Kudos Titan T88's

It's a valid and pertinent point that Kudos models were designed and voiced on Naim amplifiers 'as was'. My NAP500 is booked in for a service and DR'ing with The Fettling Elves of Salisbury on 1st February, so I let you know if my Titan 88's like it up 'em or not.

John.

Mangomonkey, can you describe what the 250DR did to the sound? Thanks 

The non-DR seem to be more about a nice smooth midrange. The 250DR accentuates clarity, separation and a little more harshness in the upper ranges over smoothness....

To be clear - this is not suggesting that the amp is bad. It's just that speaker/amp matching still has to be performed.

Even the Kudos X2s sound better with the 300s than the 250DR. In this case, for  a sub $2500 speaker it's probably not so much about control - more about tonality.

I'll let Finn comment when he gets his 500 back...

In my case, I'm happy enough with the performance and balance that I don't wan to risk making any changes.

AndyH posted:

Thanks for the info Graham

Maybe I should go with DR on existing 500 and SL cables ?

Or go with 2 x 500 and NO DR ?

And SL cables as and when possible....

Looks like you've got lots of options.  If the Titans are easy to drive then you may yield better results with a single amp and SL cabling but the only way you're really going to find out is by listening to them.  However I doubt you would be unhappy with either choice.

ken c posted:

i am facing similar dilemma, except i already have 2xnap500 ...

enjoy

ken

Ken,

As others have said, the DRed amps bring different benefits compared to the SL cables.  I can't comment on other set ups but in mine I think the cables yielded a more noticeable improvement than the DR upgrades.  In your shoes I'd probably go for the cables first but then it's not my money

Graham Clarke posted:

ken c posted:

i am facing similar dilemma, except i already have 2xnap500 ...

enjoy

ken

Ken,

As others have said, the DRed amps bring different benefits compared to the SL cables.  I can't comment on other set ups but in mine I think the cables yielded a more noticeable improvement than the DR upgrades.  In your shoes I'd probably go for the cables first but then it's not my money

Good to know, another example of how the Forum can be beneficial. Sitting on the sidelines, not being a heavy hitter, you've justifieded my last Naim purchase.

2nd hand Nap 250.2 SN:388xxx, 4K USD, Full warranty!

Cdx2/Hi Cap DR/250.2/200/250.2/Passive PMS Tri Amped Briks.

Next 2nd  hand piece SC DR, followed by Snaxo!

Thanks!

J.N. posted:

It's a valid and pertinent point that Kudos models were designed and voiced on Naim amplifiers 'as was'. My NAP500 is booked in for a service and DR'ing with The Fettling Elves of Salisbury on 1st February, so I let you know if my Titan 88's like it up 'em or not.

John.

As were my NBLs  John, as you know, look forward to reading your report on what  the 500DR brings to your Titans.

J.N. posted:

It's a valid and pertinent point that Kudos models were designed and voiced on Naim amplifiers 'as was'. My NAP500 is booked in for a service and DR'ing with The Fettling Elves of Salisbury on 1st February, so I let you know if my Titan 88's like it up 'em or not.

John.

I'd also be interested to hear your impressions, since I'm thinking of adding a second 500 for my Diapasons. The 500 DR demo was the only one where I wasn't sure there might have been more lost on the swings as gained on the roundabouts. In particular some of the beguiling delicacy of the original 500 seemed to have gone. I even asked the Naim guys down in Brighton whether the 500 DR had been fully run in (it had).

Michael_B. posted:

I'd also be interested to hear your impressions, since I'm thinking of adding a second 500 for my Diapasons. The 500 DR demo was the only one where I wasn't sure there might have been more lost on the swings as gained on the roundabouts. In particular some of the beguiling delicacy of the original 500 seemed to have gone. I even asked the Naim guys down in Brighton whether the 500 DR had been fully run in (it had).

so this was an a/b comparison with DR vs non-DR? this could save me a LOT of money!!! 

i was going to leap to 'not yet run in' but this wasnt as issue as you/Naim confirmed... Hmmm...

this may suggest that i ought to audition the upgrade 1st, if i ever finally decide to go down this route...

enjoy

ken

ken c posted:

Michael_B. posted:

I'd also be interested to hear your impressions, since I'm thinking of adding a second 500 for my Diapasons. The 500 DR demo was the only one where I wasn't sure there might have been more lost on the swings as gained on the roundabouts. In particular some of the beguiling delicacy of the original 500 seemed to have gone. I even asked the Naim guys down in Brighton whether the 500 DR had been fully run in (it had).

so this was an a/b comparison with DR vs non-DR? this could save me a LOT of money!!! 

i was going to leap to 'not yet run in' but this wasnt as issue as you/Naim confirmed... Hmmm...

this may suggest that i ought to audition the upgrade 1st, if i ever finally decide to go down this route...

enjoy

ken

The usual event caveats apply: poor acoustics, speakers I do not particularly respect (Focal biggies with the bass unit electromagnet PSUs and the new Sopras), and not very revealing choice of music (IMNHO), yet the benefits of non-DR vs. DR were very clear for the 252 and 300 but not so for the 500 - and I was not alone in that impression. I certainly wouldn't upgrade without a proper comparison/audition.

My NAP500 is overdue for service.  Planning to go the DR route.  Curious to hear your impressions when your amp returns from service.