n-Sub alternatives?

Posted by: Mark R on 30 August 2014

Hi there,

 

It's currently proving difficult to find a second-hand n-Sub, so am looking into alternatives. The current setup is simple: n-Sats, Oppo 103D, Mac Mini, AV2, 250.2.

 

I've seen forum references to REL, MJ Acoustics etc. but usually not in n-Sat context. Are there comparable alternatives to an n-Sub that integrate well with n-Sats for both music and film duties?  

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

-Mark

 

 

Posted on: 30 August 2014 by rackkit
Originally Posted by Mark R:

Hi there,

 

It's currently proving difficult to find a second-hand n-Sub, so am looking into alternatives. The current setup is simple: n-Sats, Oppo 103D, Mac Mini, AV2, 250.2.

 

I've seen forum references to REL, MJ Acoustics etc. but usually not in n-Sat context. Are there comparable alternatives to an n-Sub that integrate well with n-Sats for both music and film duties?  

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

-Mark

 

 

It might be proving difficult but they do come up on the used market very now and then. Well worth waiting for IMO as they work so well with the n-Sats.

 

eBay & PFM classifieds are the usual places they turn up if you'v already tried the Naim dealer network. 

 

 

Posted on: 30 August 2014 by Mark R

Rackkit -- thank you. I'm hoping and nSub will turn up, but recent explorations of the second hand market here (I'm currently in the US) have turned up precisely none, even via dealer enquiries. They seem to be very rare, hence I have started to look at what could realistically be considered as an alternative.

Posted on: 01 September 2014 by rackkit
Originally Posted by Mark R:

Rackkit -- thank you. I'm hoping and nSub will turn up, but recent explorations of the second hand market here (I'm currently in the US) have turned up precisely none, even via dealer enquiries. They seem to be very rare, hence I have started to look at what could realistically be considered as an alternative.

Sorry, i thought you were UK based. We're spoilt for used UK gear here, as you'd expect.

 

Should you find one, you might find a UK seller might be willing to ship to the US?

Posted on: 02 September 2014 by rackkit

No problems Mark. Took a while for me to track one down a few years ago even over here in the uk but then I was waiting for one in Maple to match my SL2, n-Sats & Axess speakers. How I dropped on the Axess in the same shade too, I'll never know.  

 

Now that is one very rare speaker! 

Posted on: 02 September 2014 by Mark R

It looks like I will also have to bide my time until a US-based one comes up -- a first pass estimate on personal shipping was $600-$800 due to weight and size. Not exactly in my budget! Can't imagine that's the case for dealer shipping, but still. 

 

The Axess is one rare beast, that's for sure. I had an option on a black ash one years ago with Allaes, but passed -- they sound great, but we didn't have the space it needed at the time. nCent it is for now with the nSats :-) Did you manage to pick up a Fraim Home Theatre base for it as well?! :-)

 

 

Posted on: 02 September 2014 by rackkit
Originally Posted by Mark R:

It looks like I will also have to bide my time until a US-based one comes up -- a first pass estimate on personal shipping was $600-$800 due to weight and size. Not exactly in my budget! Can't imagine that's the case for dealer shipping, but still. 

 

The Axess is one rare beast, that's for sure. I had an option on a black ash one years ago with Allaes, but passed -- they sound great, but we didn't have the space it needed at the time. nCent it is for now with the nSats :-) Did you manage to pick up a Fraim Home Theatre base for it as well?! :-)

 

 

I'm lucky but not 'that' lucky. Or patient! Although I have actually seen the same one come up for sale around 3 times over the last 4 or 5 years. I'm sure it'll resurface like a German U Boat again in a few years time.

 

I'd have jumped on the Axess & made some space for it. Like you, I have the n-Cent too as that came with the n-Sats. It worked well with the n-Sats but the Axess gives a bigger image and integrates really with the SL2 speakers. I use a single channel NAP V 145 to drive it so it's a very decent set up.

 

 

A shame about those proposed shipping costs which seem pretty excessive to me. Pretty sure there's a cheaper method for sending heavy packages available. Worth getting in touch with the seller & seeing how they approach this problem. 

 

Cheers,

 

Rack. 

 

Posted on: 02 September 2014 by Mark R

Very nice setup.

 

I'll be looking for alternatives on shipping as nSubs are practically non-existent here. But, it does raise the question of alternatives again, and it's not yet clear what reasonable brands/models would be suitable.