The Naim New Classic range - Part 1

I bought my 222/250 in early March and the second I played it I knew it has a huge improvement over the NDX2/Supernait 3/HiCapDR that I had been using for the past couple of years.

Prior to that, I had a ND555/555/552/300DR system that was on loan for shows and musical evenings and had used it for about four or five years. That was a very special system and obviously, you get used to a system at that level and anything less begins to sound very ordinary indeed… so when I actually had to buy a system (I couldn’t afford a 500 level system in one go, even with the 300DR instead of the 500), I ended up with the NDX2 based system with the Supernait 3.

I added a HiCap fairly early on, and it was a nice improvement, but didn’t really change the world much…

Then I borrowed an XPSDR for the NDX2 for a long weekend and that made a substantial difference to the whole system… it meant I could listen without getting frustrated with it. Had I kept the Supernait system I would have certainly added an XPSDR or even a 555 because the addition of the power supply for the NDX2 was so significant musically I would consider it an essential upgrade.

Anyway, as I said, this was all replaced with the 222/250 I bought in March this year and instantly I was taken back to a performance very close to the system I had got so used to a couple of years before…

It was much closer than I was expecting. I kind of thought it was going to be about ‘half-way there’… if I was lucky.

But it wasn’t.

At all.

In fact, there are some aspects that were actually better. Much more defined pitch accuracy and much cleaner…

It’s also much more stable in terms of absolute sound quality. Previously, the big system would have good and bad days… it didn’t bother me because there weren’t many ‘bad’ days and the good days were sublime… there was many a night when I found myself still listening at 4.00am, conscious that I had a flight to catch or an early drive that morning!

So I knew already that this new classic was something special and after a few weeks of this I was really wondering what the NPX300 would actually bring to the party.

Obviously, I had had a demonstration of the system with and without at both Signals and other shops I deal with, I’m lucky in that it’s part of my job, and every time the NPX300 made an obvious improvement.

However, I had always known I would have the PS as soon as I could afford it, so picked one up a day or two before the Signals show to test it and make sure everything in the system was working well as I would be using it on our Confidence 30’s in a couple of days time.

When I got home with it, I played a couple of tracks on the basic system to just get a quick reference point, thinking all the time, this is sounding very good as it is, will this actually make the improvements I’ve heard before or was it just expectation/conditioning I was experiencing on those short dems.

I needn’t have worried!

The second I connected it and played that first track I just swore out loud to myself… It just took the entire system to a different level again.

The next morning, I packed the system up and took it over to Signals in preparation for the show the next day.

So to sum up… the 222/250 is a system I could use as a final system (and I am VERY fussy). I would have no hesitation in recommending it, as is.

If you can afford the NPX300 there and then, then go for it, it’s that big an improvement. But if you can’t, get the basic system first and then add it on later. But you may find that you are enjoying the 222/250 so much, you use the money to take the family on a decent holiday instead!

For me, who is used to very fast, uncoloured, monitor quality loudspeakers, the source and amplification has to be right… there is simply no room for error. Especially when you are playing to a mixed audience who have high expectations.

The 222/300/250 will be my system for both home and event use for the foreseeable future. I’m that confident in it. For home use only, I’d have been ok with just the 222/250, knowing I could make a really significant improvement by adding just one box.

I hope that answers your question.

And sorry it took so long… I just wanted to paint an accurate picture of my experience.

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Thank you so much!
Wish I could put second like, but cannot :smile:

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I haven’t heard any of the new kit, but I have to thank you for your expansive explanations and views on it. Your enthusiasm for Naim is clear and a delight to hear. I also have to thank you for the Live at Massey Neil Young steer. I hadn’t heard it and now just playing it for a second time it has taken me right back to my youth and all those youthful dreams and emotions. I can hear everything you describe so well,all of the nuances and levels but only streaming from the Auralic system with Naim DR 552 and 300. This source and amplification suits so well my Spendor 9.2 speakers. If the new 300/222/250 comes near to that I am indeed impressed. I look forward to coming over to the UK some time for a demo.

Edit. : and obviously will have a listen to those Confidence 30’s :grin:

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To all above, thank you for the interesting discussion. I’m in no way financially capable of going this route and am very happy with my Atom HE + NAP100 --although I’ll be looking for a second hand NAP250 when finances allow-- and it’s superb presentation of music. Mouths fall wide open when I have guests and they hear a real “stereo” for the first time. Anyway, off topic…

I’ve just looked at the specification pdf for the NSC222 and I saw this paragraph

Uses Naim’s latest NP800 streaming card with LVDS balanced digital signals for low noise. Stream internet radio stations, music from Spotify Connect, Apple Music, Tidal (and Tidal Connect), Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, UPnP servers, USB attached storage and Roon ready.

What stood out for me is the mention of steaming Apple Music and then later it mentions AirPlay 2.

Is this a type, or does it signal an upcoming feature addition?

Silly question, I guess, for all the reasons we understand. But it was a curious use of language as the device defiantly cannot stream music from Apple Music like it can from Qobuz, Tidal, etc.

I want to believe.

