Sound & Vision - The Bristol Show 2016

Totally agree about the XPS. It was a significant upgrade to the 272. For me everything got better up to the 300dr. I actually thought the NacA5 sounded better than the SL cables. Sounded very hard and cold, just my ears maybe. Stayed till 6:30 after the last demo on Saturday and the guys turned it up! The room started to fill with staff as they were like moths to a flame! Great weekend. Learnt a lot. Looking forward to the next show

Agree with you Finkfan, really great show, naim dem being the highlight for me,  unfortunately it means an xps is now becoming a must have, may have to cancel the next holiday, just off to tell the wife...wish me luck!!!!

Thanks Barry & Andarkian,

OK. So the Focal Sopra No. 2's were demonstrated with Naim electronics.

What aspects impressed you most about the audible performance of the Sopra No. 2 & Naim? And which particular combination would you say demonstrated the best system-synergy?

Which of the power-amps(NAP250 DR, NAP300DR or NAP500 DR) would you say sounded the best with the Sopra No. 2's & by how large a margin?

I understand the Sopra No. 2's can be a little difficult to drive, with a minimum impedence that can dip as low 2.5 Ohms.

I'd love to be able to splash out on a NAP500 DR to drive speakers like these. But would you say a NAP300 DR would be sufficient to extract most of their potential?

As for the Spendor D9's did anyone check-out their specifications ie: Nominal impedence, Minimum impedence, Sensitivity etc?

The last time i heard the D7's at the end of a pretty decent Naim system(NDX, NAC272/NAC252, SuperCap & NAP300 i believe) i was shocked that such a conventional looking &, relatively speaking, modestly priced speaker could be partnered with such higher-end electronics without coming across as out of place or out of it's depth.

Looking forward to hearing the Spendor D9's for myself at the end of some more complementary/sympathetic Naim electronics.

Regards.

Bobby.

I've heard the Sopras driven by a SN2 which was very good.

My wife made an observation over dinner last night when she said that everything we heard at Bristol was blown away by Al Di Meola/Paco De Lucia on he Rega 3 through e SU into the new Super Neat Iotas (not thre official title).

Bobby72 posted:

Thanks Barry & Andarkian,

OK. So the Focal Sopra No. 2's were demonstrated with Naim electronics.

What aspects impressed you most about the audible performance of the Sopra No. 2 & Naim? And which particular combination would you say demonstrated the best system-synergy?

Which of the power-amps(NAP250 DR, NAP300DR or NAP500 DR) would you say sounded the best with the Sopra No. 2's & by how large a margin?

I understand the Sopra No. 2's can be a little difficult to drive, with a minimum impedence that can dip as low 2.5 Ohms.

I'd love to be able to splash out on a NAP500 DR to drive speakers like these. But would you say a NAP300 DR would be sufficient to extract most of their potential?

As for the Spendor D9's did anyone check-out their specifications ie: Nominal impedence, Minimum impedence, Sensitivity etc?

The last time i heard the D7's at the end of a pretty decent Naim system(NDX, NAC272/NAC252, SuperCap & NAP300 i believe) i was shocked that such a conventional looking &, relatively speaking, modestly priced speaker could be partnered with such higher-end electronics without coming across as out of place or out of it's depth.

Looking forward to hearing the Spendor D9's for myself at the end of some more complementary/sympathetic Naim electronics.

Regards.

Bobby.

The Sopra are a fantastic speaker. Hearing them again over the weekend was a joy. I didn't feel the sopras needed the 500 to 'tame' them as someone suggested earlier. The best system synergy was without doubt the 300DR driving the Sopras. The margin over the 250 was big. From the 300 to 500 was a very small difference and you have to remember 300 had a 272 Xps in front of it. The 500 however had the 552 and NDS 555ps in front of it! I permalloy couldn't justify the huge leap in cost for such a small gain. The 300DR is my long term goal. True value for money and put a 282 or 252 in front of it and you're in heaven! 

Good luck Wenger!! 

Finkfan posted:

Totally agree about the XPS. It was a significant upgrade to the 272. For me everything got better up to the 300dr. I actually thought the NacA5 sounded better than the SL cables. Sounded very hard and cold, just my ears maybe. Stayed till 6:30 after the last demo on Saturday and the guys turned it up! The room started to fill with staff as they were like moths to a flame! Great weekend. Learnt a lot. Looking forward to the next show

Very interesting, was it your good self that asked for a Fink track to be played in the Neat room?

100% agree with Finkfan. The 300 DR attached to the Sopra 2s was the most cost effective solution in terms of total audio satisfaction. As it stands, I have had a couple of stabs at acquiring a second hand 300 on EBay, resulting in failure once again last night which went for £2,600.  For an additional £1,800 I could get a DR upgrade which would make it a bargain against current retail of £7,200 for a new 300 DR. However, my wife is showing no enthusiasm for the base outlay, never mind the upgrade cost,  the NAC 272  and then, of course, the Sopra 2s, but I definitely know what I want.

Hi Polarbear. No, sadly it wasn't me that asked for Fink in the Neat room. There was another fan of the band there as I heard him comment at the back of the Naim Demo at 11:30 yesterday. They played Pretty a little thing and I've never heard it sound so real! I couldn't stop smiling! 

Good luck in getting your 300 Andarkian! It was bliss hearing it over them weekend. I'm currently on a SN1 which I love. A big leap in every way over my 5i. A few years down the line, and a lot more hard work, and I'll be itching for a 300. 

Andarkian, the 300 DR upgrade is 'only' £1495, so you have already saved £200!

Nick from Suffolk posted:

Andarkian, the 300 DR upgrade is 'only' £1495, so you have already saved £200!

Even better news, it's a £305 saving.

Ha! Ha! You forgot the cost of servicing it as well.

Wouldn't be great if Naim could give an extended demo/q&a for forum members at next years show? 

I'm grateful for your impressions & thoughts.

I can say with a degree of certainty that i've finally whittled down my short-list of speakers for serious audition & eventually home demo.

Focal Sopra No. 2

Sonus Faber Olympica III

Spendor D9

Thanks a bundle guys.

Regards.

Bobby.