Hopefully that wasn’t a too cringe opening.
So, I’m really wanting to garner more information from this wonderful forum and the wealth of experience of all you individuals. Please in advance accept my ‘apologies’ from lack of knowledge about active and what equipment can be used.
What can be made active in the Olive range and what are the steps involved? And also what the benefits/pitfalls of doing this?
Any advice and information will be greatly appreciated.
Not yet, this one is a keeper. I posted on another topic earlier that in the future I would go for 82/2x135/Supercap eventually.
It was more for information as I was being ‘green’ about the topic.
In the Naim world, you end up with snaxo powered by hicap, more than 1 power amp, and lots of naca5. Multiple boxes plugged into the wall.
There are plenty of threads here, have a search for terms like snaxo, active sbl, etc.
I heard a pair of kudos 707s active powered by supernait 3, 250dr, a snaxo, pair of hicaps - so 5 boxes just for the amplification (“cheating” by using an integrated vs 282) but oh my!
I was a NAD customer for over 25 years. Love the stuff and inherited a Naim Olive set up from my brother, which I still have packed up and will never be sold. Nap90 Nac92. He actually lived in Salisbury round the corner from the factory.
Heard them and fell for the sound, beauty and simplicity.
Still learning so much, but yeah, I’m going to be a lifelong customer.
This is a great combination. I ran 82 Supercap 2 and 2 x 135s CB for a fair few years. You won’t go wrong with this combination. No need for snaxo or speaker alterations or active. Keep things simpler.
You could go up from there with Snaxo, more cabling and upto 6 x 135s. But then again maybe a 500DR maybe better than that.
More racking, speaker cables and more to go wrong with an active system. But many much prefer it.
I’ve had the pleasure of listening to @Yorkshireman active 135 / 52 /SL2 setup a few times now, its one stunning setup with a large dedicated listening space which also helps.
Shortly, he’s coming over to my place to listen to my new to me 500DR into SBLs with Sean Jacobs crossovers.
@Rob.Steele if your looking to go active it needs to be done right with meticulous attention to the complex setup that comes with active as things can go south very quickly if something is off.
A lot’s been said about how complex and sensitive active can be, and indeed that’s the case when you start involving active crossovers, multiple power amps, complicated interconnects and loads of speaker wires.
I have an active system that involves one Naim box, two speakers each containing an active crossover and two 100W power amps, and two XLR cables to connect it up. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
If the OP is genuinely interested in active it might be worth listening to a Naim NSC222 and some active speakers from PMC or ATC among others before going for the NDX2. It’s a heck of a lot simpler and may even give better results.
The next natural step for me would be to get a Supercap and try, then the 82, then a couple of 135’s or just the lot if I can find them out in the wild at the right price.
I’m really enjoying what I have and it’s a keeper for me.
I don’t have a massive space (5.5m x 3.3m), my living room is the listening room, but live on my own so no problem with box count.
I feel the system has more than enough power and never really goes up over 9 o clock (if that makes sense ). I don’t need oodles of power, as I feel it would be wasted but I get that it is nice to have it if needed.
My CD3.5 died, looking for a cd player, obviously Naim Olive as I want to try to keep it all the same or as much as possible.
Vinyl has gone from my life, as I want to simplify my music to cd, streaming and minidisc.
Just a set of B&W DM110 I have had from new.
I had a demo at my local dealer (HiFi Corner) in Edinburgh last year. I was looking at a set of Harbeth… I want to upgrade but with the speakers I want to take my time and get the right ones.
