Active
Posted by: Mats on 01 February 2004
Is there any problem if I want to go active with say 2x135+2x180, and 3-6 snaxo, 
with the speakers Isobarik.
Mats Karlsson
Sagitarius in aeternum
with the speakers Isobarik.
Mats Karlsson
Sagitarius in aeternum
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by London Lad
Yes. The amps should be matched. (All the same)
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by Bob McC
No.Naim amps have the same gain. You can mix in an active system.
Bob
Bob
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by London Lad
Bob,
Ive seen that quoted before but its wrong. They may be the same gain but they are not the same output at a given preamp volume control setting.
You cant mix in an active system, well you can but it will sound naff.
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Ive seen that quoted before but its wrong. They may be the same gain but they are not the same output at a given preamp volume control setting.
You cant mix in an active system, well you can but it will sound naff.
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 01 February 2004 by blythe
quote:
Originally posted by London Lad:
Bob,
Ive seen that quoted before but its wrong. They may be the same gain but they are not the same output at a given preamp volume control setting.
You cant mix in an active system, well you can but it will sound naff.
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Oh yes you can mix and it doesn't sound naff.
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: 01 February 2004 by Trevor Bennett
Hi.
I was told by Naim that it was fine to mix power amps in an active system,but I never tried it and I have now gone back to a passive system.
Trevor.
I was told by Naim that it was fine to mix power amps in an active system,but I never tried it and I have now gone back to a passive system.
Trevor.
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by London Lad
James err and everyone else (looks like I could be wrong here)
I’ve just gone from active 150s to active 250s. I was thinking of keeping one of the 150s back in case NBL’s were on the horizon. I tried a 150 / 250 mix with my Alleas. The sound was 'OK' at low levels but the more I increased the volume the more obvious it was that there was an imbalance between the HF and LF.
My dealer said outright "you can’t mix and match"
To listen at a reasonable volume with the 150s I would run at 11 to 12 o’clock. With the 250s it’s about 9 o’clock?
Re gain: If gain = volume and all Naim amps have the same gain and we know the NAP 250, 300 and 500 all use the same output transistors then where is the difference?
I, and the dealer, may well be wrong, but I need to understand!
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
I’ve just gone from active 150s to active 250s. I was thinking of keeping one of the 150s back in case NBL’s were on the horizon. I tried a 150 / 250 mix with my Alleas. The sound was 'OK' at low levels but the more I increased the volume the more obvious it was that there was an imbalance between the HF and LF.
My dealer said outright "you can’t mix and match"
To listen at a reasonable volume with the 150s I would run at 11 to 12 o’clock. With the 250s it’s about 9 o’clock?
Re gain: If gain = volume and all Naim amps have the same gain and we know the NAP 250, 300 and 500 all use the same output transistors then where is the difference?
I, and the dealer, may well be wrong, but I need to understand!
Graham.
Not a lad any longer and not from London!
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Bosh
It is somewhat dependant on the SNAXO and the level of "mismatch".
I would have though that mixing amps one hierarchy tier apart should not be an issue (ie 250 and 300, 200 &250 etc) but 2 may be pushing it a bit (ie 200 and 300, etc)
With the SNAXO2-4, as I understand it, the split using 2 stereo amps is one amp for left the other right. With SNAXO2-42 it is one per frequency band as per SNAXO3-6 and SNAXO3-62. With the former I suspect there is more scope for a (left right speaker) mismatch than the latter where the better amp is usually used on the tweeters
I would have though that mixing amps one hierarchy tier apart should not be an issue (ie 250 and 300, 200 &250 etc) but 2 may be pushing it a bit (ie 200 and 300, etc)
With the SNAXO2-4, as I understand it, the split using 2 stereo amps is one amp for left the other right. With SNAXO2-42 it is one per frequency band as per SNAXO3-6 and SNAXO3-62. With the former I suspect there is more scope for a (left right speaker) mismatch than the latter where the better amp is usually used on the tweeters
Posted on: 02 February 2004 by Thomas K
The original 2-4 splits vertically, which is why using different types of amps may be problematic. The reasoning behind the vertical split was probably to distribute transformer duties equally when using two stereo amps. (In a horizontal split you're "wasting" power on the tweeters and using only one transformer to feed both woofers, but it does make mix and match easier.)
Thomas
Thomas