As far as changing in one go, for the previous two or even three decades to 2020, supply was ever better with JIT, better comms and greater choice of supply routes. From then on and in my view for the whole of this decade, supply and even availability will be very different. Naim may have had to take a realistic view, rather than what they might preferred to do.
There is lots of info on this thread and it does take time both to read and absorb. There are a couple of exceptions, but there is a post much higher, which tabulates which special connection cables between older and the new range. I had to follow all this for a while, before it became clear, as different peps made different comments. The other post above to highlight for info is that from Steve Harris at Naim.
Hope that helps.
Richard is this in response to my query about NC250 compatability with the 252282? Because on the Signals cable chart there are no cables for connecting the NC250 with said preamps�
Sadly the inputs on the NC250 are balanced and the outputs from the older preamps are single ended. You can, but never should, mix single ended and balanced.
Making up a single ended DIN to twin XLR is trivial. But really it would be a waste of both the 282 and NC250 to do that type of connection.
Maybe Naim have another solution up their sleeves?
IIRC there is a dimming option (might be a switch) on the rear of the 250NC, which has been mentioned somewhere above. What will have to be done manually, is to set the 250NC to standby, which isnât of course an option with the NACs you listed.
At least the âwhenâs the successor to the N272 coming outâ speculation is finally over!
And Iâm not sure about the hand-wringing over the backwards compatibility of the new power amp with the classic pre-amps. There are SO MANY options for those preamps â a wealth of 250, 250DR boxes on the gently used market, that if someone who owns one of those classic preamps hasnât bought an amp already, there remain options. If I understand the issue, that is . . .
Yes, the challenge for Naim here will be to avoid long waits for product. Much of this is down to supply chains, which have become very challenging, but also Naimâs capacity is ultimately limited by the physical constraints of the factory itself - Naim canât expand where they are as the area is increasingly residential. Space was feeling tight 13 years ago when Naim was selling half as much, and I know that both Trevor and Charlie did much to try to maximise the use of the space available in more recent years, but on my most recent visit you could tell that thereâs probably not much more that can be done to make the site more efficient in use of space than it already is. It will be interesting to see how this solved, both in the short term and longer into the future.
I think that the NC250 is compatible with both. Looking at the wiring chart on Signals, it has options for both HCDR and SCDR, which is the critical component as both preamps connect to the power amp via their power supplyâŚ
Yes, the new NAP 250 is compatible with all previous Naim pre-amps (202/282/252 etc). A legacy lead will be needed (4 pin DIN to XLR pair in this case)
The NAP 250 has a dimming button on the rear. It also has a music sensing override switch on the rear.
Iâll think Iâll be staying with my ND5XS2/XS3 for a while longer but as always good to see Naim pushing things forward and they look like great products.
One observation though is that, for me and I imagine for many living in average-sized modern houses, the NAP250 is complete overkill. Would be good to see smaller, less powerful power amps available if the streamer/pre-amp box is to become the norm.
Something like a new high quality half-sized NAP100?
Itâs about high quality, refined sound. The NAP250 isnât particularly powerful anyway but has the ability to 'drive, or âcontrolâ a speaker properly.
