24,000 sleepless nights

Posted by: smike42 on 06 April 2003

I guess you've all done it but I can't sleep tonight.

My sistem (sorry I don't know why it needs an I) would be

CDX2
XPS2
NAC252
SUPERCAP
NAP300
NBL

only rule GBP 24,000 to spend excluding cables stands and the other bits
Posted on: 06 April 2003 by Steve Toy
What's the budget including cables stands and the other bits?



Regards,

Steve.
Posted on: 06 April 2003 by smike42
This was mean't to be hypothetical so let's assume we've got a great dealer who throws them in for gratis!

(I wish)
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by Simon Matthews
If CD is the main source then you would probably be better off with a cds3/252/SC and nap250(new style) instead.
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by NB
Nice sistem but it really does need that CDS3 on the front end.

I would sacrifice the NBL's for the SL2's to fund this.

Regards

NB
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by Justin
If i had 24,000 pounds to spend on hi-fi, I would buy a 72/hi/250 and a BMW 3 series. I guess this begs the question, though. You probably already have a BMW.

Judd
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by JeremyD
Hi-fi? Pfffff! With £24000 I could change my life...

--J
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by DAVOhorn
Well what an opportunity.

24 big ones.

SONY SCD 1 £4200

CARY valve pre 2nd hand £2500

CARY 805 211 mono blocks 2nd £7000

ACR Eckhorn (Klipsch copies)2nd £2000

Stands cables etc £1000

total: £16700

With the rest have a better car, hell of a holiday etc get a fast bike.

Seriously it is a lot of money to spend on a system. But if you can afford it and it is what you want then go make your dealer happy.

Just remember to haggle as in Wrong Car Right Car. You want a full tank of petrol and the mats plus 12 months road tax.

I wish you good hunting.

regards David
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by Rasher
Well Smike, I just went and bought the whole show with the CDS3 front end and....bugger... I WAS asleep!!!!!
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by smike42
How about going for it at the front end:

CDS3
552
250
SL2

and blowing the budget by about a grand?
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by Paul Davies
If I were in your fortunate position, I might be tempted to listen first to:


  • CDS3 +XPS 2 (GBP 4,750.00 + 2,300.00)
  • NAC552 (GBP 11,750.00)
  • NAP300 (GBP 4,750.00)
  • The best 450 GBP speakers that I could find


But then I did run a pair of used Kans on the end of a CDS/52/250 for a a while.

I might be prepared to compromise a bit on the power amplifier if I couldn't find speakers at 450 GBP that were good enough. In that case I would ask to listen to:

  • CDS3 +XPS 2 (GBP 4,750.00 + 2,300.00)
  • NAC552 (GBP 11,750.00)
  • New NAP250 (GBP 2,250.00)
  • Allaes (GBP 2,045.00 in std finish)


If I couldn't persuade my dealer to throw in the stands for free (those Fraims are a bit pricey!) I would make my compromises furthest away from the source. In practice, that might mean that I would end up with the second system with more modest speakers than the Allaes to pay for the stands.

Happy listening!
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by smike42
How similar do the new bits of kit look to each other?

Do you think I could sneak in the 552 but tell my boss it's a 252/Supercap?

I'm a mullet
Posted on: 07 April 2003 by Paul Davies
quote:
Originally posted by smike42:
How similar do the new bits of kit look to each other?

Do you think I could sneak in the 552 but tell my boss it's a 252/Supercap?



If the pictures in the Preamps section of the Naim Audio Web site are anything to go by, I think that you could get away with it.
Posted on: 09 April 2003 by smike42
But, we must ask four basic questions first:

what kind of system do you have now/have been listening to in the recent past,

triamped briks running through an 82/2*hi with only a CD3 (but a top notch LP12)

what is your room like (size, soft/hard surfaces, &c)

I'm in the process of having a room built approx 24' by 20' (stereo on the long wall)
decoration yet to be decided.

what kind of music do you listen to/love,

Most - from Pink Floyd to Shania Twain and a few other places too.

and why do you consider yourself inclining toward a mullet?

Look at my current system and the comments others have made on systems of this type!!
But I really anjoy the big sound the briks can produce.

thanks for the thoughts. The original question was really hypothetical as I am not starting from scratch and I am not going to spend £24,000

I guess I was interested what the kind of money I have invested would get allowing for the money I have available now. And the big question:

Would a 552 be a good addition as I probably wouldn't be able to change the CD3 at the same time or should I go CDS3 and supercap my 82 or CDS2 and then 52/supercap if I can find a second hand one I might even get an XP2 for the £12k I could spend.

As for stands - I am using a tripod system designed 15 years ago that works well - is Fraim that much better??

I'm a mullet and I love it!