Mixing olive with new series?
Posted by: graphoman on 01 February 2004
While they say this is not synergistic life isn’t allways that simple so I’d be glad if reading some comments from owners of mixed setups e.g. CDS1/52 with, say, new 250 or 300.
graphoman
graphoman
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by Richard Paget
my comments re new 250 active has been with cds1 52 or 72s/c as 52 being fixed.
was in new 250 thread
Regards
Richard
was in new 250 thread
Regards
Richard
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by ken c
i hate to say this again, but i miss the "naim audio" logo on my 252, which is a really obvious mismatch with the rest of my olive stuff. however, given the 252's potential in musical terms, i can see myself ignoring this issue quite easily, especially if i also get a cds3.
enjoy
ken
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by blythe
quote:
Originally posted by graphoman:
While they say this is not synergistic life isn’t allways that simple so I’d be glad if reading some comments from owners of mixed setups e.g. CDS1/52 with, say, new 250 or 300.
graphoman
I run a CDX2 into a 252 into Olive 250's and all I can say is it sounds great.
There is no "mis-match" just a slightly different sound between old (olive) and new gear.
Listen and pay your money and make your choice.
Computers are supposed to work on 1's and 0's - in other words "Yes" or "No" - why does mine frequently say "Maybe"?......
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Hermann
My 135 are currently searching for a new home and someone is comming to have a listen today. So I'm playing 552/135 into briks and it sounds really really awesome. Never heard 135 that good.
Hermann
Hermann
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Laurie Saunders
quote:
My 135 are currently searching for a new home and someone is comming to have a listen today. So I'm playing 552/135 into briks and it sounds really really awesome. Never heard 135 that good.
If/when i upgrade, I am convinced that the place to start is the preamp.
As James alluded in another thread, and as I have also suggested before, when I went from 72-82-52, although more revealing, the better preamp improved the sound of all my sources....I dream of a 552..I am convincred that with my current setup (52/scap/135s), it would give me the best improvement for my money
LaurieS
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Chris Metcalfe
I've been using an XPS2 in place of an XPS for two weeks, after over four years with an all-olive system. All I can say is I'm now hearing far more from CDs.
I'm just about to take possession of a 252 (replacing the 82). I expect this to have a similar effect.
As previously said, I'm not replacing my CDX, Supercap or olive 250 because:
- The CDX2 wasn't enough of an improvement over the CDX in the context of using the XPS2
- The Supercap2 is alledgedly near-identical to the olive one
- the new 250 is far better in many ways to the olive one, but in my system/room/ears it was just too much!
I'm just about to take possession of a 252 (replacing the 82). I expect this to have a similar effect.
As previously said, I'm not replacing my CDX, Supercap or olive 250 because:
- The CDX2 wasn't enough of an improvement over the CDX in the context of using the XPS2
- The Supercap2 is alledgedly near-identical to the olive one
- the new 250 is far better in many ways to the olive one, but in my system/room/ears it was just too much!
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Derek Wright
I have moved from a CDSii, 52, 135 system by moving in first a 500, then a 552 and currently have a CDSiii on dem.
Each increment has given more information and control - with these products I think the source first mantra is not so key and will in fact cause one to have a throttled sound experience.
The biggest single improvement was the upgrade to the 552 followed by the 500, the CDSiii is not bad either. However it could be that the 500 was needed to hear the benefit of the 552
From a product development standpoint the "back end " has to be improved before the front end so that the changes to the front end can be heard correctly.
Derek
<< >>
Each increment has given more information and control - with these products I think the source first mantra is not so key and will in fact cause one to have a throttled sound experience.
The biggest single improvement was the upgrade to the 552 followed by the 500, the CDSiii is not bad either. However it could be that the 500 was needed to hear the benefit of the 552
From a product development standpoint the "back end " has to be improved before the front end so that the changes to the front end can be heard correctly.
Derek
<< >>
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Hermann
Laurie
Absolutely. I upgraded from 52 to 552 and every piece of equipment has bettered. I still play CD's with a very cheap Yamaha DVD player and I gave it the award of harshness. After upgrading exactly that disappeared. I have no rush to upgrade it to i.e. a CDS3 although I know how good that Naim sound.
Derek
I was my second biggest improvment.
Well the 500 coudnt do it for me. As I heard the 552 I was sure the 500 need that pre !
Hermann
quote:
.... I am convinced that the place to start is the preamp. ...the better preamp improved the sound of all my sources....
Absolutely. I upgraded from 52 to 552 and every piece of equipment has bettered. I still play CD's with a very cheap Yamaha DVD player and I gave it the award of harshness. After upgrading exactly that disappeared. I have no rush to upgrade it to i.e. a CDS3 although I know how good that Naim sound.
