Rega P9 with Exact MM
Naim CD5si with Chord Epic XL IC
SN3 with HighcapDr
Spendor 7.2
NDX2 with XPSDr power supply
Focsl Utopia headphones into SN3
Cardas Beyond Clear headphone cable. Long.
Epic XL speaker cable
Chord Sarum T IC from NDX2 to SN3
Isotek V5 Sigms. Isotek power cables.
My main source is streaming (80%). TT and CDP are infrequently used. Headphones are also infrequently used.
Would I gain a lot from a separate amp and pre-amp? I thought of the NC 222, but its streamer might be significantly inferior to the NDX2 and why pay for unused aspects?
I would need to run the pre-amp without a power supply b/c my racks do not have enough shelves. The same would apply if I were to get a separate headphone amp. Not enough shelves. Would my limitations suggest remaining with the SN3 which is also very easy for me to operate given my disabilities. If I purchased a next level beyond the 222, it would need a phono stage which I have no shelf space for.
How is the sn3 coping with the Spendors at your normal listening levels? If all is good the logical next step if you have the room for it is to add a nac 282 and use your existing hicap dr to power it. The sn3 could then be configured as power amp only.
Otherwise as you suggest the 222 might be an improvement. I haven’t heard one to be able to comment.
Depends on your budget, but I’d think a 332/333/250 plus a half width phono would beat your current set up and would be the same number of boxes, you could also lose the CD player if it’s not used much.
The only Naim preamp that doesn’t require a separate power supply is the 332. You could use this with your Supernait as power amp, or with a separate power amp such as a 250.
As a bonus, the 332 has a much better headphone amp than the Supernait.
That’s still one more box than you have now - can you accomodate this? If not, perhaps now is the time to move on from CDs, your CD5si being a weak point in your system overall.
Ultimately if you want a 3 box streamer/amp your goal might be 222/300/250 or (better, at a higher price) 333/332/250.
I tried out a SN3, but ended up with the NSC222 and matching NAP250…..but only after swapping a few XLR cables. What got me there was a post on here regarding Ice Age Audio over in the States. Returned the £600+ loaned pair (will refrain from naming) I had, and kept the Ice ones (£175). Initially no difference, both excellent, but after 30 hours of the recommended 100, the Ice ones keep improving. Every system’s different just like our ears. As many say, go out and listen to systems, great advice. There’s also great advice on here, which you can often miss, luckily I didn’t.
I’m sure there will be an SN4 at some point in time.
Or upgrade your primary source since it accounts for 80% of listening. A better incoming signal usually makes it easier for the amp and speakers to maintain control.
@Murmur I think your suggestion of improving the primary source makes the most sense. I could do that by adding a 555PS to replace my XPSDr for the NDX2 or go with the NSS333. I am inclined to want to keep the NDX2 and go that route.
@ChrisSU My husband wants to retain the ability to play our CD’s. We have about 500 CDs between us. Maybe more. If it was up to me I might give them up, but when all us said and done we have sone great stuff on CD that I would hate to lose. Maybe I should just focus on upgrading our primary source (streaming).
I think it is getting time to confront the elephant in the room, so to speak. Our limited shelving is shaping all our options. We need to consider new racks. My husband does not want racks that are higher. Maybe we need to look at racks that are modular with reduced space between shelves,which would give more shelves. Our current racks are fixed height with some shelves having 8 or 10 inches of space brewed them. Given my disability, Fraim is not for us, but there must be other good choices.
The other thing I’d add is that with a NDX2 or 333 you don’t need a regular CD player. You could use a half width CD transport, and it would be quite a bit better than the CD5Si.
Unfortunately can’t advise on that one as never had that combo
But that combo could be quite good I would imagine , I think others on the forum have that combo
Don’t get me wrong , the NDX2 is a very good streamer , it’s just that the 333 is much better imo / lot more revealing etc etc
Now in my other system in another location I have the CD5XS (or cdx2 as have both although cdx2 dodgy these days) as transport into the NDX2/XPS2
Use to have the SN3/HICAPDR driving that but swapped that combo out for the NAIT 50 integrated
No particular reason really just to drop a box or 2 , the SN3 has a lot more clout than the Nait 50.
Wouldn’t be in a hurry to let go of the SN3 as it’s a very good integrated if funds are an issue
What you could do is hold off to see what replaces the SN3 ( I would imagine there will be one) and at that point maybe upgrade to the 333. So 2 boxes and if you feel the need for 300PS for 333 then fine.
You seem to have reached that point where you cannot climb further up the Naim upgrade path without adding more boxes. To me, a tall stack of them is visually intrusive, and this does make upgrades tricky.
I use a HiFi rack made by a small UK company called Isoblue. Each shelf 120mm high; a 100mm gap and a 20mm thick shelf, which makes them just right for a Naim Classic or New Classic box. Not sure if they are available in the US, but if you can find something of that type you can perhaps work out how many boxes you really have space for.
Realistically you don’t need to buy or change anything. “Stuck” is the wrong word. Sit back and listen, really listen to your system. Does it give you enjoyment?
Simply stop. There is nothing wrong with your system. There is no need to change anything.
