Speakers for NAC-N 272/NAP 250DR

Good morning,

I have the 272/250DR with SCM40's (new version) and I'm over the moon with the combination. Never in my many years have I listened to as much music which tells you something! 

When auditioning for speakers the SCM40's stood out from the crowd and for me there was nothing else at a similar price point that could touch them. However I appreciate speakers are a very subjective purchase.

I would suggest having a chat with Jack at The Audiobarn in Harlow which isn't a million miles away from South London. He is one of the few dealers that have Naim and ATC and there is always a plentiful supply of tea and biscuits!

Good luck!

Paul

I used to have the A5's with an NDX/282/HicapDR/200 and moved to Kudos C20's which was a very worthwhile upgrade.

The A5's don't have many fans on this forum but I quite liked mine, they tend to overblow the bass if not positioned correctly or are in a unsympathetic room.  They also need a certain level of amplifier to bring them to life.  The NAP200 is a great partner for these.

When I started looking at upgrading my system was given two pieces of advice from various dealers which I believe is true and relevant.

1. Don't pair the A5's with a 250.2.  This was pre DR days but I was advised that the system would lose its vitality and the 250.2 would bring out the worst in the A5's.  The NAP200 seems a good match as it is quite lean in character which keeps the bass in check.

2. Speakers such as the PMC 20/23 are in a similar market in terms of performance, with different compromises.  I was advised to go up a range, i.e. to Kudos C20, Spendor D7, Ovator S400 level to avoid a sideways step.

Having now moved up to a 250.2 (DR) with the Kudos speakers I can agree with point 1.  The 250.2 has much more control and extension and I think it could easily be too much for the A5's.  It is a much better power amp though,

Also I have heard PMC 20/23's in a lesser system I much preferred my system.  Ultimately I think the PMC's are a better speaker and starting again that is what I would have bought but the quality of the rest of the system was easily revealed by the A5's.  i.e your speakers have more to give if they work well in your room.

I would suggest doing some listening as you have plenty of options.

The 272 sounds like a wonderful piece of kit, I haven't heard one yet but nobody has a bad word to say about it.  I would be looking one of these if I was starting now.  Listen to one of these, preferably in your own system.  I'm sure the upgrade will be well worthwhile even if you stopped there.

Then I think you need to listen to a number of combinations.  Try speakers like the PMC's with a NAP200 and 250.2 and compare with your own.  You could also look at retaining your NAP200 and trying an XPS2 on the 272.  I would also suggest trying to hear better speakers with the 272/200 combination.  You may just prefer this and you could change to a 250.2 at a later date.

Richard

When I first got my 272/250DR I was using PMC twenty.23s and they were very good. Then I happened upon some Naim SL2s and bought those to replace the PMCs. They are wonderful speakers, but very hard to find: that said they are a great option if you wish to position your speakers against the wall, which in my opinion is the proper place for speakers - who wants them in the middle of the room? The trouble with a lot of modern speakers is that they have too much bass. My local dealer, who sells the Focal Aria, warned me off them as being too warm and woolly. I used to own the Spendor A5: they were dreadful in my room once they had run in properly, with so much bass boom it was ridiculous. 

Of the speakers you mention the 23s would be good to try. I've never heard the ATC, but they are highly regarded, and being sealed boxes means they don't have that horrible sloppy bass you too often get with reflex loaded speakers. Another to try is Naim's own Ovator 400. Remember that a lot of dealers have used and demonstration stocks of speakers which means it's possible both to listen and to bag a bargain. Speakers lose value very fast so you should never pay full price - every speaker I've owned in the last 20 years has been used or exdem. If you buy used at a good price you can sell on at little loss.

i hope that's helpful. 

Paul - Excellent reply. I am keen to try SCM40 but I don't think Audio-T stock them (who I am going to for demo). I've seen Audio Barn on web - will give them a ring

Richard - Thanks. I did think Spendor D7 but one dealer said they'd be too much for my room size hence trying the A6R

Hungry - interesting - not sure about Ovator's aren't they huge ?. Haven't heard the Focal but I thought they were supposed to be Naim's perfect match so to speak

Yes, the Ovator is quite big, but then so is your room. They are very pretty though, unlike a lot of the me-too boxes you see around. 

iburnell posted:

Paul - Excellent reply. I am keen to try SCM40 but I don't think Audio-T stock them (who I am going to for demo). I've seen Audio Barn on web - will give them a ring

Richard - Thanks. I did think Spendor D7 but one dealer said they'd be too much for my room size hence trying the A6R

Hungry - interesting - not sure about Ovator's aren't they huge ?. Haven't heard the Focal but I thought they were supposed to be Naim's perfect match so to speak

 

I recently moved from PMC Twenty.23 to Ovator S-400 driven by NDX:NDAC/XPS2 & SN2/HCDR. A marriage made in heaven in my room.