MC

I find that hardly surprising as in my experience the SN3 would not be nearly up to the job to drive those Confidence speakers confidently! No matter how many PSUs one adds to the NDX2 or the SN3. My SN3 could hardly even manage the S40s and could never really make them sing… so replacing this with a more appropriate amp such as the NC250 must have been a relief, indeed.

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We all live in hope, but Naim has explained that Apple want you to use AirPlay 2 currently. When and if Apple decide to be a bit more realistic about their desire to dominate everything about music (my words not Naim’s), then the new platform Naim streamers and Unitis and the NSC222 are ready to play.

Oh, of course it’s completely up to Apple at this stage and I’ve argued the case before (I believe it fits with their strategy, since they’ve done it with Sonos already and have sold Naim Mu-so in store.

I was just surprised by the curious wording on the specifications document.

I am impressed that the 250 drives the Confidence 30’s so well. The fact that the 222 can bring out the nuances so well is the second surprise. I am not in the market for either but if they can do this, then the new 300 when it arrives might just supplant the 500DR in my future dream system.

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True… but I wasn’t using the Confidence at home at the time. Most of my time with the SN3 was with SP40 or Contour and Heritage… but my comments are nothing to do with power or drive.

When I changed from SN3 to 222/250, I was using Special Forty as my Contour 20’s were on loan and we had sold out of Heritage.

None of those speakers, including the Confidence are difficult to drive… it’s one of those myths that keep getting perpetuated - that amplifiers are all about the ability to drive a speaker effectively. Even amp manufacturers keep saying it - although I can see why.

A competently designed amplifier will drive any competently designed loudspeaker, there’s just not that many of either around.

My comments were purely based on the amplifiers musical ability. So with exactly the same loudspeakers, suddenly I’m involved in the music in the same way I would engage with musicians.

It’s hard to explain if the focus is on ‘sound’ and technology… rather than music… they are not the same conversation at all…

An original Nait, on paper, shouldn’t be able to drive anything if you believe the conversations of today… People used to say Kans needed a 250 to work properly. No they didn’t, as would many Nait Kan users back in the eighties would testify.

Improve the signal, Rega to LP12, LP12 to Ittok, suddenly the Nait had a much cleaner signal and the Nait/Kan combination came alive… only then would you upgrade to a 42/110 or better and at each upgrade the system got better and better musically… My final system before I joined Linn was a 32.5/HiCap/250/Kans with an Ittok/Karma front end…

I could go on… but I REALLY, REALLY, need to drop out of this conversation and go back to ‘lurking’. So this will be my last post for now.

Apologies to Richard… I am trying to ‘leave’.:blush:

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Indeed. A-lot of systems i’ve heard in recent times are way, way too over speaker-ed. The SN3 is by far at it’s best with a top source, simple ‘easy to drive’ 2-way budget/mid priced speakers, then it comes into it’s own. Everything in its context.

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(enjoyed your contributions, hopefully there’ll be the odd occasion you see fit to post in future. Do not reply to this post :slight_smile: )

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Well :)) your myth is my reality and may be you are contradicting yourself a bit unless you believe my Nait2 will drive the S40 well and easy or unless you think it’s not a competent amp? Because I think clearly we both think the S40 is a competent speaker, right? :slight_smile:

Not sure where your interest with Dynaudio lies and if you are “trying” not to promote them here but I don’t really mind as long as it’s transparent, for what it’s worth I happen to like Dynaudio speakers, they just need to be partnered well. I believe the NC250 is one such likely very good partner and I wanted to point this out rather than the hype … on the back of a previously not very well partnered system to start with - in my humble view, of course.

Hello @Kryptos.

I see. That’s reassuring then. Thanks. @ChrisSU also mentions Steve Sell’s comments regarding the circuit and that’s good to hear too. I’m still surprised at the Magazines editorial team - how can they make such a rookie error?

Thanks both.

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Bill Livingston is Dynaudio’s U.K. sales manager. Is a statement that the Confidence is not difficult to drive entirely objective when made by the company’s U.K. sales manager? You decide. It’s a great example of why the presence of manufacturers on the forum is not a good idea. People ask them questions, treat them as special, take their opinions at face value. I’m sure Bill’s comments are given in good faith but they can very easily sway judgements.

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indeed, and … good to know?

I should clarify here that in accordance with forum rules, as an industry rep, Bill cannot discuss here the products he represents (except as incidental to any Naim discussion) and his posts have been vetted/moderated before appearing here. He is of course otherwise welcome to post, just not about products he represents.

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I welcome the input from other manufacturers that have demonstrated their products with Naim generally. It obviously has more meaning when forum members have also heard and commented on the pairing. I think it would be useful at least, for the forum rules to allow such members to declare an interest without us having to read between the lines.
Whether or not the C30’s are easy to drive is almost irrelevant in terms of this particular demo and comments, and wasn’t needed to be stated.
Oh, forgot to add. I won’t be getting a set of c30’s to partner my Nait2 in the bedroom system. :grin:

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I am grateful to BL for posting about the Neil Young live album. It a cracker. Cheers!

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You’ve nailed it Stephen, completely agree with you

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My new 222/300/250 has been on 24/7 for 4 days now and it’s on song now.

I wonder if it can somehow improve further.

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