It's been suggested to me that the Titan 808s will knock the socks off my B&W 802 Diamonds !
So I went along to my dealer to have a listen to the 808's. He has a 552 and an NDS like me, but the best amp he could use was a NAP300 DR.
I've tried the 300DR in my own system when I was contemplating swapping my (non-DR) NAP500 for two NAP300DR's... (which all stemmed from the idea of eliminating the link wires from my 802s because you can't get Super lumia link wires, yet? ) and whereas the 300 DR was good, when I swapped back my 500, the whole performance came alive. Not that it was anything like dead with the 300, it was just so much more un-dead with the 500.
So the bottom line of that comparison (just a few weeks ago) was that I have a definate preference for the 500 over the 300DR. And so, it could be summised that any dem of Titan 808s using a NAP300DR was, in my case, doomed to disappointment.
And so I'm left wondering... the Titan 808's come with a lot of praise (hype?)... so am I dismissing a speaker that would actually blow my 802 Diamonds away when played through a NAP500? (with NDS / 552 front end and S/L cables)
If anyone has done this dem (Titan 808 vs 802 Dianond), or is in a position to offer informed advice, I'd be grateful for your thoughts.
Thanks, Roger
Posted on: 05 March 2016 by David Hendon
I haven't any idea of the answer to your question, but you could take your NAP 500 with you and ask him to demo the speakers again. Obviously that is a hassle and there is the whole business of your 500 coming on song again after being off for a while, but it would add to your knowledge quite a lot.
best
David
Posted on: 05 March 2016 by J.N.
Greetings Roger,
A friend and ex-forum member really liked the sound of my Titan 88's here. Enough to organise a home-dem. He has a much larger and 'better' room than I do, so was expecting a slam-dunk.
Nope. They simply didn't work for him in his room and he ended up with PMC fact12's. I've heard 'em there and they sound fab.
Rooms are such an acoustic lottery, one simply must home-dem.
Good luck.
John.
Posted on: 05 March 2016 by rjstaines
I haven't any idea of the answer to your question, but you could take your NAP 500 with you and ask him to demo the speakers again. Obviously that is a hassle and there is the whole business of your 500 coming on song again after being off for a while, but it would add to your knowledge quite a lot.
best
David
Thanks for the idea, David. Problem is, I'm waiting for a hip operation and any lifting and carrying gets very painful... and if you've tried lifting a NAP500 recently, you'll have got the idea they're quite heavy. In fact, the truth is I have some considerable difficulty lifting mine onto the bottom Fraim shelf, leave alone packing & carrying it to the car, so I'm going to have to ask the mountain (808s) to come to me rather than uplift my 500.
Good idea though, under different circumstances.
Best, Roger
Posted on: 05 March 2016 by David Hendon
Sorry to hear about the hip op Roger, but at least I can say several friends of mine have had that done and it transformed their lives. No I have never lifted a 500. This is Naim beyond my ambitions. (Mind you 18 months ago my ambition was just a Unitilite, which is now relegated to my wife's ironing room!) Anyway as some others have said hearing them in your listening room would be essential, so it would be much better idea to have them come to you. Good luck (not sure whether good luck would be that they did sound better, or not......)
best
David