G

Aria 926 here

And here too, great bang for our buck 

No useful input on the question I'm afraid, but I have to know: what on earth do your lively cats do to stand-mounted speakers?

Solid Air posted:

No useful input on the question I'm afraid, but I have to know: what on earth do your lively cats do to stand-mounted speakers?

 

I'm not going to comment on the speaker suggestions, but as to what cats can do, look at my avatar! At least these are floor standers.  It's not the sitting on top.  It's the transition between floor and being on top which is the worry!

best

David

Beautiful cat...Maine Coon?

Yes she is a Maine Coon. She also likes sitting on warm Naim boxes, the hotter the better, so the CDX2 which is on top of the stack at the moment is a disappointment to her.

best

David

I see people mentioning the Focal 926's - What are peoples overall opinion, they seem very reasonably priced. I have Majik 140's now and like the size but would like to get something a  bit more engaging. What do Focal owners think of their speakers. I also am pairing with a 272/250DR

iburnell posted:

Problem is living in South London very few decent dealers able to demo the range of kit and speakers so any recommendations on that welcome too

 

That's not been my experience and I live in South London. Try Infidelity at Kingston-upon-Thames. 

Mike

David Hendon posted:

Yes she is a Maine Coon. She also likes sitting on warm Naim boxes, the hotter the better, so the CDX2 which is on top of the stack at the moment is a disappointment to her.

best

David

Nice,

I have 2 but thankfully they are not interested i sitting on Hi Fi!

Actually we have three, but she is the only one which sits on the hifi, although one of the boys will use anything in his mission to reach high-up flies, spiders - and shadows come to that.

Back on topic (sorry ) I found the 20.23 too bass light with my SuperUniti so went with the 24s, warmer presentation with plenty of punchy bass once run in. Currently trying Fact.8s with my 272/250 and they are amazing if a bit lighter in the bass dept (not run in yet though)

Thanks for all your replies. I'm Keen to hear the Focal, Pmc, Ovator and scm40 but the latter might be difficult. 

Don't miss out on the ATC's it could be a big mistake.

I can say with confidence they are worth travelling for! 

Good luck 

I would try PMC Twenty range. 23s were fantasic, upgraded to 26s due to house move and larger room.

It would be interesting to compare ATC SCM40 with PMC Twenty floorstanders, both are respected studio brands. I have used various PMC speakers for over 10 years (started with DB1 and worked my way up) and never heard anything I like more. Never tried ATC. When trying PMC make sure they are only toed in very slightly or none at all otherwise top end will be too prominent, this is by design due to wide dispersion. 26s seem to like a bit more toe in.

DUPREE posted:

I see people mentioning the Focal 926's - What are peoples overall opinion, they seem very reasonably priced. I have Majik 140's now and like the size but would like to get something a  bit more engaging. What do Focal owners think of their speakers. I also am pairing with a 272/250DR

I listened to a lot of speakers when I bought mine and chose them over a set of 20:23s. They have huge scale, work really well with Naim, which you would expect, and I love them. IMHO based on a lot of listening, you will do well to get better for the price. Well worth an audition. I don't recognise Norman's dealers description of them at all

Assuming that I am Norman (!!) I should perhaps put my dealer's comments in perspective. I happened to be looking at the Aria in the shop and just asked if they were any good. The response was in the context of the speakers I use, which are very different. Next to the SL2 the Aria is almost bound to be a bit warm and woolly - twin bass drivers and two bass ports compared to a sealed system. I've never heard them in action. Their perceived value is certainly very high - you get an awful lot of speaker for your money. Compare that with the diminutive PMC 21, which with their stands cost the same as the Aria. 

While I get superb results with PMC Twenty.23s in my room, speakers are fairly personal and I'd refrain from a specific recommendation here.

That said, a high end power amp often gets amazing results from a lesser speaker (whereas the other way around is where problems start). With that in mind try the 250 on your A5s (you may be pleasantly shocked) and take your time finding the next speaker upgrade. 

My vote is for the ProAc D20R or D30R. I know no one has chimed in about them yet, but they are my favorites on your list, and I've heard all but the Spendors and Focals. I don't know if it's the new ribbon tweeter or what, but the D20Rs I listened to (on an NDX/SN2) were a fantastic balance of lively with a modern bass sound without overdoing anything. Lots of detail AND lots of fun. They can go real close to the rear wall to boot.