I’ve been enjoying my B&W 705s with a Naim Nait XS 3 and ND5 XS2 for the last couple of years, however having recently moved house, I am finding it difficult to extract similar levels of “oomph” from my set up now it’s in a much bigger room.
I’m finding that the volume is having to be pushed harder and there’s been a notable drop off in the bass. Others may be able to educate me on the subject, but my assessment was that I am starting to see the amp strain, as I understand the 705s are notoriously hungry.
The speaker upgrade pathway is highly likely to be a (very competitively priced) set of B&W 805s in the near future, so I’ve been putting some thought into the amplification side of things.
Budget is limited so I won’t be treating myself to a whole set of New Classic separates (even though I’d love to), but the upgrade paths I am considering:
Swap the Nait XS 3 for a Supernait 3
Add a NAP 200 to take over power amp duties from the XS 3 (with a view to buying other separates in the future, including a Hicap and NSC 222 to replace the existing kit)
I can pick up a c.10 year old NAP 200 for about £600, so once serviced, it’s a £1k endeavour. There’s a few SN3s on the market at the moment for £2.5K, so again a £1-1.5K route if I sold my Nait XS 3.
Any other suggestions that I may have missed as a novice?
If you are thinking of keeping the xs3 as a pre amp consider the Hicap and Nap 250 for the amplification. That will keep you happy with a range of speakers that may fill your new room better. If you go towards the SN3 then consider the more cost effective SN2 if you don’t need a phono stage.
There is a Nap 250-2 on the auction site now at 850 pounds. They do come up now and again and to my mind is worth waiting for if you intend to continue on the Naim path. As Dan says it allows you to think ahead to the days when a 282 becomes within grasp.
The 250DR is a very different beast from the 200, being a fully regulated power amp. A 250DR will provide the extra power and control you are looking for.
However, system balance is important and your XS3 would be outclassed. So as above, you would need to move to a separate pre/hicap.
So which route you go down depends on whether you’re prepared to upgrade in stages and throw more money at the problem (but not a lot - OC pre loved prices are great VFM).
You’d be completely potty to consider the 805 with an ND5XS2 and a Nait XS3, with or without an additional power amplifier. Those speakers are very much in 333, 332, 250 territory. Unless you have a good few £s ‘000s lying around, Chris’s suggestion of more copacetic speakers is a very good one.
I’m with others in suggesting that, unless you’re planning to spend big, you’re looking at the wrong end of your system. A change of speaker to something more easy to drive look’s like the obvious way to go. Ideally, listening to a few possibilities at some dealerships would enable you to draw up a shortlist. Home demo is best, but not sure how possible that is for you.
One brand you might consider is Focal. I’m not the biggest fan of their high end models but their midrange speakers are generally easy to drive and many people use them with Naim.
Thinking about things further and knowing that B&W speakers are power hungry with a large room I would seriously consider other makes of amp that are more powerful.
Otherwise for Naim gear you’re going to need something like a 300DR in a large room for it to work. The 250DR may still be underpowered depending on the size of the room.
I would be looking at something warmer sounding as the B and Ws can sound bright.
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Can you demo some different amps in your new space? Maybe a powerful integrated 180 watts or 200 watts per channel?
I agree to that. Focal midrange has a similar warm sound but without the boomyness. I’m a big fan of the xs level system with Focal speakers. I do know the bw 705’s and I would consider upping the amp too.
