I enjoyed reading your comments but I can only report what I hear. I was expecting something like a new 300 series sound… but that’s not what I can hear ? I think you’ve posted previously that they sound similar ?
To my limited understanding at a fundamental level an amplifier is a signal copier. It takes a small input signal and produces a larger version of the same signal, using the power supply as the energy source.
In theory, an amplifier should not have a sound of its own. Any audible differences come from real-world imperfections: distortion, noise, bandwidth limits, output impedance, power-supply behaviour, and interaction with the loudspeaker.
Better amplifiers don’t add character — they simply lose less and interfere less with the source signal while driving real speakers.
Since naim is a performance driven company these discussions are very interesting to me. Let’s see how the amp will perform after few more weeks of running in ?
Might need a better streamer. Nait 50 is very transparent with a more airy top end than OC which is more forgiving/closed in. I come from 552/500 an in all honesty, the difference is not might big. Sure the deepest low end are not as powerful with AC/DC, but I also only listen to Jazz.
It’s been said many times. If you find synergy with room, speakers, electronics, music then Nait 50 is all you need. Your Dynaudios are also not easy going in my experience like ATC etc. They want power. You don’t squeeze Nait 50 into any kind of room and setup of course.
I never really came on with a 202, maybe the DR200 was what needed ?.
Had it with a 200 (non DR) and later added Hicap, later HicapDR.
Also in a 250 based setup, even worse.
As others point out, we all have different taste and preferences - room, setup, source and loudspeakers.
“Soundstage” was never high on my list, neither do I believe its Naim amps strongest.
The live feeling, “musicians are there in your room” is seldom heard better than from a Naim based setup. Their loudspeakers exemplary doing the trick like few. Actually I don’t really like a too laid back soft performance, I’d rather have a forward presentation, live music sometime feel like.
You may have hit the nail on the head. The better the source the more it will expose the strengths and weaknesses in the chain… My N50 copes admirably with the Dave, on paper you’d expect a mismatch, but no.
I think the purpose of the post was to feedback their experience compared to other Naim amplification owned. Not many have this array, so interesting from my perspective. The only difference is in their opinion i.e. the Nait 50 did not give as much enjoyment. Thanks for sharing @Analogmusic.
I wonder if something subliminal has occurred and affected your perception as your recent comments seem completely the opposite of previous enthusiasm and the glowing comments you have made about the N50.
I enjoy the N50 for what it is (I also use it with several sources including Dave though I feel a little transparency is lost using the N50 compared to couple of other amps I own). I can understand that other amps are better pairings for certain genre’s.
Maybe a tad harsh on the hyperbole comments and enthusiasm of folk here just because your musical tastes don’t really match with the amps capabilities in a pretty demanding genre.
Certainly my experience of the N50 is that it has improved over time. Saying that no amount of running in time is likely to alter poor synergy with the rest of your system and genres of music you enjoy.
The N50 normally around 26-27 degrees C.
