Just got a Nait 2... Now unfortunately thinking again--
Posted by: onlythat on 14 February 2004
This Nait 2 is ridiculously fun for the money.
I sold my Bryston gear right quick and was happy about it when I put the little Nait in the sistem.
Now the trouble-- I have a pair of the awesomely big and lightning quick Ruark CL30's lying around on demo-- they are super quick-- as quick as a Neat!-- and with terrific bass, all with the little Nait.
Buuuut... I have listened to the Nait with my Harbeth C7's and I can tell you that they just dont have near the blinding speed and punchiness of the Ruarks, but they are better tonally-- more natural. Also-- the bass-- the C7's just dont punch down low.
Soooo.... Now I am really thinking about an end to all this-- perhaps I could sell my (nearly new!) Harbeths and even the CDX2 and get a used CDX.
This would free up some money for a pair of Neat Ultimatum MFS's.
Too sick? I mean a Nait 2/CDX with MFS's?? Would it work? Perhaps the MFS would have the speed of the Ruark and its bass with better tonality?
Or perhaps not and I'd be out 5000 bucks and flee the hobby and take up yachting with all the extra money I'd have.
So should I sell all for the Ultimatums? Who's for 'yes'?
David
Posted on: 14 February 2004 by Craig B
David,
In a word, no.
Instead, give me the 5 grand and, in return, I'll give you the private telephone number of Billy Ray Cyrus' hairdresser.
Let me know,
Craig
Posted on: 14 February 2004 by onlythat
Damn-- the friggin mulleteers of the great white north gotta ruin my fun. Always. Always.
But what about the 112/150/flat/CDX2/MFS??
Am I still singing achey-breaky heart with that one?
God save the queen, c'mon-- it IS a CDX2-- not some cheapo toshiba.
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Top Cat
I've tried some daft things in my time, and the little Nait has always delivered...
For instance, Neat Petite with Gravitas, driven by the Nait-2 - sounds good, bass a little light in comparison to a bigger amp, but fast, detailed and enjoyable.
Nait-2 and AudioPhysic Virgo III - a more expensive speaker than the MFS and yet the little Nait coped admirably - proof, if it is needed, that so long as the source and the speakers are good, and so long as the speakers aren't a pig of a load, the Nait will deliver.
John
TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by onlythat
Ok... I believe it. But I may be able to use a 112/150 with the Ultimatums. Now if the Nait is ok-- surely that would be more than adequate-- right? I mean I rarely ever crank it and listen mainly to classical/opera and mellow rock in a small, maybe 6 meter by 6 meter room. (note the use of British units chaps, in deference to you).
BTW--- I almost never hear the new Ruarks mentioned-- dont they rate? These CL30's are super quick and punchy with the Nait. I shudder to think what they could do with a 52/250 and all that.
David
PS-- one of the most phenomenal speakers I ever heard was the Audio Physic Step SLE-- absolutley scary tonality and speed and all that. Buuuut... it lacked scale with orchestras and such. Now if you added an AP sub-- we'd be talkin'.
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by BigH47
onlythat stick to feet and inches for the benefit of us oldies.
Howard
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Emil
David
You have too much money and time on your hands.
You need to get a wife.
I cant believe I just said that
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by onlythat
Look man-- I'm a single neurosurgical resident with a big empty house and not enough time to go to bookstores (librarys?) and pick up chicks (girls.)
Therefore-- I gotta play with something--
and that's my stereo. Sometimes.
Now I cant seem to get together a set of gear that's the total package.
The Harbeths for example-- are great with classical and opera, but dont have much low end and can get anemic with the Nait at low levels.
You know what? I think out of all this crap, my favorite sistem was my 72/Hi/140/CDX with the Neat Critiques on kick-ass solid stands.
Then i started with Mystiques and an XPS and all that stuff and never enjoyed things as much as with that first set-up.
Maybe I should just start there again and stay there.
Or... sell the lot of it and by a Nait 5i and a pair of EPOS ELS3's or whatever they are and a russian wife-by-mail with the change.
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by prowla
Keep the CDX2.
The Nait is a fine small system amp and the CDX2 should wring the absolute best out of it.
However, logic would suggest you need a bigger amp. You could go for Naim separates, perhaps a 72 into a 250, or something to get you on that path (and a Hi-Cap too, of course).
I've not heard your speakers so can't comment.
Paul Rowlands
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by onlythat
Nah prowla-- I think I've solved this one. I'll probably just sell the Nait 2, stick with a CDX2/112/150 and buy a pair of Ultimatums in a bit.
