n-Vi outgunned
Posted by: Mike1380 on 25 May 2014
So....
As an n-Vi afficionado and a Home Theatre stalwart I've had some fun ideas for where to take the AV side of my system to since a recent house move.
I've only recently trodden the BluRay path with an older oppo (83) and have been thoroughly enjoying it, even though it down mixes into DD/DTS from the uncompressed soundtrack on my small collection of BluRays.
I've been using the n-Vi as a processor, and in fact still using it as the DVD player, not to mention the three channel amp for centre and rears.
For the weekend I arranged to borrow an Oppo 105D and some amplification to try out as an n-Vi replacement. My game plan was to try a couple of NAP100s, using a lone channel of one to drive the centre (can't bi-amp my centre) and the other one to drive the rears.
However, only one was available, so I borrowed a NAP 250 for a laugh...
Mistake!
Initially I put the 250 on the rears, so I could see how the single channel of the 100 would compare with the similarly rated Class T centre module in the n-Vi. Frankly it was very very good. The Oppo matched well as a processor to the naim amps. I focused on some dialogue heavy scenes from Skyfall and found myself really enjoying it all.
Even with legacy DVDs it held up very well against the venerable one-boxer from Naim. I was very aware of the big monster driving the rears in some of the action scenes, but found myself thinking that a 105D with a pair of 100s (or a serviced NAP-V175 at the right price) would do very nicely....
Then the curiosity got the better of me.
As I'd borrowed all the leads to run whatever combo I wanted, I put the 100 on the rears and connected one channel of the 250 to my centre.
I put on the most challenging scene I know, the opening of the recent Karl Urban variation of "Dredd". During this scene, amongst the enormous array of guns and engines, there is a dispatcher communicating with Dredd by radio.
The n-Vi is the only processor I've heard that allows you to clearly hear all of the words in her dialogue.
The Oppo with the 100 on the centre allowed you to pick out intonation. With the 250 at the front, accents and breathing were clear.
MDS popped round to have a listen while I had these toys in place, and used the words "I thought it sounded amazing before, but...". So I'm clearly not going insane. Mad for trying it perhaps, but not insane.
I'd thought I could live with a pair of 100s. It is now very very clear to me that I cannot. I need a 250 (old will do) or a lone NAP135.
Anybody want to buy a kidney???
To anybody else thinking of this kind of tinkering.... you have been warned!
As an n-Vi afficionado and a Home Theatre stalwart I've had some fun ideas for where to take the AV side of my system to since a recent house move.
I've only recently trodden the BluRay path with an older oppo (83) and have been thoroughly enjoying it, even though it down mixes into DD/DTS from the uncompressed soundtrack on my small collection of BluRays.
I've been using the n-Vi as a processor, and in fact still using it as the DVD player, not to mention the three channel amp for centre and rears.
For the weekend I arranged to borrow an Oppo 105D and some amplification to try out as an n-Vi replacement. My game plan was to try a couple of NAP100s, using a lone channel of one to drive the centre (can't bi-amp my centre) and the other one to drive the rears.
However, only one was available, so I borrowed a NAP 250 for a laugh...
Mistake!
Initially I put the 250 on the rears, so I could see how the single channel of the 100 would compare with the similarly rated Class T centre module in the n-Vi. Frankly it was very very good. The Oppo matched well as a processor to the naim amps. I focused on some dialogue heavy scenes from Skyfall and found myself really enjoying it all.
Even with legacy DVDs it held up very well against the venerable one-boxer from Naim. I was very aware of the big monster driving the rears in some of the action scenes, but found myself thinking that a 105D with a pair of 100s (or a serviced NAP-V175 at the right price) would do very nicely....
Then the curiosity got the better of me.
As I'd borrowed all the leads to run whatever combo I wanted, I put the 100 on the rears and connected one channel of the 250 to my centre.
I put on the most challenging scene I know, the opening of the recent Karl Urban variation of "Dredd". During this scene, amongst the enormous array of guns and engines, there is a dispatcher communicating with Dredd by radio.
The n-Vi is the only processor I've heard that allows you to clearly hear all of the words in her dialogue.
The Oppo with the 100 on the centre allowed you to pick out intonation. With the 250 at the front, accents and breathing were clear.
MDS popped round to have a listen while I had these toys in place, and used the words "I thought it sounded amazing before, but...". So I'm clearly not going insane. Mad for trying it perhaps, but not insane.
I'd thought I could live with a pair of 100s. It is now very very clear to me that I cannot. I need a 250 (old will do) or a lone NAP135.
Anybody want to buy a kidney???
To anybody else thinking of this kind of tinkering.... you have been warned!
Originally Posted by Wazza69:
Thanks. I may look at one with a NAP175,
I was going to suggest a 175/105 combo sounds ideal for you. 175 are pretty rare but do become available now & again if you look hard enough. 