250-2 with Allae

I would think a newish non dr 250.2 would be a great improvement, especially given the great prices they are being offered at currently.  For what it's worth I once ran a 282/200 into a pair of neat momentum 4is and compared the 200 to the 250.2 at home,  the demo lasted 5 minutes and I traded in my 200 for the nap250.2. The nap250.2 had more scale and let the bass through, a bit like drinking lite milk and comparing to full cream.

During a subsequent home demo we compared the allaes to the neat 4is to see what difference a full Naim speaker would make. That demo lasted 5 minutes and I kept the 4is.

Jason

I checked your profile and you have a very nice system. I owned and still own both a 200 and 250.2 plus Allaes. I have a 282 as well but a CDS 3 in place of your NDS. I went from 1 hi-cap to 2 hi-caps to a Supercap on my 282. I only preferred the 250.2 over the 200 when I got to the Supercap level on my 282. In my room, the bottom end of the 250.2 which prior to the Supercap had been rather full and lacking in detail on the Allaes tightened right up and became more detailed and powerful. Overall clarity, which previously had been a strong point of the 200 now became the case with the 250.2 as well. I think you would be pleased with the difference in your system. I hope you can do an in home demo to make sure you hear the same thing.

Jason,

You have a very nice system, and I would be very surprised if you did not instantly love what the 250 would reveal of your upstream components.  Of course, you should audition if possible.  But this should be a no-brainer.

I do not have Allaes, but I did have a 282/(2)HiCaps when I traded my 200 for a new 250-2.  For me it was an immediate improvement, which literally doubled in the week following as things settled in.  I have always appreciated what tighter regulation rings to the party, and the 250-2 (compared to 200) offers more dynamic expression, quieter background, so better voice/instrument separation and articulation.  Music sounds more real to my ears.  And, of course, the 250 can play louder with grace when required, compared to the 200.

I have heard Allae's on a friend's olive system: 82/Supercap/250.  They sounded excellent.  Maybe Naim Gary will pipe in?

There are some who prefer the 200 to the 250, but they usually have lesser front ends than you have.

Good luck,

Charlie

Remember - the 250 was always a bloody good amp. I have had mine since 1985. The 250.2 is probably a bit better - and the 250DR even more so. 

Upgraditis requires us to have the latest. Or does it...? I am pretty sure there will be a lot of 250's and 250.2's around second hand or pre-loved,  because their owners have succumbed to Upgraditis.....!  Its a disease I love.... Sell me your old unloved HiFi.....!!

Get a 250 - whichever you find first. You will not be disappointed.

IanM

Jason,

With your current system I would expect the sound to be fast and rather dry with a bit of brightness. The supercapped 282 has this tendency and the 200 adds to the dryness as well as speed. The 250.2 has a bigger more powerful sound, though some say it sounds a little slower - I prefer to think of it as a more controlled presentation while providing more resolution and scale. There are a few who prefer the 200 but most would prefer the 250.2. In your system, I think the 250.2 would bring about some balance to the presentation and allow through some more of the scale, weight and resolution of the rest of the electronics.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

I ran Allaes with a 282/HC/250.2 (my first Naim amps) and it was great. Adding a SCap2 really opened up the top end and tightened up the low end as well as letting more information through. I think you'd love what a 250.2 would do over a 200 which sounds recessed and a bit shy compared to the 250.2

rackkit posted:

I ran Allaes with a 282/HC/250.2 (my first Naim amps) and it was great. Adding a SCap2 really opened up the top end and tightened up the low end as well as letting more information through. I think you'd love what a 250.2 would do over a 200 which sounds recessed and a bit shy compared to the 250.2

 

 

Never had the 200, but agree with rackkit's comments re: the 282/S.Cap/250.2 vs. H.Cap.

Thank you all so much for your considered responses.

I remember trying a 250.2 a long time ago when I had a much lesser system and I then preferred the 200, to my surprise.  I have since built my system principally source first and it has changed and improved greatly over the years.  Now at this level, I did wonder if this may change how the 250.2 worked in my system and it would appear from all your advice that may well be the case.

I will hold fire on servicing the 200 and set my dealer the task of finding me a nice example of a 250.2 and see how I get on.  Looking forward to giving one a try now!