Past Upgrades with Naim/Linn Mid Systems!

Past Upgrades with  Naim/Linn Mid Systems!

During the last the last three decades, I’ve been pretty busy with hi fi! It started with Son of Ampzilla/Polk Audio, LK 280/Kans, Then LK 280/Briks, Bi Amp Briks, and Finally, Active Tri-Amps Briks with LK 280’s.

A Full Blown Linn Aktiv System fronted with a Karin Pre, and Linn XO, with Bingo Card, Nice! The Active System just seemed to have a certain ease the way the music was being delivered, and when called upon the Bass was there. And as it relates to Amps, That was the quietest my Briks have ever sounded.  

Then came Naim, Bi Amped Briks with 200 & 250, Amps most definitely, richer and thicker sounding than Linn Amps, and the 282 added a sense of clarity, but the Amps were not as quiet as Linn, perhaps this is the trade-off with Naim’s massive transformers!

Plus heating problems with Naim Amps, on more than one occasion 250 went into protection mode, and shut down! Never had a heating problem with Linn Amps! So I switched and put 200 on Woofer and Mids, leaving the 250.2 to handle the tweeter, no more heating problems, but the System didn’t perform as well.

Hence, back to the Bank, Tri Amped Passive Briks with the 200 on the Mids.

Incremental improvement over the Bi Amp, did allow more headroom, Bi Amped maxed out at 10.5 oclock, Tri Amped Maxed out at 9.5/10 oclock, but that cost me $4K for a Brand New 250.2 with full warranty. $4K worth of improvement, I think not!  

Listening to this Forum is some dangerous stuff, for lack of a better word, So back to the Bank!

Next Upgrade, Racks, I always loved the classic look of my Sound Factory Tripods Racks, light weight and high rigidity, characteristics that suit Naim and Linn. But I’m hooked on Naim, Hence Fraim Lite seemed like the logical choice, being interchangeable with the reference Fraim.

First I Fraimlited the Brains, what the heck, Cdx2, 282, and Hi Cap DR. Did I notice a difference, yep! it looked good! 1.2K gone from the Bank!

Next I Fraimlited the Brawn’s Portion. Ok, Incremental difference, but definitely noticeable. the Amps quieted down. almost no hum at all. In fact, I think this upgrade trumped the addition of $4K 3rd amp. After completing the $.9K 3 Tier Brawns portion of the Fraim Lite, amps were now comparable to my LK 280's, as far as being quiet, and the added kicker, I can add more racks as I pursue the Active route.

You know what they say:

Once you gone Active, you can’t Passive Back!

When I’m talking quiet, You guys know what mean, when you take a double check to see if you System is powered off, After threat of Thunderstorm type of deal!  

Ok, to the point, I think as far as Upgrades go, I don’t think no one Upgrade will be a revelation, but collectively, one approaches the intended reference point that the Manufacturer had in mind.

Of course their a many variables that can change the outcome, Room size, dimensions, softness, hardness, floors, etc… just to name a few.

Well Naim as done a fine job as far as Upgrades go, 2012 DR Tech to PSs, 2014 The Statement which led to SL ICs, DRed Amps, SL Speaker Cable, so if one gets bored, you can always take a trip to the Bank!!!!!

“Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.”
Sigmund Freud

Honestly, Sometimes I wish I never started this project, but then again I never finish a project, ask my Wife! 

Mac Mini streaming throughout both Systems:

Mac Mini >  Airport Extreme > Airport Express > Emotive Dac 1 > Primare Pre 30 > Arcam P1 Mono Blocks > Vienna Acoustics Baby Grands > Audioquest King Cobra XLR IC's throughout! Set up for HDTV, but can't afford to busy with hi fi, I still have a 36 inch picture tube in the rec room! LOL......

 Shared Experiences appreciated!
Enjoy your gear!