Upgrading to a new 250 vrs active.

Opps --- 135's

quote:

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Originally posted by Stephen Dupuis:
During the weekly search for used Naim I found on ebay a similar vintage 160 and an olive 2-4 crossover. After pricing out the total cost amp/crossover/hicap/sevice for the above/
matching the amps - the total is about $3200 (can) If I were to sell my current 160 with a shelved 32.5 I would be very close to a new 250.

Is the new 250 really above the olive 153's?

Steve

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The new NAP250 costs a lot more than 3200 $CA(around 5000 $CA). However, you can buy the classic (olive) NAP250 (~ 2 years old or less) for that price if you can find one.

T,

The total cost is what I am thinking about. The cost of the added equipment to go active plus what I would get for my 32.5/160 would be about 80-85% of a new 250. Since I just graduated (Cumlada - patting own back) with my B.Sc-Eng I am looking to treat myself. Changing speakers is not an option as I will be moving soon so I hope I can breath some new life into my current Kefs.

Steve

quote:

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Originally posted by Stephen Dupuis:
T,

The total cost is what I am thinking about. The cost of the added equipment to go active plus what I would get for my 32.5/160 would be about 80-85% of a new 250. Since I just graduated (Cumlada - patting own back) with my B.Sc-Eng I am looking to treat myself. Changing speakers is not an option as I will be moving soon so I hope I can breath some new life into my current Kefs.

Steve

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Congrats... You are an engineer now (a proud engineer with an iron ring I guess). If you visit Toronto, let me know. You are welcome to my place to play some CDs.

I replaced an entire 6 pack with a NAP500. While the new 250 is no 500, it has many of the qualities (it has the same 007 transistor). I would curious how it stacks up to active 135 or older 250's.

I have compared the new 250 to the old. The new 250 is much more open and detailed sounding...not as chuncky sounding as it elder.

Chris Bell

Stephen,
Mark is right, and I won't mod a (s)naxo for Kef speakers, or any others except some Linn (because Naim has had enough demand to justify it in the past).
Most of the passive xovers use some kind of frequency response correction, zobel networks, notch filters,... I would have to charge you for the analysis of the passive xover and for the implementation in the Naxo, with a risk it is not doable within the Naxo design.
What you can do is passively biamp your Kef with 2*160, it will be better but never as good as a single superior amp, even a recapped chrome bumper 250.
Do you know that a 160 recap is more expensive than a 250's one.

Congrat for you B.Sc-Eng, and welcome in the Iron Ring Family. What's your speciality? not telecom i hope (the best, IMO, but not very recommanded these days in Canada).

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

Tuan - thanks on the Congrats. I thought that when I finished that I would feel smarter but... oh well. Now comes the endless searching for a job.

Manu/Mark - opps was not thinking about the crossover issue. Upgrading to a new 250 sounds like the right action. Manu, FYI-brand new Chemical Engineering Degree hanging on the wall.

Steve

Smart choice, it shouldn`t be too hard to find a good job.

In the meantime, you can do some researches to find:
a product to improve CD playback,
a renewer for Naim chrome bumpers,
a cleaner for stylus,...
And if you want to make big money, a new insulation material for expensive audio cables, Teflon has been too long on the market, it's time to go further.

Emmanuel

All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris Bell:
I replaced an entire 6 pack with a NAP500. While the new 250 is no 500, it has many of the qualities (it has the same 007 transistor). I would curious how it stacks up to active 135 or older 250's.

I have compared the new 250 to the old. The new 250 is much more open and detailed sounding...not as chuncky sounding as it elder.

Chris Bell

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Tom might love his active SBL and I am sure they are very fine, but I think the new 250 *smokes* the old 135's passive. The old amps are a bit shut in in comparison, and I chose passive 135's over active 250's the first time round.

Active new 250s would be stunning. But a 500 is the biz. I reckon it blows active away (and I get to hear a active six pack DBL system very regularly - i.e its just down the road from me)