Supernait 2

BobbyBlitz posted:

fps1k posted:

Hi Bobby, I have the Dynaudio Contour 1.4 LEs with NDX/ Chord Hugo/ SN2 and it works very nicely. Having said that, I'm looking at adding a power amplifier to the SN2 to give it a bit more grip and control on the bottom end. It may just be a room dependency issue, as tonally and rythmically, it's all very balanced. And the speakers look great in black and mocha!

 

Hi fps1k! That means that I can add my nap 100 to a SN2 for better performance? It would be great!

I like 1.4 LE's black feature, looks stunning!

I don't know why you would want to do that or what you would get from it.  The Nap100 is a great little amp at a good price but the SN2 is way better than it and I doubt plugging one into the other would work well

I already have a V1 and a Nap100. Next step wil surely be a SN2 and using V1 as Dac. Preamp section on V1 can be disabled. The idea of keeping Nap 100 was according to what fps1k said about adding some power to SN2. Since I'm not an expert I'm here to asking some good advice. :-)

I moved from a Qute feeding a Hugo and Nap100 to a Supernait 2 fed by the Hugo and a Mac Mini.  Take my word for it, you won't need the Nap100 or any additional power with anything other than very hard to drive speakers in a big room. Sell the Nap100 and put the money to good use with better cables for the SN2.  

BobbyBlitz posted:

I already have a V1 and a Nap100. Next step wil surely be a SN2 and using V1 as Dac. Preamp section on V1 can be disabled. The idea of keeping Nap 100 was according to what fps1k said about adding some power to SN2. Since I'm not an expert I'm here to asking some good advice. :-)

You don't need the preamp in the SN2 if you've got a V1. Why not just upgrade your power amp? Maybe replace your 100 with a 200.

I'd have to agree with Chris, in regard to replacing the 100, rather than using it with the SN2, if you're going to keep the V1. I can't imagine the 100 would be better than the internal SN2 power amp. From the forum, it appears that the 200DR is a good option value for money with the V1, though some people have also stepped up to the 250...I guess you need to work out where you want to end up, and logically plan the steps on how you'll get there. 

fps1k posted:

I'd have to agree with Chris, in regard to replacing the 100, rather than using it with the SN2, if you're going to keep the V1. I can't imagine the 100 would be better than the internal SN2 power amp. From the forum, it appears that the 200DR is a good option value for money with the V1, though some people have also stepped up to the 250...I guess you need to work out where you want to end up, and logically plan the steps on how you'll get there. 

Hi, I'm looking for SN2 for the following reason:

1 SN2 has a better preamp section then v1

2 200 DR has not enough power for driving contour's S 1.4

3 250 DR will give an unbalanced system

4 I'm using good and expensive RCA cables between V1 and Nap 100, and cannot use with nap 200-250

Hello.  I'm am new to this forum.  I have owned a Nait 2 in the past with listening to vinyl only and it was quite musical.  Not to mention I had no idea of the wattage of my former Nait 2. That Nait is long gone now.

Interesting read from all the above posts.  Yesterday I went to a dealer and listened to a Supernait-2 with NACA5 cables to a pair of Graham ls5/9.  The source was a Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC series 2.  It was very nice sounding and the bass was very special.  We then swapped to a Harbeth 30.1 it was ok - but my preference was the Graham.

Currently, I'm in the hunt for another Nait 2 recapped or Supernait-2 and can't decide.  My current speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines at 91dB.  Nait 2 or Supernate-2 ?????  

BobbyBlitz posted:

fps1k posted:

I'd have to agree with Chris, in regard to replacing the 100, rather than using it with the SN2, if you're going to keep the V1. I can't imagine the 100 would be better than the internal SN2 power amp. From the forum, it appears that the 200DR is a good option value for money with the V1, though some people have also stepped up to the 250...I guess you need to work out where you want to end up, and logically plan the steps on how you'll get there. 

Hi, I'm looking for SN2 for the following reason:

1 SN2 has a better preamp section then v1

2 200 DR has not enough power for driving contour's S 1.4

3 250 DR will give an unbalanced system

4 I'm using good and expensive RCA cables between V1 and Nap 100, and cannot use with nap 200-250

I'll be hopefully doing a demo with a dealer on a 200 and a 250 with the SN2 and the Contour 1.4 LE's during the next few weeks, and will report back on what sort of difference that makes.

I preferred the SN2 over the V1/100 when I first auditioned them (though I was upgrading from a Uniti at that time, & the Contours are a more recent purchase.

