AV2 + Rotel Power Amp.

Dan

these are good value for money.I have a feeling you may end upkeeping it longer than a year.What speakers will it be driving??

neill

to begin with-
Fronts - B&W 603s3
Centre - B&W LCR600s3
Surr. - B&W 600s3

In the near distant future, once I combine my Naim stereo setup with my home cinema setup-

Fronts - Ariva's (Already Own)
Centre - nCent (Purchase later)
Surr - n-Sat's (Purchase later)

I used to have a Rotel RB985mk1 which I sold earlier this year. I had good results from it. I just don't want to spoil the AV2 with non-naim amplification but the cost of the AV2 and 175/150 is too much for me at the moment.

The alternative to all this is an Arcam AVR350... decisions decisions!

Dan

I would go for the Rotel it has a lot more grunt than the Arcam. I think there good value for money and will work well with the B&W speakers. Naim amps are good but seem to lack the really low end grunt home cinema needs.

Try both in your system and then make the choice on which one you feel sounds the best and let us know how you get on.

Neill

It's quite a hard decision as the Arcam AVR350 gets such good reviews and has quite a following even from some Naim fans.

I would however like to keep everything in the Naim fold as I am looking for system synergy throughout my stereo and home cinema setups, since this is what the AV2 does very well by what I have been told and read i'm looking to make an investment by getting one now even if it is with inferior power amps to the Naim offerings.

Also if I get the AV2 with a Rotel now it means I can upgrade my power amps as time goes on which is good as it gives me something to work towards on the upgrade ladder (It's no fun doing it all at once!)

I've had a good second hand offer on the Rotel so I may go and get my AV2 this weekend then once i've secured that I can get the Rotel.

The Arcam is a very tempting machine, it's brilliantly priced for what you get (Also I can get staff discount on the Arcam making it well below retail price)

I guess i'll decide after having a demo of the AV2 hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

neill, the naim low end is clean, informative and fast rather than the overblown arnie effect which is most tiring on many av systems! Our sub control will allow you to have the fine control you need.

quote:

Ooverblown arnie effect

Lol

Ooooooo.....scathing remark......

Can we convince Neill, to change his Bryston amp ?

Paul

Never siad Naim where bad.

Roy

in a word NO. In two words NO NEVER.

Sorry its just to dam good you have heard it with both music and movies and its the dogs

Neill

Hi Munch, unfortunately this is an unplanned upgrade so I'm going to have to finance it (Split between 2 houses at the moment and my old receiver is not with me most of the time). I've found an ex-dem AV2 in a dealer who does 0% finance but unfortunately they have neither the 150 or the 175 ex dem/second hand. As I can't pay cash right now I'm quite limited second hand (Unfortunately!)

I'd love to find a dealer who has ex-dem AV2, 175 and possible a 150 and who offers finance but I don't think it exists unfortunately.

I could get the AV2, a new 175 (For the 2 fronts and centre) and then just a cheap 2nd hand 2 channel power amp for the rears for now as with a 150x it's a bit too much per month.

Alternativly I could get the AV2 and the Rotel 5 channel power amp saving some money each month and then think about a 175 and 150 later in the year/early 2008.

Or I could just get an Arcam AVR350 and wish for more lol.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
there are plenty of EXdem Arcams about .At Naim dealers.regards munch

lol, very well put Munch! That's why I'd rather try to get the AV2 straight away, I would only end up trading it in for a Naim sooner or later!!! (As we all know Arcam don't have Naim's resale value so it would probably cost me the best part of a NAP150x in depreciation)

quote:

I could get the AV2, a new 175 (For the 2 fronts and centre) and then just a cheap 2nd hand 2 channel power amp for the rears for now as with a 150x it's a bit too much per month

What about getting AV2 and NAP 175, and then get cheap NAP 90 or NAP 110 for rear duties for the time being. You could buy now and sell in 6 months for little or no loss.
I'm in the same boat as you re Home Cinema but I don't want all those boxes. What turned you against n-Vi?

Richard

I really dont have anything against the n-Vi but I would like a 5.1/7.1 direct input so I can connect a HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player. Also the issues with the optical input put me off as I would need the optical connector. That was about it really, I really enjoyed my n-Vi demo and at £3000 including Naim amplification and a Naim DVD player it's a very good package indeed.

I just knew that the n-Vi while being an excellent product, was not for me at the moment. It's an all in-one box product and a great one at that but I think I need something a bit more expandable (If that's the word)

Cheers
Dan

Quick update, I've just got back with my new AV2!!!

I've gone for the NAP175 also which is going to be ordered from Naim on Monday and so hopefully it won't take too long!!!

I'm just going to pick up a cheapo 2 channel power amp for the rears and run the 175 on left, centre and right (Second hand Arcam Alpha, somthing like that) until I can combine my stereo and home cinema setups and then my Nait5i will take over fronts with the 175 on centre and surrounds.

I'm now broke but happy

Dan

Can you not use the Nait 5i right away would be a great setup. I think the Nait has an av through put. So it can be combined with the av2 and the nap 175.

Neill

Well after a gruelling 24 hours we have completely rearranged out lounge so I can combine my stereo and AV setups (I now have 3 sets of speakers in my spare room to sell - i'm turning into a dealer lol!)

WOW i'm loving my AV2, unfortunately the supplied cable with the AV2 won't work with the Nait5i as the AV input on the 5i is phono and the cable supplied is of course DIN. I'm going to call my dealer tomorrow and see what he suggests.

So my all Naim AV/Stereo setup is edging ever closer, I need to get selling so I can liberate some cash and invest more in finishing my setup!