I’m quite a newbie to Naim, so would value the experience of others.
I started my journey a year or so ago with 272>200>PMC 25.21
Currently I have XPS DR>272>250 DR>Proac D18, and I’m using a full fraim, A5 speaker cables and Morgana interconnect. Also using English Electric 8 and chord c-stream Ethernet cables.
I will be getting back into my vinyl at a later day but for now I’m only streaming, mainly using Qobuz hi-res (mconnect app).
My listening room is my lounge, which is 5m x 4m x 2.3m and the speakers are firing the short width of the room. The maximum speaker size I can accommodate is what I have now, compact floorstanders or stand mount speakers.
My question is what’s my best upgrade path?
Does it make sense to get a dedicated streamer first, I’m thinking of a secondhand nd5xs2 + ndac, and use my 272 just as a preamp for now? That way I can enjoy the upgraded source, and once I’ve squirrelled away sufficient funds I can at a later date upgrade the 272 for a 282 or 252, and SCDR.
But are there alternative/better routes? I enjoy the current warm sound and want to improve on what I have already.
I’d think about where you’d feel comfortable ending up and max out the source best you can first.
If your mid to long term goal is a NAC 282/252 aim for an NDX2 perhaps, adding an XPS DR or ideally 555 DR to that source will give you decent headroom for that system synergy down the road.
You can also use your existing XPS DR PSU on the NAC-N 272 or NDX 2 for further experimentation or if possible replace it with a 555 DR and still use it longer term on the NDX 2 in both cases with the correct Burndy lead once it’s no longer needed for the 272.
You can later swop out the 272 for a NAC 282, keep the NAP 250 and add either 1 or even 2 HiCap’s or even a Supercap on the NAC.
What combination of NAC 282 and PSU you prefer may well be down to personal preference and further research and experimentation is recommended.
If you make it to that point you’ve still got plenty of options and potential to explore but think about your goal system synergy and minimising imbalanced steps as you grow the system best you can, a decent source will serve you well at all of those stages.
There are decent trade in options open to you currently on Old Classic moving to New Classic, it might be worth a listen to a NSC 222 which you could use with your NAP 250, also has a MM Phonostage and ability to power the NVC TT phonostage and can later be further refined with an NPX 300 PSU and a New Classic NAP 250, plenty of options, worth an audition and may result in a simpler 2/3 box system longer term.
I’ve ended up at 200 Series myself so know well what that offers and where it sits relative to what proceeded it.
In the case of the OP, Budget likely plays a significant part in what follows. Old Classic used can be appealing but there’s servicability and service cycles to factor in inevitably, used NAC’s can often seem attractive in price but could be much older units that could involve an expensive service to be on song, then you have specific SNAIC’s and Burndys to accomodate which can add not insignificant cost depending on hardware choices.
Progressing through 200 and 300 Series is simpler but again involves some significant cost leaps per box evolution.
Active speakers and a decent streaming preamp or pre + streaming transport is another option with increasing popularity and solid speaker options available. I ran a Linn Selekt DSM as a streaming Preamp in to a NC NAP 250 for a period of time as one example and others have found a happy balance using the Atom HE and active speakers or NSC 222 in a similar setup.
I tend to agree with previous comments on giving serious consideration to a path through 200 and 300 Series vs the complexity and risk of a mid to long term Old Classic evolution path given the increased complexity and reliance on used hardware, whilst certainly a tangible path to take it may well not be any cheaper or faster to evolve the system and comes with the increased dependency on servicing cycles which would not be the case given a set of choices through 200 and 300 Series products.
The potential to repurpose the trade in value of the current system will only decline over time and there are ex demo and trade in 200 Series units out there to balance the budget favourably with a bit of research.
That’s very helpful and insightful. I appreciate it.
I had envisaged myself staying with the Original Classic for the mid term, as previously indicated, but now I’m not so sure as you seem to be making perfect sense.
Perhaps the better path for me is to swap my XPS DR and 272 for a 222 as an entry in the New Classic after all. As you mention, I could stick with my current 250 DR for now, until I’m ready for my next upgrade, which I suppose would be a New Classic 250 or a power supply for the 222, if I’m not getting confused?
Sounds about right yes, the NSC 222 replaces the functionality of your existing NAC N-272 whilst still being able to drive your existing NAP 250 (specific legacy cable required for that, your dealer can advise).
Later you can add a NC NAP 250 and NPX 300 PSU to the NSC 222.
This would allow you to liquidate the value of your NAC N-272 and XPS to contribute towards that.
Meaning the source/preamp would be the weak links? Which is where I am at the moment, all be it at a much lower level
If I were at that point at some time in the future would it be possible to keep the power supply and swap the 222 for separate streamer and preamp? Or am I missing something fundamental?
