The Naim New Classic range - Part 1

No deviation in the NC kit when it comes to separate power supplies. The new and old pre/streamer has an internal PS with the possibility to upgrade to an external/separate PS. The 250 has always relied solely on an internal PS - so no change there either.

We also pretty well know that the 300 series streamer, pre amp and power amp will rely on separate power supplies, although the power amp might be dual mono in two boxes.

The NC kit has of course evolved in several other ways, but not by the integration of power supplies higher up the NC range. It looks like Naim Classic box count will remain pretty much the same with New Classic.

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Whatever, good luck…

The changes translate to fewer PS in the range which is the point. Fewer boxes.

That is purely to rationalise the range of PSs. The reliance on external PSs in the NC range remains the same, so no fewer boxes in a system.

It is of course possible I have misunderstood you.

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You’re focused on a singular thought instead of my larger point. Fewer boxes better SQ. Naim today offers options for better SQ than it ever has in the past. All in one players, streaming pre amps and now we’re seeing a simplification of the PS range, and they will continue to evolve. Younger generations are not spending obscene amounts of money on stacks of boxes and Naim knows this. That’s not to say separate PS will not remain part of the Naim ethos but I wouldn’t be surprised if they figure out a way to achieve the same goal with a different approach.

I think we will have to agree to disagree on that one.

Simplification, not eradication….

I have owned pretty much all the Naim Classic separates and have now downsized to a Nova. The Nova is very good and suits my current needs, but Classic separates are superior sonically, no doubt in my mind.

Going forward, who knows what changes there might be to the Naim system architecture, but ther is no sign of withdrawing the use of separate power supplies in the NC range

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You’re focused on wining an argument instead of understanding. Naim has been evolving to the chagrin of the luddites since the beginning and will continue to do so. I have decades long experience with motos as well and I observe similar market dynamics with Harley Davidson. An aging market segment and expensive products that don’t appeal to younger riders. I think/hope Naim will do a better job of figuring it out than HD has.

I agree a load of boxes to optimise SQ is not ideal, and possibly a turn off to the younger generation. But Naim do have MuSo and the new Uniti range to fill that gap.

If Naim find a way to get the SQ they now achieve in the Classic range with fewer boxes then they would be mad not to go down that path. But from the evidence of the NC range they have not got there yet.

Hopefully we can agree on that.

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Indeed NC looks to be same pattern as before.

If we were to replace our system we’d need NC:
333/NPX
332/NPX
350

6 boxes. We currently have 7 because of the choice to use an nDAC.

The NC supports my statement with their changes to the PS range and the 250NC is another example, many here prefer the 250NC over the 300DR. One box better than two boxes and at a minimum Naim is extracting better SQ out of one box over its predecessor. Fewer boxes better SQ. I never claimed Naim has stopped producing PS, they will until they don’t need to anymore or people stop buying them. Ideally they figure out how to achieve better SQ sans the PS before people stop buying them.

:white_flag:

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Like it nigel made me laugh that did

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For a while I thought I’d agree that Naim seems to depart from its (highly successful) model of separate PS and reduces boxes by the fact that the NSC222 combine the streamer & preamp and operatable without PS. But then I remember NDX2 also can be operated without PS and as to combining two function into one box, it’s been done also with SN3 (tho’ not with streamer as NSC222, but pre & amp), and yet those don’t mean that Naim has departed from its “separate PS” model because the 500s are still using separate PS all the way. The new 250.3 doesn’t need separate PS, but so did/does the Classic 250.2 DR.

So the real test would be to see how the new classic 300s (and later “new 500s”??) be powered up, with PS or direct to from plug?:thinking:

I think your arguments are premature regarding the NC range. The only thing is the idea to have less different power supplies to power the boxes but from what I can see so far the power supply upgrade for the 200 series or necessity for the new 300 series (TBC in a few days) does not change the number of boxes as such.

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ElMarko will soon be along to put you straight.

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But being serious for a second or so. I am sure naim could quite easily just put the better power supply in the same box and sell it like that, just like most manufacturers do.
But naim like to do it another way, it has benefits for both really, for naim they can make more money offering power supplies upgrades, for the user they can buy at a cheaper price and upgrade when they can afford it.
Its worked very well for naim over the years, but going forwards it’s probably not the way as more and more want a less complicated system and certainly not something that completely fills one side of the lounge up.
We all know fantastic sound can easily be achieved by one box solution’s these day, just add speskers.
Plus many of the top hifi manufacturers now offer super integrated amps and some have even the option to add dacs, all of which offer great sound quality.
Is it the way forward? Obviously no on knows for sure but its certainly a great option to have and more keep on coming so the market must be on the up for them.

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Honestly I wish the same like him (el marko) for Naim with less boxes, but still the same sound quality! But while it’s not happening, well I choose the sound.

Can you not add two PSUs to the 222? Hardly fewer boxes - if anything they’ve increased them for a single pre/streamer box :rofl:

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i think if they managed to make a product with internal psu sound as good as the one it replaced with external psu…

Naim being Naim would have an option for an external psu on it…then it would sound really good!lol

Isn’t the NSC 222 the New Classic preamp/streamer replacement for the Classic NAC-N 272?

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