Unsure upgrade to a nait xs-2

Pending receipt of some responses here you will find the thread on Naim 5Si vs. XS helpful as well. 

Have just read the post "NAIM 5SI OR NAIM XS" recently posted and realised I might be looking at the wrong upgrade.

I too have the audiolab m-dac and am now wondering whether my money would be better spent on a Naim m-dac v1 instead ?

That really depends on what sources you want to connect. V-Dac or nDAC do not have any analogue inputs, so your turntable cannot be connected for example.

If you like an integrated amp route, there is absolutely nothing wtrong with Nait XS2 or if you can stretch it SuperNait 2. Best of all they can be upgraded with external power supplies.

Adam

I was listening in to a dem the other day where a customer was auditioning a Supernait (integrated).  The dealer then suggested he listen to a pre/power combo instead of an integrated and see what he thought.  The 202/200 was substituted.  The customer rushed (almost) for his cheque book.

My point being, that a separate pre/power combo, at whatever comparitive level, will generally knock the socks off an integrated,  so if you haven't already listened to what the extra £s buy you when you separate the functions, you should do this before deciding.

Some folk will tell you that an integrated sounds just as good as separates...  that's a hypothosis I find hard to buy into.

Lack of funds, on the other hand, or a box-count ruling from SWMBO, are perfectly acceptable reasons to go integrated.

Roger

Hm, I auditioned my SN2 and a 202/200 at the same time, had no hesitation choosing the SN2 and would again any day, and it's even better with a Hicap dr.  I found the 202/200 a bit sterile to be honest, didn't float my boat at all.

ahhhhh.... you are in the same boat as mine..

wilkommen !!

but i do think the 20W extra of the XS-2 will help especially considering 87dB at 6 ohm

But if you do have the wallet... then an SN2 will be good or even the pre-power combo.

so the wallet & an audition makes a decision here..

There certainly are limitations to the 5i-2 and some positive traits as well and i fear an upgrade cycle is necessary to really understand for oneself what the positives are. There will be well meaning advises but upgrade experience experience may be necessary to understand what a simple amp like the 5i-2 brings to the party.

One of my plans are to mothball my Naim Nait 5i-2 and go thru a couple of amps ( may / may not be Naim ) to understand myself better.

I suspect the 5i-2 will be a go-to amp for me....you know....  on a rainy day....when all old and gray.... and you need to separate the rice from the chaff and faff.. 

PS : At the whathifi show in Mumbai i heard the AE-1 Classic standmounts with Epos 50W amp and CDP and it was what music should be all about.  Just the right amount of gravy for the soul.

Epos 50W amp ?

am sorry... Creek EVO 50W amp - the newer one

The major difference between the Nait 5si and the Nait XS2 is into the preamp section. So a Nait XS is able to be very musically engaging and lively when playing at low volume (let's say under 10 o'clock on the volume dial with a CD or DAC as source). Also, the better gain staging makes the XS sound more laidback and controled at higher volume (less "in your face").

As other suggested, the limitations brought by your actual source will refrain the amp upgrade's impact. But for sure, if you find your sound a little dry and lifeless at low volume, upgrading your source won't solve that issue. But be warned that any way you may follow on your upgrade path, you'll end up balancing the performance level between components. You won't stay with a good amp and a lesser good source (or vice versa). I run my Nait XS with a Naim DAC as source for example.

IMO, the Naim separates (amp and preamp) are voiced for a medium or large listening room, or to reach a performance level simply not available with an integrated. I see the Nait XS as the perfect apartment amp, working its magic into a small to medium listening room. And yes, the extra power is out of the equation here, because when you have already 50 watts per channel, you have more than you'll ever need to take good care of a pair of speakers with average efficiency and not to complicated mechanical and electrical load. Take that from an ex-Nait 2 owner that had to deal with "enough power" for 18 years.

Bye.

Thanks all for your replies and a big thanks to STOIK your reply was the answer I needed.

Decided to stick with my nait 5i-2 for now until I can afford a worthwhile upgrade, maybe even go for a second hand supernait 2.

Already sold my audiolab m-dac and awaiting the arrival of a new naim dac v1, I'm pretty sure at the moment this is the best way forward funds allowing.

Liked the detail in the m-dac but it always sounded a little thin.