@110dB slightly off topic but you mentioned that the 300PS can be used for solstice (I tried it and it is very good) the xps dr can be used in place of 300 to power the 222. Does this mean the xps dr can also power the solstice?
HFL did a Naim day with Solstice back in the autumn. Very nice to hear, one of the tracks being the intro to Pink Panther - go figure.
On Saturday just streaming from NSC222 ++.
Your question has iirc been asked before - try a search perhaps!
Nope, not getting anything in the search.
Hi @sound-hound
Many thanks for additional detail to keep Andrew on the straight and narrow. My new boxes have not yet arrived so was not aware speaker socket had changed.
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James,
good point: the test didnāt reveal whether the brigher sound from 222+250NC compared to 272+250DR/300DR was coming from the streamer/pre-amp or the power amp.
I would argue that such a test is a bit artificial: the vast majority of customers will either stick the Classic line, or make āthe big jumpā to New Classic.
For me the test showed that the big (and costly) jump does not pay out in listening pleasure or musical experience. A bit of a pity, because I like the increased functionality of the 222 versus 272: Tidal, Roon and colour display. Too badā¦
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When you got your ND555, did you consider getting anything else instead, like a 552?
It could also be because the newer units simply donāt have as much burn-in time on them - this can take months and itās hard to believe the NCs in dealers have had as much play-time as the older gear. Just a thoughtā¦
It could also be that the newer series is, in fact, more accurate and that the speakers in question have a ātipped upā treble response (quite common these days, sadly). In this case, the older components could have been hiding this, if they were not quite as revealing in the treble.
This is only conjecture, as I donāt know the speakers in question, neither have I tested the new series side by side with the old. Iāve just been in the hobby for 35+ years and know that itās easy to attribute a certain quality to a new component, without re-examining the rest of the chain.
I heard the Atom HE, driving the NC250 through Harbeth C7ES-3 XD. Different speakers (known for flat response and non-tipped-up treble) and source. Iām super sensitive to excess brightness/fatigue and was quite happy with this combinationā¦ But that doesnāt tell you much either, without direct comparisons, except that I would be more than happy taking that system home, as it sounded great, very natural and musical to my ears in that room.
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I joined the MC division of AA in 88 and have many memories of interactions with our audit brethren in Surrey St. was good to escape them as Andersen Consulting then Accenture. Has helped fund my Naim journey through to my current NC config of 222/250.3 (yes - back on topic!)
AA 94-96 Chicago office here.
Knew a few AA trainees (unique characters and renowned blue cotton suit shirt corporate dress IIRC 
) as part of our Welsh capitalās āBig Sixā officesā graduate intake for ACA. Fun and āexcitingā times qualifying with KPMG (1990-4). Any PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Grant Thornton or DeloitteTouche fellow beancounters care to reveal themselvesā¦
Back on topic - Iām interested in how NC222 compares with NDX2 with and without corresponding power supplies, before I consider my next moveā¦
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Congratulations on a well-written and interesting comparison. However, I think that the preamp in the new NSC 222 is clearly better than the one in the NAC-N 272, so it would have been interesting if you had also tried the 222/250DR and 222/300DR, then you might have gotten the best of both worlds.
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Has anyone had a chance to pair the new 250 with a 52? Please forgive if this has been reported already and Iāve missed it. I was thinking my next ābigā upgrade would be a 300DR but am now questioning that.
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Something not quite right here then.The new classics are definitely not overly bright in fact natural and accurate is how I would describe them or just effortlessly musical. Maybe not fully run in (did sound bright in the early stages) or possibly the speakers as you say?
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Chord is missing a business opportunity by not making this cable directly available.
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Iād seriously listened to the 500 series amps and wonderful as they are, theyād not tempted me to spend the money. The source uplift however was compelling enough to make it a must buy for me.
My dealer came to do the home dem of the sources (NDX2/555DR and the ND555) and commented that it was the first time heād heard the 800 series B&W well controlled by amps. I mentioned that it was financially painful that for me the next realistic step from the 52/135s was a 552/500 and to my surprise he said he didnāt se why Iād bother given how well my current amps sounded with the B&Ws. A very honest no sale I thought.
(Iād done shop demos of Chord and DCS with other dealers as mine didnāt carry them, neither grabbed me enough to make me ask for a home dem.)
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Something was in the back of my mind about this B&W series being a bit tipped up in FR and a difficult load for amps.
I canāt find any measurements for the D4, but Stereophile did their usual suite on the D3. 5dB peak at 10K, which will definitely add an edge/subjective brightness. This will depend a bit on toe-in and seating height though. Note that the slight bass boost is caused by the near-field measuring technique used.
No idea if the D4 has these features though.
Being a tough load for an amp, with a hard combination of phase and impedance at various points, would tend to make it quite amp dependant, I would think, in how it sounds.
Hi @sound-hound, glad another forum member at HiFi Lounge demo. Itās a lovely relaxed place there isnāt it? By angle of your photo, were you in front row of the 10.30 sitting, or 2nd row to left of me and my wife? As an owner, how did you relate to the sound with those large Focals, compared to your own set up? How did you find the addition of 300, did it make want to add yet?
@Ryder35 take a look at post 455 from Nathan - quickly located it late last night
Makes a comment re XPS - the Signals website also still has the compatibility table on their website.
I appreciate this thread is now 5k+ - however if you are interested in the subject the first 2k + are worth reading - lots of good content. Thereafter quite a bit of thread drift which RD has tried to keep back on track.
I read all the first 2k and then in stages, kept up. I was interested in peps experience of the new boxes since I couldnāt access mine immediately - now installed.
Thanks, and also to Orac, for Nac A5 info. I thought I would be a few generations back buying them so long ago, and using with non-Naim gear since, other than a little while with flat Nordost cables. Dates, appearance and arrow confirm A5 so Iām all set for Saturday when I travel to pick up NC222!
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