I suspect there is no quick and easy answer to this question, but here goes…
Even though my system is fantastic, i inherited it and its not quite what i would have chosen.
I would like something that is a bit warmer and has more bass. I find the current sound can be fatiguing when listening to music that is kheavy on guitars - think Nirvana, though i realise metal-type music is not meant to be easy listening!
Apart from the Naim setup the two other places i listen to music are my cars bmw/harmon kardon speakers and through Bose headphones and iphone (i can hear people vomitting in the background over such cheap manufactured tosh ) but i enjoy them both. Of couse both of these have an easier job to do as they have much smaller controlled spaces.
I am assuming i just need to change my monitor audio gs20 floorstanders for something else, but what?
If you have any other gear plugged in to the HiFi, check everything is grounded to the mains.
If this doesn’t assist - then:
Every system is a compromise. There will always be some music that doesn’t quiet work on your system. Sometimes because it is poorly recorded and/or mastered.
IF Nirvana is a great favorite then you may have to consider changing. But, you may find you miss things that the MA speakers did
A BIG part of how well a speaker works is your room, and this was NO part of the original selection.
My advice would be to get a good dealer who will let you listen to a selection of speakers in your room.
I thought the 282 was a bit shouty, but I also ran it with speakers that are supposedly on the bright side so I preferred the 82 which had more warmth to it. I also find the 250DR on the bright side lacking bass. I then tried 252 and it was a bit cold and bright (edit: not bright) sounding also which has led me to believe older Olive Naim amplifiers are a bit warmer than the newer black ones. I prefer the warmer presentation even though the sound might be less resolved than in the black boxes. Now if you want both resolution and warmth nothing up to 252 will give you that, in my experience. I haven’t heard the 552 and it might very well be warmer. However I didn’t want to go there so ended up changing to another brand which has both the resolution and warmth I was looking for. Since this is a Naim forum I’d suggest trying the Olive 82 if you can. It’s very nice sounding. If you want to leave the ship, give Gold Note a listen. There are most likely as many brands as there are people on this forum that would sound good though it’s just that I haven’t heard any. Naim is superb and I preferred their sound over everything else I had heard until I got it right with the Gold Note electronics.
Oh and I can’t comment on the speakers since I haven’t heard them. Are they supposed to be bright or bass light?
If you like your speakers and think that you would rather keep them, I would suggest adding an NDAC in at not too much cost (relatively) or, and what feel better, listen to a couple of other speakers e.g. Spendor.
… or both!
Some good suggestions here to explore. One is to use the streamer with the NDac and that points to the possibility that the limitations of the streamer without power supply are being exposed by the 282. Maybe you could borrow an XPSDR to try, or an NDX2 - that would establish if the source is causing your dissatisfaction.
Hi @M4rky, where about’s in the country are you based?
Perhaps one of us on here could recommend a Naim dealer to you that would be able to help you tune your system with new speakers or room treatments etc.
My own dealer (Tony @ Basically Sound in Norfolk) has been a huge help to me with my own systems with the loan of equipment and the tweaking of components.
For warm speakers, try Sonus Faber. I’m verry happy with my Sonetto V witth nd5xs2/nDAC/282/HCDR/250DR. Never harsh or too bright. It was also good/fun with the bare nd5xs2, but nDAC présentation is darker and there’s more nuance and space between instruments.
I concur that the speakers are likely the things to change, being the components that determine the sound character. But you have to go and listen - people’s recommendations aren’t much use unless you know they have the exact taste in music presentation that you desire. If it were me, I would set my budget limit, and audition as many different speakers as I can find available within the top part of that budget, but bear in mind that secondhand or ex dem can greatly increase buying power, so include those where available. As you find things you like and things less so, it can help narrow the search. If you identify your budget here people can make suggestions for speakers to try, though it would also help if you were to identify any other music listening style preferences beyond heavy metal, and any known sound presentation preferences, e.g neutral suiting all musical styles, coloured making certain music sound more “exciting” but maybe very poor with other music, deep bass or bass curtailed, etc.
And when you go to audition, if the dealer/seller doesn’t have the same amp as you to use, and doesn’t have the same speakers as you, take them: You want to hear with your amp, but before listening to any other speakers set yours up and play your choice of test music (which should cover your range of music styles), which will set a baseline in the demo room, which may sound very different from your room, and will readily enable you to tell the differences between the yours and each one auditioned. I have done that several times at dealers, and once in a private house (of a hifi ebthusiast), and no-one has batted an eyelid. Once you have found what seems best then ideally audition at home for confirmation, but I know that is not always possible
It’s tricky. Certainly the speakers will have a massive influence so that’s a sensible place to start. However, it could be that you just don’t like the Naim sound. It’s not the right choice for everyone. Maybe you would prefer something a little more easy-going and softer? I’ve never heard the 282, but I’ve owned an 82 and easy-going and soft it most certainly is not. Forward and in-yer-face is more like it.
I love the Naim sound and I used Naim gear for decades but since falling in love with and buying Klipsch horn-loaded speakers I’ve had to change. Naim just wouldn’t have suited them well at all. They need something a little warmer and less forward to avoid what could easily become a rather hard and relentless sort of sound, if very impressive and exciting.
So you may well have to look beyond the speakers to achieve what you want. I concur with @Fatcat above. An Accuphase amp would be far more likely to give you what you what you’re after.
A good dealer is worth his weight in gold in this situation. Keep an open mind and be prepared to do some auditioning.
) but i enjoy them both. Of couse both of these have an easier job to do as they have much smaller controlled spaces.
