You’re thinking what I’m thinking 
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I have to channel Steve Jobs here…
While at the helm of Apple, Jobs insisted that every element of the Macintosh computer be beautiful, down to the circuit boards inside. “Look at the memory chips. That’s ugly. The lines are too close together,” Jobs said of the circuits in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Comparing these pics of the NSS 333 versus the NDX2 I see design regression, laziness. Sorry, I am not drinking the Kool-Aid and that might be because I can’t afford it. What I am seeing here is an overall cheapening of these products, combined with price increases, all being sustained by those who refuse to question the brand’s direction out of some sense of fealty. By the time you audition and/or purchase, your brain has pulled the wool over your eyes, convinced there must be improvement and/or to validate the purchase decision.
I am not buying it.
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What is your take on the 222 etc v your previous ndx2 etc, soundwise? Was it a bare ndx2 and 250dr? Really interested to hear your thoughts.
Shhh… Lets convince everyone they are rubbish, so we can buy them up… 
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Good question. Can’t find it via search there are simply too many threads hitting keywords 
If you search you’ll find plenty similar threads
(EDIT I did eventually stumble across this)
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Yes, exactly, and common sense in this case is probably that Richard and Naim’s head of development knows more about this than you do…
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Steve did say that the pictures were off the bench, showing the development unit that had been used to try things out, and that the finished article would be to the usual fastidious standards.
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Looks like my kids are going to have take a year off from school.
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Well done Naim! Brilliant looking and more coherent NC range emerging with every box. And the Nait 50 - what a sweet souvenir and a toy, very cool move!
Btw, after I’ve heard and lived with the Atom HE and now the NSC222, I am not too surprised and applaud sticking with the new DAC implementation, which to my ears sounds better than previous ones, including the NDX2 (which I have owned too).
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Yes, it’s a bit of vortex on the question of a NDX2 into a nDAC, and not unexpectedly non conclusive 
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Whether you think an nDAC adds anything to NDX2 with a PSU in play will come down to personal preference on the sound signature, other system components, speakers/cabling, room and musical tastes.
Very close.
A bit like the classic vs new classic debate LOL
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The NSS333 looks to be a bit of a dog’s dinner in comparison to the neat layout of the NDX 2.
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It’s pre production. Let’s be happy that it’s shared here.
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Don’t be too hasty to criticise. This is what Steve wrote above…
“…There will be some beautiful official under the bonnet inside shots from our Marketing team. In the meantime, here’s some blurry iPhone photos straight from the R&D workbench.
Please bear in mind these are prototypes and do have modifications. They will have been taken apart many times and their condition shows this. Production units are fanatically built.”
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My initial thoughts, still prefer the casework of the classic series but understand why many will prefer the new. My main complaints would be that I’d prefer a smaller volume knob, I don’t really like the recess in the center (though not a big deal as it really only stands out on the top components on a Fraim rack) & prefer the smooth sides vs the heatsinks. On the perspex center, I think I’d much prefer if it had a nice satin bead blast finish vs the gloss. It’d be much easier to keep clean/not show scratches but not sure how well the logo would work.
The OCD in me was a bit shocked about the wire dressing in the above shots but I’ll reserve judgement until actual production samples are shown.
Pricing actually seems better then I suspected (depending on performance). Locally, it appears the 332 is actually priced less then the 252 was & when matching power supplies are added to each unit, they work out to the new combo still being a bit less. @110dB I’m curious as to what level you rate these new products vs the Classic line? Is the 332 @ 252 level?, someone mentioned above maybe bare 332 is ~282/HCDR level & adding the PS brings it up ~252/SCDR level? Or based on the previous NC items that were released, price vs performance, maybe the new pre/PS combo falls somewhere in between?
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You working folk certainly get up early you were posting just after 6am.
@Mike_S mixing styles doesn’t bother me I’d more concerned if there was a musical clash.
Think after all the dust settles most will think that Naim has done a reasonable job at bringing the stuff up to date. I’ve been saying (along with lots others) that their pre amps needed a much needed upgrade, and so far both pre amps look to achieved that. Definitely agree the 333 looks less interesting at this stage especially if you have a NDX2.
However the real winner is the anniversary Nait, apart from maybe including a line out so it could be used as a pre I think they nailed it. Think a lot of their anniversary so far has had mixed results. The Tin system is discounted by more than $20k and the TT is also heavily discounted. Don’t think the Nait will have any trouble selling. I can see that with a nice set of bookshelf speakers and a turntable.
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Only my perspective, but I’m surprised to read so many posts criticising the internal layout, external appearance or specification of the just announced 300 products. Apart from Naim staff, none of us have seen, much less heard the new products and Steve has kindly shared photos that he made clear were of ‘work in progress’.
It seems to me that many of the features / innovations people have been asking for on here have been included and at a UK price that is lower than I, and many others, were expecting. Great work by all at Naim and personally I look forward to forming my opinions when I’ve had the chance to listen to the new products.
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Richard they maybe there now but judging by how much the NDX2 has been discontinued here it certainly seems it’s on its way out. I’m also assuming that if there’s a ND555 replacement the current model won’t be around long as well.
Won’t be long and the old “Classics” will have they’re own thread. 
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I’m not even working this week Pete , took a few days off so in highlands
I woke up at 3.30am why I don’t know so yes responding early
I’ll be taking guidance from you know who before I jump into this new gear if I ever do 
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