Hello all, new to this forum. My Naim journey started with the purchase of a pair of S600s second hand from a dealer in NZ. Initially I was using a Bluesound streamer feeding direct into a pair of EAR 509 valve monoblocks, this system also allowed a pre-amp feed to my REL stadium sub that I have had for many years - it helps the Naim speakers as they are in a high volume room. I then moved to an Atom (also second hand) feeding the EAR amps using the speaker out to my REL. Then the opportunity arose to buy a new NDX2 heavily discounted as the local dealer lost their Naim agency. I only listen to streamed music so I needed an amplifier system for the NDX & was able to pick up a near-new Supernait 2. I started using it as an integrated amp, picked up a hi-line interconnect and was happy…… Then I plugged the EARs back in & of course there was an improvement (2.5X the price is a Supernait for just the power section). Since then I have added an XPS ( non DR) and a non-Naim PSU, both of which have given improvements.
My question is , what next? I suspect the Supernait/non-Naim PSU is the weak link ( I have good quality interconnects/ cables) but, as must be obvious I’m a bargain hunter - for example I could pick up a 500 series pre/power system with the power supplies for around £20k, but that’s a bit too rich for me. Would a 282 hicap combo be the way to go? I think with the hicap I would be able to feed both EARs and the REL ( though that would mean feeding a pre-amp signal to the sub, not their preference).
Any advice gratefully received…… Tom.
Welcome Tom. I’ve edited your post to ensure it complies with forum rules. To that end, the first thing I would do is change out the non-Naim PS on the Supernait for a proper HICAP DR.
You can add a 282 and power it from the supernait, that does not require a hicap.
Then add a real hicap to power the 282.
Then switch supernait for a 250DR.
My non-Naim PSU cost £200 & was a cheap experiment so I can look for a HiCapDR next or, if one comes up, a SuperCap. I am not yet convinced that a 250DR would out-perform the EARs ; I might be able to wrangle an in-home demo of an Olive 250 (never re-capped) but I’m not sure that would be a fair comparison.
Tragically, had I not bought the NDX2 I could have picked up an ND555 with a DR’d power supply for £9k - source first!
The Ovators are very nice & I will need significant upgrades before they become the weak link IMHO…… Cheers, Tom.
It’s not really a question of “brands” per se, but rather of discussing unauthorised modifications to Naim equipment (which includes non-Naim power supplies, or cabling that carries DC between equipment), which is strictly forbidden here. The use of non-Naim PSUs on Naim equipment will, at best, not give the intended performance, and at worst, may well cause operational issues or even potentially damage the connected equipment.
A couple of years ago I had a XPS DR > NDX 2 > Hi-Line > HiCap DR > SN 2 NAC A5 > ProAc D30RS.
I added a NAC 282 using the HiCapDR to power the NAC 282. A few months latter a one year old NAP 250DR was traded in at my dealer and I traded in the SN 2 and cash for the NAP 250DR. I eventually traded in the HiCapDR for a SuperCap DR to power the NAC 282. (Full system description listed in my profile).
The NAC 282 is a wonderful upgrade for the SN 2 and the NAP DR was another uplift when replacing the power section of the SN 2.
Many nice thoughts so far on the thread. Like you, I search for bargains and am patient, but you should have a plan. You may wish to consider the following route map. My route is similar to Seakayaker , but Olive for 250 and Olive Supercap with a 282.
Step 1: HiCap Dr on Supernait.
Step 2: 282, HiCap DR on the 282 and use Supernait as amp.
Step 3: Trade in Supernait for 250.
Thanks for the advice so far. Of course finding good used Naim gear in NZ is not as easy as eBay UK, but it looks like I need either 282/hicap or 252/supercap and flog off the Supernait with the non-Naim PS. I will need someone handy with a soldering iron to make up 2 (L &R) DIN to RCA leads for the EARs and a DIN to 3 pin Neutrik for the REL. I think this will give the best outcome and I can worry about power amplification later.
In reality all this is for an analogue volume control as whatever pre-amp I have will only ever have a streamer input……
That isn’t what you need. The Neutrik socket is for a high level connection from the speaker sockets. For a low level connection from the pre out DIN you would connect to the RCA inputs on the sub.
Interesting about the ND555 combo on TradeMe. I posted to their original advert as they had made some factual inaccuracies. Because I had posted when the auction closed I was among others offered the items refused from NZ$20k to 18k which was pretty tempting. Obviously no one took up that offer so suddenly it resisted at 25k. It sold, so either they are marketing masterminds or I don’t know what. To be fair even at $25k that was a pretty good deal, the abandoned Naim distributor has the bare ND for 37k and has sold out of the power supplies.
But back to my current issue - the NDX2 is not the weak link of my current system. Cheers! Tom