Hi there, I’m a reviewer at Hifiandmusicsource.com and unashamedly a Naim fan. I have the DIVA UTOPIA here on review. I cannot figure out who they are aimed at, at £30,000 a pair, but maybe it is you? They are fast, have scale, rhythm and timing, and are brilliant. You’ll need a larger room. You could even hook up a turntable, sit back and relax. I know it is not as much fun, but maybe, just maybe… Good luck.
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There are a couple of Focal Diva Utopia threads elsewhere in Hi-Fi Corner, which might be better places to post about them.
Roger
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Try Audiobarn. Jack is very good and has good Naim setup
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Hi @Innocent_Bystander , apologies for not getting to your questions.
- Yes, in my words, what I didn’t like was the music was blah and the sounds seems to blend or mix together (not in a good way) as opposed to being distinctive or precise (which is my preference). Instruments, particularly softer percussion that I can hear on my OC200’s and ProAc 38’s, I just couldn’t pick out. When we switched to the WADAX and Soulution 331, the sound I was looking for was there and really nice, and then even better with the Soulution 500’s (which was combined with the Watt/Puppy). Problem is by then we went from a price of a high end sedan to a 911. There may be flex in the budget, but…Also the cabling to the speakers was the same for both systems.
- Were the speakers the Serafinos? Yes. Can’t recall if you or someone else asked if they were properly set away from the wall? I think so. He did use his trusty measuring tape.
- Did we try other speakers with the Naim, no and I should have. So will focus on properly confirming NC 300’s are for me or not before considering other options (including used Naim 500’s which I haven’t ruled out).
Let me know what I may have missed.
Silly question but is it simply that the new 300 series is very different to what an older Naim enthusiast would expect or enjoy?
Naim have evolved and IMO the new 300 series just isn’t as enjoyable as the older kit!
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Or as some have suggested, not what we were expecting and had been conditioned to enjoying. Others though very much enjoy the NC….
I am sure they do, that’s great, however as a long term user of Naim and a very happy 500 series user, the 300 series was a bit of a surprise for me and didn’t have me rushing out thinking I need to upgrade, sorry!
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Naim has always evolved the sound and with each change, some have preferred the previous voicing and others the new voicing. I am in the latter group with this change.
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So if I am understanding correctly, the source, amplification and speakers were all new to you, and you had no baseline for sound in that dealer’s room? A different source + amplification costing vastly more, with those same speakers sounded great, but sounded better with a different speakers. From that, I would say you have too many variables to come to any conclusions about anything to which you listened other than that in that dealer’s room, with the Serafinos, the vastly more expensive source plus amplification sounded better, And with that amplification the Wilson sounded better than the Serafino.
When auditioning something new in a strange room I would always advise first hearing your own system if at all possible, or at least the key parts of it, whether identical kit that the dealer has, or lugging your own there. However, I think you said in a later post that you don’t have a car. That can make life difficult unless you have a friend willing to assist? Otherwise maybe seek out a dealer who has key parts of your own system available as well as what you want to audition, even if a couple of hundred miles away. Otherwise you want certainty that whatever you decide you might like in the dealer’s room you will be permitted to hear at home before final commitment. If none of that is possible you are taking a big punt, and under those circumstances I would try to hear the same kit in a room as close as possible size and furnishing to your listening room, or hear in several different dealers’ rooms, which at least will help minimise the room aspect.
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THanks @Innocent_Bystander . All good points. Not sure I can do all that you suggest but some, yes, to reduce the scale of the punt.
I prefer the NC sound to the OC for everything beneath the 500 series. I was never quite as happy with the OC as I was with the olive kit and the NC has brought me back into the fold. If your almost 20 yo OC kit likely in need of recapping sounds better to you than the latest NC I’d say you have some unique preferences. Sounds like you’ll save some money.
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You could be right re: my ear! But will reserve coming to a conclusion until I do some more demos mixing the variables. And to be fair to me, I did say I was impressed with the OC300’s DR when I tested those in 2019. 
I have never listened to 500’s.
Tbf, the NC300 series is not ‘meant’ to be competitive with the 500 series sound-wise. It will be years - if ever - before a replacement for the 500 series is launched.
Whether the NC300 series is substantially ‘better’ than the NDS/252/300DR is more finely balanced…
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Don’t disagree but curious as to the scale of variance. And a comparison of OC500’s and NC300s.
Very true Svetty but having hear the new 200 and 300 series, I fear the new 500 range when it finally comes will be more of the same.
For me, I would prefer any of the old series over the new series, even a humble 202/200.
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Having owned 112/150, 202/200 and 252/300 before my 332/300/250NC I can’t imagine how anyone could prefer the OC, but each to their own…… NC is much more controlled, more detailed and open than I rember OC which I found quite ‘hi fi’ - bold and exciting, but artificial. 252 was more natural, NC is much more natural sounding and very neutral - with a good source you get a feel for what the mastering intended. It can be bouncy and fast but it doesn’t make everything sound like that. That’s what I love about it.
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I like the 300DR until I heard the 250NC. The 300 sounds slow to me now.
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I have never been to Hifi Lounge, and most likely never will, as I live up in Newcastle. However, Paul there has been extremely helpful in my current project of upgrading all my audio cables. Based on my experience, I can thoroughly recommend him. 
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And yet, if you followed along with that huge thread when the NC series were released, there were a large % of OC 252 & up owners that preferred what they had at home vs the new 300 kit. Everyone has different taste/ears & different partnering kit in a different room. I recall several members have tried the 332/250NC & didn’t think the combo worked very well but you seem to be very happy with them, we all like different things.
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And all the better for it.
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