FWIW, my Utopias sound pretty good through the headphone amp in my 222, although I’m sure there could be more to be had with a dedicated amp.
For a modular rack, I use the Quadrapire SVT which works very well for my mix of components.
@Middle Are you using the 222 to stream? Are you using the nap250?
@MaxiMe if I changed my racks, I would stay with SolidSteel.
I’m using the 222 as a streaming endpoint. Usually streaming from Roon. I manage the multi-room via Roon, too.
The 222 feeds a 250DR via a wireworld custom cable. I like the sound from this setup a lot. The 222 is an amazing piece of kit, great ergonomics and a darn good preamp, and the 250DR is just terrific. There’s room to improve, of course, but 222-250 certainly gets one well into the flatter part of the quality/cost curve.
I recently listened to a 300-222-250NC vs a 300-300-333-332-350-350 six-pack, when I was auditioning the Wilson Sabrina X vs the new WattPuppy. Yes, the 300-series sounded better, especially re bass control and the ability to resolve complicated music. But, at least to my ears and at the modest volumes at which I was listening, not all that much better! Going from the lesser to the better speaker had MUCH more impact on sound quality than going from Naim’s 200 to 300 series. (Of course, again, this was to my ears, ymmv).
Curious to see where you get to on your journey!
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@Middle Which are the better speakers? For me upgrading my speakers from Spendor A4 to the S7.2 proved revolutionary.
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That’s great! Really glad your new speakers are doing it for you.
In the Wilson Audio comparison, I listened with Naim electronics to both the Sabrina X and the WattPuppy 50th Anniversary. Both are amazing speakers.
Between the two, the WP50 was clearly the winner (as one would expect from the price difference.) Listening to Hamelin play Schubert, it was like I could hear the wood of his piano’s soundboard expanding and contracting with his left hand work. Listening to Whole Lotta Love, it was like I could hear Bonzo falling down a staircase and landing on the 1. Not that the Sabrina was a slouch by any means, but the musical bass of the WP50s was a real differentiator.
That said, my next speakers will likely be Magicos. I haven’t heard them with Naim, but the speed and accuracy of the A5 and especially the new S3 reveals the start-stop of notes just exquisitely.
I think if you prioritize vertical sonority and chordal beauty and harmony in your music, then Wilsons may be the way to go. If you like linearity and transparency and melody, then maybe Magicos. Can’t go wrong, and I’m sure your big Splendors, which I have not heard, are terrific too!
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@Middle Good luck with the Wilson speakers. My dealer is a big fan of the brand, but visually they never did anything for me. My room is rather narrow and I don’t think they would work for me. Besides visually we don’t like the Wilson colors
My Spendor 7.2.were both a huge upgrade and way more than I ever spent on speakers. I have no regrets. I intend to keep them for quite some time. Previously I spent less for speakers than electronics or sources. My dealer had repeatedly said my system could support much better speakers and he was absolutely correct.
We also have a constraint regarding speaker height. Most speakers that would be significantly better than the 7.2s would be taller. We have a NYC skyline view that taller speakers would impede.
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I ran Spendor A7’s with an SN3 and they sounded great. Then I added as HC DR and they sounded great. Then I added a 282DR (with SN3 as per amp) and they still sounded great. Then I added the 250 DR and they still sound great. I have a small room and they are perfect. Can’t believe D7.2’s need to be upgraded, especially when you want “smaller” floorstanders. But I would recommend the 282/250 upgrade.
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The D7.2 work great. We will upgrade to the 332 and nap 250. My dealer felt the A7 had similar speakers to the A4. The D7.2, had more updated tech.
Well, according to the survey it’s not the Nait 50. 
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