I know I’m that kind of guy.
But it is true we’ll need to hear them and the next lot before we can really make up our minds. I hope folk haven’t taken my comments as negative as they weren’t meant to be, I was impressed.
I know I’m that kind of guy.
But it is true we’ll need to hear them and the next lot before we can really make up our minds. I hope folk haven’t taken my comments as negative as they weren’t meant to be, I was impressed.
Do you know UK dealers who’ve been given demos of a 300 series mono block set? If they had, seems mentioning it to others would violate prerelease embargo.
I’m sure there’s plenty of speculation out there at the moment, but until Naim officially release something then speculation is all it is.
They will almost certainly have signed a Non Disclosure Agreement, the terms of which will include not talking about or refering to things before an official launch date and time.
If they aren’t honouring that agreement then they may face consequences including loss of their distribution capabilities if deemed severe enough.
Dealers will probably be hinting at all sorts
now and sailing close to the wind, certainly those that went down to Salisbury before Christmas.
They’re all getting excited at the thought of all that margin on new product sales combined with depreciating trade in values.
Hi ElMarko
That wasnt my impression, I popped into my dealers who were playing;
NSC 222 NPX 300 NAP250 Dynaudio Evoke 10 Standard Naim Cables
Also, the concensus of the staff at my dealers is that the 222 pre amp is on a similar performance level to 202. The streamer section of the 222 they say from their own tests can be bettered by a ND5XS and NDX2. This was conveyed to me a few days after my listening and when the dealer had spent more time with the system. So their view didnt influence my opinion.
I spent 2 or 3 hours listening to the system with the caveat that I am completely unfamiliar with the Dynaudio speakers. I use Allaes at home.
I enjoyed the systems clarity and transparency, drawing me in to the music and very involving. But I didnt think the system was doing anything particularly special and when I realised I was hearing the full 200 system with power supply the price tag left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
When I returned home I listened to a selection of the same music and found that the presentation of my system wasnt a million miles away from what I heard through the 200 series at the dealer, pretty much the same transparency, detail musicality and involvement only more so with my system.
Thats probably to be expected as my primary source is a fairly well advanced LP12…
Klimax Radikal, Keel, Karousel, Ekos SE/1, Dynavector 17DX, Superline/HCDR
NAC202/HCDR/NAPSC/
NAP250 DR (a bit cart before horse but I got a great discount at the time)
Allae
Standard cables and NAC A5
I have a Bluesound Node2i for casual streaming. I am becoming more into streaming and planning to upgrade. So the 222 initially looked interesting as a streamer upgrade and I thought perhaps the pre amp section an improvement on my 202.
Having heard the 200 system and subsequent thoughts of my dealer all my system needs is an upgrade to my streamer, either ND5XS or NDX2 and my systems streaming capability along with my vinyl front end should outperform the 200 series.
At the Launch Event I went to last week Jason from Naim stated blatantly that there was more to come this year.
The nextmajor one is gonna be in September if I remember correctly.
Anyone had a chance to compare Nova with new NAP250 v 222/250?
Even someone under NDA can speculatively say “more to come”. The fact they’ve also stated on the forum the deprecation of existing power supplies and the NAC 202 and NAP 200 went out of production gives a feel of their general direction from a ranging perspective.
I’m sure he didn’t go in to any product specifics or details. The new NAC’s are what everyone will get excited about, myself included.
If ND5XS and NAC202 outperform NSC222 with NPX300 then, well, we’ve all been had.
My money (fwiw) is on the PS being contained in the same box (albeit it may have its’ own inner space/box)…so 2 @ monoblocs, each with their own self-contained PS (similar to the new 250.3 X 2 ), And no option for an external/additional PS…available before Xmas…this year.
Thats not quite what I wrote, but hey listen for yourself
Yep - that’s my take on it also.
Blimey, the active NAP90s are history!
Yeah, that’s quite a divergence from the impressions I’m reading about and hearing first hand. The 222 like its predecessor the 272 defies comparison to any stand alone amp ime b/c it’s not a stand alone amp. I’ve never heard a 202 system that betters the 272 and from what I hear that has continued with the 222. I consider the 202/200 to be among the more uneventful of the Naim range yet I consider the 272 to be among the best of the range (for what it does) and I was coming from a 252/SC2 which was just okay imo. Everyone has their tastes and from what I’ve seen early on the market is responding favorably to the NSC line up.
No I still have them
But you can use it just as a pre amp and improve the source. So it is possible to judge by comparison how well the pre amp stands up against other models. Likewise the streamer section can be judged by connecting other streamer components.
I just listened to the 3box integrated system and my thoughts are as previously posted. My dealer who I have had a trusting relationship for over 25 years said that after further listening trials felt the 222 pre amp section was similar in performance terms to a 202 (with NAPSC & HCDR) and better streaming performance “by quite some margin” was achieved with ND5 XS and further with NDX2.
I havent heard those comparisons for myself (yet) but if my dealer and all 3 who work there says its so then I believe them.
Just to bring my comments back into context I was initially responding to Pete The Painter musing on whether he would sell his current system and replace it with 200 series. On what I’ve listened to and my dealers advice, for me and my system its a very clear no.
Yes, I compared the new 250 with a Nova to a new 250 with a 222 in a back to back dem.
I considered the difference going from a bare nova to a nova + new 250 to be remarkable. The subsequent step up from the nova+250 to 222+250 was noticeable, but less jaw dropping (only a few songs, my ears, etc.). More space and a little more clarity, perhaps.
We didn’t have time to try the 300 power supply, but from everything I’ve read here (and my dealer concurs) that makes the 222 really sing. It should do at the price though!
Yes, you can, but it’s not a fair comparison. The preamp is encumbered by a ps and streaming board. It makes no sense to buy a 222 to use as a preamp. A holistic comparison would be a better measure of the 222. That said, you’re wasting a good source on a 202 so your SQ tastes are likely night and day to mine so there’s no point comparing subjective experiences here. Pete will do well to listen for himself.
That what I have done, I have used a dedicated streamer to bypass the streamer in the 272 and it has made a remarkable difference particularly with the addition of Quobuz.
I also took delivery of the new 250 yesterday to replace my 250dr and that has made a noticeable positive difference.
I had a 202 for 9 years and I don’t consider the NDX (that still gives me superb service by the way) as ‘wasted’ having fronted it, unless I’m fundamentally missing something? I’m certain many on here will feel the same…