC/NAP will match well.

2 Likes

That would be a decent upgrade, no doubt the SN1 is overdue a service regardless as well.
You can get a nice low mileage SN3 used/ex-demo as a bonus, anything 200 Series is £5700 however you look at it :relaxed:

Funny how tastes differ.

The green is very idiosyncratic, and is more likely to divide opinions than white.

White is neutral and i am sure that if dimmed reasonably will not be obtrusive and pleasant.

We can be really thankful that Naim did not go for blue as in many other products, which in my opinion is the worst color you can use for hi-fi equipment.

1 Like

All this fuss about green versus white when we all know it should have been red :wink:

3 Likes