My set-up consists of a Naim Uniti Star, Bowers and Wilkins 804 D3 speakers and Rel S/3 subwoofer.
I bought these elements second hand a few years ago. I was not very knowledgeable about hifi at the time and did not think much about the match between these pieces. I just went for brand, looks and what I though was the best I could afford.
However, I always a bit underwhelmed from such expensive pieces of equipment (missing texture, depth) when I played music. For information, I stream through Tiday and also use DSD files from NativeDSD).
Reading through websites and forums, it seems like my Naim Uniti Star is not powerful enough to properly drive my B & W 804 speakers.
I read adding a Naim NAP 250 (.2 or DR) power amplifier could make a very positive and noticeable difference. I am thinking going this route as I don’t want to spend much (less than 2000 euros for a second hand amp) and like the Naim Uniti Star connectivity / app.
Do you feel this is a worthy upgrade? Would you do things differently knowing my goals / constraints?
I took the Naim/B&W route some years back, seeking a system with a more detailed and lively sound. Prolonged listened proved that to be too much of a good thing and I eventually found the sound fatiguing on less than pristine recordings. Ultimately, I concluded that the pairing wasn’t a good match and moved on. B&W have been using warmer sounding Marantz electronics at recent shows and maybe that would be a better pairing. With a home demo if possible.
thanks Ardbeg, this sounds like a good option indeed (I checked prices and seems to meet my budget constraint). Pardon my ignorance but the Atom HE would be used as a source / pre-amp and the NAP 250 DR as the power amp? What is the benefit of going for the Atom HE and not regular Atom?
That’s correct. The Atom HE is a streamer preamp and headphone amp in one device and is a step up from the normal Uniti series. The Nap 250 will act as the poweramp. I don’t have that level of B&W’s you have but have experience with the CM and 7 series and the better poweramp certainly helps. One other benefit is that the Atom HE is controlled in the same way as your Star so hardly a change. I love the uniti series for their interaction. The big dial on top is very convenient.
Be aware that you need to have a cable made up to link the Atom HE and the Nap 250 this can’t be done by standard cables.
I’m running 804D2s from 202/200 and I wouldn’t want to go any lower than that in the Naim range with big thirsty B&Ws.
It’s worth finding some of the many Naim dealers who are also B&W dealers and asking them - if they can’t give you good advice on this matter, no-one can!
I have 804D3s in my second system. I didn’t find the pairing with Naim was a good match. Those diamond tweeters and Naim electronics end up very hot in the high frequencies and not well balanced. You can tune this with warmer cables, but that will be expensive and you’d be throwing good money after bad, IMHO.
Marantz, Anthem, Hegel, Rotel, and Pass Labs are all excellent pairings with the 800 series. McIntosh too but I personally dislike that signature and it’s a massive departure from Naim’s.
If you really like the Naim connectivity and want to keep that Naim signature in the mix, another option is to use your Uniti Star (or a cheaper Atom as mentioned above) as the source/preamp and add a power amplifier from one of these brands downstream. That way, you keep the app you like but get the appropriate power and synergy to bring out the texture and depth those B&Ws are capable of.
