I've got a NAP200 - hurray!

So, after thinking about it for some months, I've finally bitten the proverbial bullet and upgraded from a NAP100 to a 200 (non-DR). It's matched with a 172xs and ATC SCM11 speakers. 

The greatest compliment to the 100 is that it's taken this long. The 100 is so good that it produces a lovely, musical sound even with a source that's (arguably) a step up and very demanding speakers. And I felt the 155xs - the natural partner for the 172 - wasn't much of an improvement. The 100 is that good. 

What finally convinced to invest was the DR version of the 200 meaning a lot of ex-dem 200s in the market. I got one a year old for a very fair price. 

Oh my goodness, it's a dream. Everything is just a bit better - vocals sound more real, instruments have more texture, the rhythms feel sharper. Especially with these relatively insensitive speakers, the 100 would sometimes get a little shrill, as though it was reaching its limit. The 200 just seems to cruise through those passages as though it has oceans to spare. It's the difference between a Golf GTI and a BMW M5 - they're both good, but the M5 is another level 

I'm sitting here listening to Spiro's album Kaleidophonica - which is wonderful by the way - and I could happily do this all night. And all tomorrow. And work on Monday is suddenly a lot less appealing too.