Three Box NC system advice

Hi-Fi Corner
1

I am thinking about the next upgrade path from 282+HicapDr+Nap250Dr and need your advice.

Listening tests at home and with my speakers unfortunately not possible because the dealer who can trade in my current system is far away.

Due to space limitations, I can only have three boxes. I want to center them around a Nac 332

What are your opinions which of the three systems below is better and would provide more sonic depth, space and refinement without loosing the captivating and highly enjoyable energy and emotion of my current system ( does this sound spoiled or what :sweat_smile: ?):

  1. Nac 332 + NPX 300+ NC 250

  2. Nac 332 + 2 NC 350 monos

  3. no upgrade - keep current system

I could get option 2 for the same price as option 1

Any opinion how a Luxman 509z would compare to options 1, 2 and 3 ?

Thanks!!

2

I’ve never heard any of the NC separates . . . but why should that stop me from having an opinion? :smiley:

What speakers are you using?

My speaker-agnostic recommendation is to get the monoblock amps. You can always add the PS for the preamp later.

Have you heard the 332 with and without the 300 PS?

3

@Emrah i have option 1 with different speakers plus a 333. Not completely analogous. The power supplies make a big difference.

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4

Option 1 by a mile.

The 332 is highly handicapped without the NPX300.

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5

Thanks :rofl:

Speakers are Sonus Faber Guarneri Tradition. They sound really nice with current system and I surely want to keep them

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6

Very interesting. My hunch was that option 2 would win

Option 1 is also interesting because it would be a good possibility to add the new Naim Phonostage

7

I really like the Naim phono stage with my Rega P10.

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8

It’s nice that it would work without a powerchord, just with a supply from the Nac 332

Option 1 gives pre amp, powersupply, power amp and phono with only two powerchords, if I am not mistaken

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9

Not in my experience.

When the New Classic range was first available for demonstration at my local dealer, I listened to your option 1 in comparison to your option 2 when considering a change of system.

Using a NAC332 → Option 2 with the NAP350s was clearly better than the NPX300 + NAP250, and that is what I decided to buy.

I bought the preamplifier as soon as it went on sale in Sept 2023 → NAC 332 using with my NAP 250 DR power amplifier

Then traded that amplifier and added the mono’s when they were first available in Jan 2024 → NAC332 / NAP350 / NAP350

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10

Add an NPX300 to your 332 and live with it for a month. I guarantee you’d never want to use the 332 without it again.

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Actually, I lived without one for nearly 2 years, and the system sounded magnificent, and everyone who visited here and listened thought so too.

For clarity, I did buy a mint exdemo NPX300 in September last year, and yes it makes a noticeable improvement.

However, I did the original demo as described and the result was as I have stated, the mono’s were better - did you do the requested comparison?

You have suggested that the NAC332 isn’t listenable without the separate power supply, which in my experience is completely incorrect.

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12

Just as with any Naim product, I would never buy a product designed to sound inferior without the additional power supply and then never buy the additional power supply. If someone only has room for 3 boxes, running the 332 bare forever would be a waste of its potential in my opinion.

I used the 332 without the NPX 300 for approximately 9 months. I’ve never stated it isn’t “listenable”. Stop twisting my words. However, there’s a dramatic change when added. So much so that after experiencing it I would never use the 332 bare again.

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13

Go option 2.

332+350

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14

Thanks @GeoffC . Would be terrific if you can briefly share what you liked better about option 2.

Any views on these two aspects ?

  1. I read in some reviews that you need to turn the volume up with the NC 332+250 combination in order to get the sound come alive. This is the case also with my 282+Nap250Dr system. It would be nice to have “more music” at lower volumes.

  2. Also read that the 350s give you more bass. Worried that this could compicate things and require additional room treatment. However it could also be the opposite: more snappy and less boomy bass with the 350s.

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I would go for option 1, which I have. I believe it to be superior to option 2. Many others I know would choose option 2. I think you need to go and listen to both options and decide which you prefer.

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16

I was just on the phone again with my dealer who had also sold me my speakers and my current naim system and he said the 350s will have too much control over my speakers.

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Is it really possible to have too much control over a pair of speakers?

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I am Puzzled. Very difficult to find a dealer who has my speakers and naim for listening.

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But that would make it 4 boxes :joy:.

You can power the Naim phono stage from the 332 I I think, and the power supply for it is a separate item and not the NPX 300.

Can you listen to both setups at another dealer? I suspect your speakers would work better with the 350s, but the NPX 300 on the 332 will provide a different benefit.

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20

Ah OK. I thought the phono stage would also benefit from the NPX.