Cheers.

WTCRP posted:

 

Currently, I'm in the hunt for another Nait 2 recapped or Supernait-2 and can't decide.  My current speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines at 91dB.  Nait 2 or Supernate-2 ?????  

Welcome, WTCRP!

I have a Supernait 1 and Devore Gibbon Eights and love the combination. That said, your Devore Nines are quite efficient, so I'll bet they'd be perfect with a Nait 2. (I've often thought about trying a Nait 2, given the high praise it receives on here!)

BobbyBlitz posted:

fps1k posted:

I'd have to agree with Chris, in regard to replacing the 100, rather than using it with the SN2, if you're going to keep the V1. I can't imagine the 100 would be better than the internal SN2 power amp. From the forum, it appears that the 200DR is a good option value for money with the V1, though some people have also stepped up to the 250...I guess you need to work out where you want to end up, and logically plan the steps on how you'll get there. 

Hi, I'm looking for SN2 for the following reason:

1 SN2 has a better preamp section then v1

2 200 DR has not enough power for driving contour's S 1.4

3 250 DR will give an unbalanced system

4 I'm using good and expensive RCA cables between V1 and Nap 100, and cannot use with nap 200-250

You make some interesting points, Bobby.  I'm not sure about 3) though. 

If you're right that the 200 would lack sufficient power & 'drive' for the Contours, then you probably need the power & drive of the 250.  If its what you need, then it can't really be an unbalanced system ?  Or perhaps more accurate to say, it would be a system unbalanced of necessity, rather than through poor choice of components.

Re the SN2, don't assume that just because its rated power is higher than the 200, it is actually better suited to 'difficult' speakers.  Probably the reverse is true, eg in terms of tolerance for low impedances in sustained, hard use.  Which again might point you towards the 250.....

You could always sell your RCA cables (along with the 100) so I don't think that need be a deal breaker.  Naim recommend DIN wherever possible anyhow.

WTCRP posted:

Currently, I'm in the hunt for another Nait 2 recapped or Supernait-2 and can't decide.  My current speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines at 91dB.

Forum member "Bart" is running a SN2 into Devore Nines. Formerly ran a Nait XS into the Nines. Hopefully his ears will be burning and he'll respond here.

For the OP and Bobbyblitz, another option to consider is the 272 and your choice of power amp.

Jude

how essential would be to retrofit the sn2 with a hicap?

sharik posted:

 

how essential would be to retrofit the sn2 with a hicap?

 

I'm sure you mean - add HighCap to SN2. It's a stand-alone PSU.

It's not essential - SN2 is a fine amplified on its own. Some say it sounds better with HC, some say it sounds better without it.
The best thing is to listen to it for a long time at home (say 1 year) then borrow a highcap from your dealer and test it. If you like what the addition does, then buy it

joe9407 posted:

WTCRP posted:

 

Currently, I'm in the hunt for another Nait 2 recapped or Supernait-2 and can't decide.  My current speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines at 91dB.  Nait 2 or Supernate-2 ?????  

Welcome, WTCRP!

I have a Supernait 1 and Devore Gibbon Eights and love the combination. That said, your Devore Nines are quite efficient, so I'll bet they'd be perfect with a Nait 2. (I've often thought about trying a Nait 2, given the high praise it receives on here!)

Thanks.  I'm planning on a demo of the Supernait-2 here at the house with the Devores later this week.  I'm still on the fence about the Nait 2 although it didn't play very loud at all - it was so musical with its little capabilities.  My heart says Nait 2 and my brain says Supernait 2.

joerand posted:

 

Forum member "Bart" is running a SN2 into Devore Nines. Formerly ran a Nait XS into the Nines. Hopefully his ears will be burning and he'll respond here.

 

Ok.  Thanks for the info.  I may have to message him for some opinions about it.

WTCRP posted:

joe9407 posted:

WTCRP posted:

 

Currently, I'm in the hunt for another Nait 2 recapped or Supernait-2 and can't decide.  My current speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines at 91dB.  Nait 2 or Supernate-2 ?????  

Welcome, WTCRP!

I have a Supernait 1 and Devore Gibbon Eights and love the combination. That said, your Devore Nines are quite efficient, so I'll bet they'd be perfect with a Nait 2. (I've often thought about trying a Nait 2, given the high praise it receives on here!)

Thanks.  I'm planning on a demo of the Supernait-2 here at the house with the Devores later this week.  I'm still on the fence about the Nait 2 although it didn't play very loud at all - it was so musical with its little capabilities.  My heart says Nait 2 and my brain says Supernait 2.