Derek
quote:
The biggest single improvement was the upgrade to the 552...
I was my second biggest improvment.
quote:
However it could be that the 500 was needed to hear the benefit of the 552
Well the 500 coudnt do it for me. As I heard the 552 I was sure the 500 need that pre !
Hermann
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by monkfish
Hi
I have (oldest first) a pre chrome bumper NAXO with an old NAPS powering it, 3 X chrome bumper 250's, an olive front 102 with NAPSC, CD5 with FC2 powering it and the 102.
This setup I believe is covering all vintages of Naim equipment and it sounds fantastic.
Speakers are PMS Isobariks and I also have an LP12 with Grace arm and Supex cartridge.
Regards
Jim
I have (oldest first) a pre chrome bumper NAXO with an old NAPS powering it, 3 X chrome bumper 250's, an olive front 102 with NAPSC, CD5 with FC2 powering it and the 102.
This setup I believe is covering all vintages of Naim equipment and it sounds fantastic.
Speakers are PMS Isobariks and I also have an LP12 with Grace arm and Supex cartridge.
Regards
Jim
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by graphoman
all that is convincing me the mixed setups do work or, at least, there is no reason they should not work.
Chris,
“the new 250 is far better in many ways to the olive one, but in my system/room/ears it was just too much!”
would you go into details, please!
graphoman
Chris,
“the new 250 is far better in many ways to the olive one, but in my system/room/ears it was just too much!”
would you go into details, please!
graphoman
Posted on: 12 February 2004 by HardBop
quote:
Originally posted by Chris Metcalfe:
I've been using an XPS2 in place of an XPS for two weeks, after over four years with an all-olive system. All I can say is I'm now hearing far more from CDs.
I'm just about to take possession of a 252 (replacing the 82). I expect this to have a similar effect.
As previously said, I'm not replacing my CDX, Supercap or olive 250 because:
- The CDX2 wasn't enough of an improvement over the CDX in the context of using the XPS2
- The Supercap2 is alledgedly near-identical to the olive one
- the new 250 is far better in many ways to the olive one, but in my system/room/ears it was just too much!
Chris,
Interested in your comments on CDX v CDX2, XPS v XPS2 and new 250 as I am considering an upgrade consisting of a mix of the above, but can't afford new of each.
Therefore what do you feel is the best new/sh combo - CDX2/XPS or CDX/XPS2? DO you feel CDX/XPS is better than CDX2 on its own?
I currently have 2 x 180 and I assume it to be no contest in replacing this bi-amped set up with new 250? (Speakers are Linn Kabers). Thanks.
Regards
Paul
Posted on: 12 February 2004 by billyj
Hello, This thread is real interesting.It seems you are winding each other up.
When Naim introduced 5 series equipment , they made it clear that older products worked with new, as best as they could. But they also introduced the 5 series to marry each other at the various stages of value.
The moral is, to relax and listen to the music, and stop listening to the equipment.
Life does not end because you cant buy your dream piece of equipment.Enjoy what your have and chill out.
billyj
When Naim introduced 5 series equipment , they made it clear that older products worked with new, as best as they could. But they also introduced the 5 series to marry each other at the various stages of value.
The moral is, to relax and listen to the music, and stop listening to the equipment.
Life does not end because you cant buy your dream piece of equipment.Enjoy what your have and chill out.
billyj
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by graphoman
well it’s what I want to: take a seat and listen to the set I got but in case of an upgrade the price is not just peanuts so one should think it twice before buying.
graphoman
graphoman
Posted on: 13 February 2004 by HardBop
Billyj,
I'd second graphomans comments and am bemused by your response. My question seemed perfectly relevant in the context of this forum. To answer your question I spend many happy hours listening to my system - witnessed by the fact that I have only placed a small number of posts on the forum, actually prefering to listen to music than spending time sat at a keyboard!!
My upgrade is borne more out of neccessity, my 11 year old Karik is beginning to show its age!
I am now going to listen (and enjoy) some vintage Blue Note jazz from the early 60s - heaven!!
Regards
Paul
I'd second graphomans comments and am bemused by your response. My question seemed perfectly relevant in the context of this forum. To answer your question I spend many happy hours listening to my system - witnessed by the fact that I have only placed a small number of posts on the forum, actually prefering to listen to music than spending time sat at a keyboard!!
My upgrade is borne more out of neccessity, my 11 year old Karik is beginning to show its age!
I am now going to listen (and enjoy) some vintage Blue Note jazz from the early 60s - heaven!!
Regards
Paul