Should be a kick ass sistem with some low-end grunt. Then later in life I'll worry about a 250 and all that.
David
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by ClaudeP
I used to run Harbeth C7 ES2s with CD3.5/FC/Nait 3 and you're right - they did not have much "punch", but the medium was just great.
I then upgraded to 102/Hi/NAPSC/140, and the bass has muuuch more authority, though not all the punch I hear on some other speakers (I have not heard the Ultimatums.)
But I don't really care about the big bass - mind you I listen mostly to classical (70%) and jazz (20%). The Harbeths just deliver this wonderful midrange, and midrange is where most of the music lies.
So I would stick to them.
Posted on: 16 February 2004 by Eric Barry
You should email Bob and Derek at Neat but I sincerely doubt they'd recommend Ultimatums behind a 112/150. If low end pop is what you want, hicap and 200 or 250 are the answer. I'd suggest 72/hi/250 as the cheapest way, and 102s are cheap now too. Or 112/hi/250 (which I run into Isobariks) is pretty damned good.
Another suggestion--screw this cd crap and get an LP12.
--Eric
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by mdurand
David,
I'd be willing to take that Nait 2 off your hands. It would space you the agony of long goodbyes
It would make a neat (sorry, that was too obvious a pun) office system.
Martin
Posted on: 17 February 2004 by Justin
Onlythat,
get off the merry-go-round. A cd3.5/nait2/Rega elas (MKI or II) will solve your problems. send the rest to me in lue of therapy fees.
Judd
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by onlythat
c'mon Justin-- I had to try out round-earth ville for a while just to see--
no money was lost in the process of buying and selling- all was used.
I think the Elas would be fun-- just not too good in the bass.
I am close to done. I know I want NAIM for example! That's a start.
And i know I want a pair of Ultimatums. It's just a question of when.
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Emil
OFF TOPICDavid
Im thinking about Mana Soundbases for my Mystiques. I know you had them at one time.
Tell me, for $450
what did you think of them?
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by Robert Derwae
David:
Funny, I was reading your posts and thinking "this guy should talk to Judd, who's been down this very path and circled back to almost where he started." Then, voila, there's a post to that effect from Judd. It's a small world...
Posted on: 19 February 2004 by onlythat
Hey Justin-- is that really your sistem now?? 3.5/Nait 2/Elas? Have you heard the new Ela? Is it really not that good or what?
Emil-- I had the soundbases. I had them. That is-- I couldnt get good things to happen with them. Just more sharpness in the sound.
Also-- you think you feel like a tweak head audio geek now? Try getting on your knees for a few hours and fiddling with these little stands which you cant quite get level and for which you paid 450 dollars, for god sakes!!!
I felt so stupid when my girlfriend called me and asked 'what are you doing now?' I wasnt about to tell her putting expensive little platforms under my speakers and getting them EXACTLY level so the sound will be upgraded a few levels.
DORK. That's what I felt like. I also felt they didnt do much for me. And did I mention they were a BITCH to set up?
Talk soon,
David
Posted on: 19 February 2004 by onlythat
Hey NaimGaim-- how bout if I just put my CDX2 and my Harbeths towards this inevitable purchase?
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Emil
Soundbases?
Fuhgeddaboudit !So David, whats it like being a New Yawker in Little Rock? Whats the pizza and bagel situation like?
Just cleaning my gun at the moment. Cant be too careful, ya know
Ciao,
Emilio Capozzi
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by Justin
no no,
That's not what I have. I just mentioned the 3.5/nait2/Elas because that would be a comparable system to what I have (ie, cheap and satisfying to no end). I have a CAL Icon MKII/Nait5/Ela I's.
I still have not heard the new elas in my room, but would like to. I think I am going to spring for a TT first. I miss mine a lot.
Judd
Posted on: 20 February 2004 by onlythat
Emil-- being a new yorker in LR is bad, my friend. No opera. No good bagels and worst of all-- no great italian food. Pizza? Terrible. One NY slice is as large as a whole pie here.
And the women? Many are pretty but most are married off just after they get out of diapers.
Also-- more churches here than you can shake a leaf at. Great-- if your a church-goer.
Exactly one or so audio dealer.
One cd store-- it's Barnes and Noble.
So no, it is not happy for me here. Only 4 more years of training though-- then I'm GONE. Back to bagels and pasta and the Met and women who know how to dress elegantly and who dont end sentences with 'at'. i.e. 'where's that at?'
At least my house was cheap.
David
PS-- the weather's warm, though?
