Oh No - Not Another Upgrade Question!!!

Posted by: CraigP on 16 February 2004

Yes, i am affraid its another upgrade question for all you knowledgable Naim owners out there, and i would appreciate your experiences.

I will soon have the opportunity to spend some more money on black boxes (not a lot but i am getting married in 2 weeks, and after that i'm buying something for me).

I am generally very happy with my sistem (CD5, 112, 150, FC2, HL2 all on Fraim attached to B&W Nautilus 804 speakers) at the momeant, but feel that i should probably be supplying the N804s with a bit more current to get them to their true potential than the NAP 150 can offer.

Immediate thoughts were to go for a new NAP 250 (mk2), but this is probably (though not definately if the best option) a bit out of my budget. The NAP 200 is also an option, but still maybe not man enough (?).
If not worried about cosmetics, the older 250s are also an option, but my dealer tells me they are not as good as the Mk2 (although i guess he would say that). If i were to go for the older 250 i could probably get 2 for less than the price of a Mk2, would this be better than a single Mk2 250?

Then of course, there is also the possibility of a pair of 135s, but i have no experience of Naim older than the 5 series that i have, just what i have read from searches on the forum. It seems these amps would also be very capable of driving my speakers.

As i say, my knowledge of Naim is notm great so any suggestions would be appreciated.

I know the general consensus is source first, but i fell in love with the nautilus and did things ass backwards, so imagine that concentrating on the amplification at the momeant is best.

Thanks in advance

Posted on: 16 February 2004 by andy c

Hi,
You need to initially locate a dealer who has both Naim & B & W in stock, and try a few options at their place.
Then you need to borrow, say, a CDX2 and a 250mk2 and see which gives you the most bang per buck...
get ready for the source 1st brigade onslaught (Of which I generally agree with BTW)..

Posted on: 17 February 2004 by CraigP

Andy,

My friendly local dealer supplied both my naim and B&W kit, so no problem trying the NAP 250 MK2. Its just that i have no experience (other than mostly positive comments read from this forum) with regards to the merits of the NAP 135s run in a pair, and the older style NAP 250 also possibly run as a a pair against a single new MK2 250. And as to whether anybody on this forum has any experience of running N804s or similar with this combination. Or has other amplification suggestions.

I also acknowledge that source first is best, but i have the kit that i have, and now want to make the best of it. I am happy with the CD5 at the momeant and wouldnt want to trade it in and lose money on it only after having had it for 12 months. I also wonder which way CD players are going (SACD, DVD audio etc.), and would like to keep the CD5 until a standard is decided on (if this ever happens, if we are talking years then yes, i would want to upgarde the CD player sooner).

Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Basil

Let me get this right, you're getting married in two weeks and all you can think about is HiFi!!!!

6 Months......tops!!!

Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Peter Stockwell

quote:
Originally posted by CraigP:

I know the general consensus is source first, but i fell in love with the nautilus and did things ass backwards, so imagine that concentrating on the amplification at the momeant is best.

Thanks in advance

In you situation I'd be thinking of a CD player and pre-amp before the amps. But hey, I would, I have CDX/Nait 5/B&W CDM1Se. But you might consider a HiCap, for either the CD5 or the preamp, If you put it on the 112 you'll get an immediately bigger more powerful sound. I don't know what it does to the CD5.

Peter

Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Steve Toy

quote:
I don't know what it does to the CD5.

Quite a lot. This is a very worthwhile upgrade - makes the CD player sound bigger, bolder, more confident, more detailed, bigger soundstage and gives the impression that you've swapped to a bigger amp.

Here's a nice litle upgrade path:

1) Hi-cap the CD5 with the Flatcap 2 being used to power the 112.

2) Sell both the CD5 and Flatcap 2 for about £1100 - that's what I got for mine after about twelve months, and get a CDX2. Put the Hi-cap on the 112.

3) Swap the 112 for a 202 or 282.

4) Swap the 150 for a 200 or a 250.

Regards,

Steve.

Posted on: 24 February 2004 by CraigP

Many thanks for the replies, sorry i havent posted recently but have been very busy (wedding and all).

Roy, i do intend to install a mains spur but will be moving house this year and so dont consider it worth it at the mo.

I spoke with Paul from Naim at the Bristol show on Sunday with regards to my sistem and he thought that a more powerful amplifier was the way to go at the momeant, as although source first is a good principal the CD5 flatcapped as it is, is a good source (not as good as CDX2 etc. obviously, but still good). So i am now examining whether i should go for a single 250mk2, or for roughly the same price a pair of used 135s. Paul admitted that he thought the 135s would be the better option, unfortunately i guess i may have to buy blind as although i can (and have) demoed a 250mk2, i cant listen to the 135s. Opinion seems very mixed on this forum though, so i hope this is the best option.