I own and love both the Nait2 and SN2. The choice would very much be down to the speaker and room, but both are a great showcase for what Naim does best.

ChrisSU posted:

BobbyBlitz posted:

I already have a V1 and a Nap100. Next step wil surely be a SN2 and using V1 as Dac. Preamp section on V1 can be disabled. The idea of keeping Nap 100 was according to what fps1k said about adding some power to SN2. Since I'm not an expert I'm here to asking some good advice. :-)

You don't need the preamp in the SN2 if you've got a V1. Why not just upgrade your power amp? Maybe replace your 100 with a 200.

I strongly disagree. 

When V1 was released, I demoed it against my Naim DAC. I use SN2 + HCDR as amplification. V1 performs great as a source/DAC but the preamp section is clearly inferior to SN2's. There's really no competition, the gap in performance is huge. I auditioned it so that I connected V1 to SN2 bypassing SN2's own preamp section. It worked only as poweramp through the audition. 

V1 + NAP200 will never outperform V1 (as standalone DAC) + SN2, neither would V1 + NAP250.2 in my opinion. 

Patu posted:

ChrisSU posted:

BobbyBlitz posted:

I already have a V1 and a Nap100. Next step wil surely be a SN2 and using V1 as Dac. Preamp section on V1 can be disabled. The idea of keeping Nap 100 was according to what fps1k said about adding some power to SN2. Since I'm not an expert I'm here to asking some good advice. :-)

You don't need the preamp in the SN2 if you've got a V1. Why not just upgrade your power amp? Maybe replace your 100 with a 200.

I strongly disagree. 

When V1 was released, I demoed it against my Naim DAC. I use SN2 + HCDR as amplification. V1 performs great as a source/DAC but the preamp section is clearly inferior to SN2's. There's really no competition, the gap in performance is huge. I auditioned it so that I connected V1 to SN2 bypassing SN2's own preamp section. It worked only as poweramp through the audition. 

V1 + NAP200 will never outperform V1 (as standalone DAC) + SN2, neither would V1 + NAP250.2 in my opinion. 

Agreed.

gary yeowell posted:

 

I own and love both the Nait2 and SN2. The choice would very much be down to the speaker and room, but both are a great showcase for what Naim does best.

 

Thanks for your advice. Are both equally musical with the only difference in power?  I have a medium sized room.

They are two different amplifiers - if they both sounded the same, it would be a bit of a pointless exercise

Both are very good integrated amps. The difference is not really down to the power (10W is really irrelevant here).
They are voiced differently. If you wanted a one-line summary, from my perspective: SN2 is more 'aggressive', in a positive sense of the word.

One thing: Nait XS works best with other XS components. SN2 works best with a Classic Line. So you should bear this in mind as well.

They are both equally musical, in their own way, but they are not the same. You would have to listen for yourself with the speakers and room you intend to use. Of course the SN2 is more powerful, but that is not the whole story as i'm sure you know. I can't really help you any more than that really as you might as well throw the rule book out where matching speakers, amps and room are concerned, as well as throwing in the source components. All i can say with some certainty is they have both seen off many Naim amps in this house.

Adam Zielinski posted:

They are two different amplifiers - if they both sounded the same, it would be a bit of a pointless exercise

Both are very good integrated amps. The difference is not really down to the power (10W is really irrelevant here).
They are voiced differently. If you wanted a one-line summary, from my perspective: SN2 is more 'aggressive', in a positive sense of the word.

One thing: Nait XS works best with other XS components. SN2 works best with a Classic Line. So you should bear this in mind as well.

Not sure where the 10w comes from Adam, we are talking about a Nait2 and SN2.

Patu posted:

ChrisSU posted:

 

I strongly disagree. 

When V1 was released, I demoed it against my Naim DAC. I use SN2 + HCDR as amplification. V1 performs great as a source/DAC but the preamp section is clearly inferior to SN2's. There's really no competition, the gap in performance is huge. I auditioned it so that I connected V1 to SN2 bypassing SN2's own preamp section. It worked only as poweramp through the audition. 

V1 + NAP200 will never outperform V1 (as standalone DAC) + SN2, neither would V1 + NAP250.2 in my opinion. 

Thank you for reply CrisSU. What difference you find between the preamp section of V1 and SN2?

Mea culpa - confused it with Nait XS (which is rated at 70W vs SN2's 80W)