1- A NAP500DR isn’t simply a more ballsy amp than a 300DR – the former offers better refinement, detailing, bass control and will reveal more bass, but this will be controlled. Whether this ‘new bass’ might affect/excite your space is an unknown. I strongly suspect not – things will just sound cleaner and better bass control is often a ‘big win’ in a space. It will likely allow more volume to be entertained.
2- If you are buying from a dealer (P/L etc,), I’d recommend a demo – you might be surprised at the difference in sound signature due to the above facets. To my ears, the 300 has always been a tad ‘relaxed’ – some of us on here went from 250 to 500 (P/L for me!), as the 300 didn’t excite TBH.
3- I think you have a CDS3 with an XPSDR? If you use this a lot, another route here would be to put a 555PS(DR) on it, which increases detail and control, and P/L is a good VFM improvement IMHO.
With the NAP500DR, it’s simply an all-around better quality amp than a 300DR, which is easily demonstrated with smaller & bigger speakers. Some people have them hooked up to bookshelf speakers. It’s not all about power, it’s about control and presentation, part enabled by having more power on tap in case of need.
Of course, given the P/L prices for NAP500DRs are in the same arena as a pair of 350s, nobody has yet broken cover (on here at least) to say how the 2 compare. And 350’s may be easier to install and rack, as they don’t have burndies – noting one challenge with the 300/500s is keeping all the cabling well-dressed and off the floor, plus having a higher shelf height for the 500 head unit, unless you put it on top (which your lower back may thank you for!).
The OP seems not to be very interested, not having yet come back with the dimensions of the room, which are fundamental in making any sense of his query/needs, nor clarifying his concerns, nor acknowledging or querying any responses…
I’m sure my initial response was more than 24 hours ago, But maybe you’re right (just if I asked the question I’d be looking back no later than within a day)
This week i connected the new Nait50 to S600. The 552/500 DR has actually much better base control than this. If your 300 Is fine with T808s, 500DR will be better still
The thing with small rooms is you will invitibly have gain in the 60hz region. You need a speaker that ideally falls away in the bass region. Something like an LS35a, Linn Kan or the PMC25.21i … then the iron grip of the 500 keeps the speaker under tight control. I found in problimatical rooms for bass the tighter the control and the better damped the speaker…the less room modes are an issue… in my room I still had to add a fair bit of treatment…which was the best money I ever spent from an audio perspective… (not as far as my wife is concerned - she hates it! )
Depending on dimensions! Not everyone thinks the same when they say small…
As for having a speaker that cuts off the bottom end, that’s no good if you appreciate and want the full bass that is in the music, not just overtones! The answer there is extreme care with room layout – both speaker and listening positions, and where necessary treatment of the room, possibly combined with tailored DSP.
I agree…I was assuming small being say under 3m x 3m … however, I have found that most small rooms have significant room gain so the faily limp output from a small speaker… is brought up…so the useful output extends to around 50hz…or so. In my system I take out some excess energy at 58hz via dsp…and use a good sub…to take me way down…it works very well.
I use a touch of DSP as my speakers are pretty good at 55hz…if I had a sealed box design like the Kan … I don’t think I would need it…as that rolls off after 70hz… Don’t think Kans are limp they can sound incredible - with reasonable punch.
Anyone listening in a 3 x 3m room should definitely use speakers that roll off below 60htz. That’s not just small it’s a box! I consider my listening room small at just under 5 x 4m.
My 500 (none DR) with SL2s work very well in a 3.7 x 6mtr, ceiling 8ft living space SL2s firing across the room.
No boom, excels playing tunes at low volume and can go very loud if required with perfect grip and control over the speakers.
I have tried a number of quality amplifiers as upgrades for my supernait To drive my 606s and found the better separation, depth and clarity, marred by more intrusive base mode issues. Haven’t found the right one yet.
The speakers are fast and will respond to plenty of power, but as Kudos told me they are very lively, and if there is mode they will seek it out.
Do you really need to upgrade? You might need to look beyond Naim.
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