Which speaker cables for NAP200/NAC-N272/Proac D48R?

The Naim cable is good. But my personal preference is TQ cable. The black would be a little upgrade, the ultra black much better. It will come down to your ears and then your wallet 

You could always keep the Naim cable and use it with the new boxes (at least as an interim measure). You may be very happy with the sound. I assume that you auditioned the new kit before buying. If you did which speaker cable was used in the demo? It must have been good enough to persuade  you that the upgrade was worthwhile.

BN

I wouldn't worry about changing the speaker cables, but I would get a 250DR instead of the 200, which isn't up to the D48. 

Agreed. Get the 250DR of you can. Stunning amp 

Had a demo of a 250dr yesterday stunning bit of kit ordered!!! should be delivered in 3/4 weeks along with a new preamplifier, Supercap and XPSdr for my NDX standard cables used through out the demo.

After deciding on the above electronics a Hi Line was used between the NDX and preamp I ending up buying one of these kept with standard Naim speaker cable must agree with all the comments on the 250dr an absolute stonking amplifier just does everything so well.

I auditioned the kit with Nordost cables--did not think to bring my own that day. 

It sounds like the amp is the weak link, not the cables. I'll check my wallet (and this thread) and maybe see if the dealer will swap/add the 200 (which was a demo at 20% off). Purchase was only a couple of days ago; he may go for it. 

Hold on, what's going on? PCD? DCP? It's hard enough with GraemeH and Graeme H. 

Anyway yes, get the 250DR. The Naim speaker cables are great, and Nordost is not generally a good match. And - sorry to say this - the next step is an XPSDR. Fancy speaker cables can come later. 

HH , spot on with the Xpsdr during my demo yesterday added one of these to a NDX the difference was very apparent everything was better a no brainer really.

I'm not sure my funds extend as far as an XPSDR ($6,596)! But will definitely think about the 250R, especially if I can save $1-2,000 keeping my current cables... 

The XPS can wait! But do get the better amp. And you rest in the knowledge that the 272/250 is perfectly matched and that you can give a massive jump to its performance with the XPS should you fancy it in the future. The Naim cable is perfectly good and is used in high end systems.

My dealer emailed back. He thinks if I got the 250DR then I would also need a HiCap (preamp power). He recommends instead a HiCapDR first $2595 (big improvement) and later upgrade to a 250DR. And (again) urges new speaker cable and better power (which you all have disposed of). And believes that upgrading 200 to 250DR would only make a small difference because my speakers are very efficient. Hmmm. I'm not sure which of the links in the chain to tackle first...

Rubbish - get 250Dr and be done with it. Later on add XPSDR. Only then think about speaker cables. For now NACA5 is sufficient.

Rubbish again get the 250dr use standard cables to start with the next thing would be the xps dr only think about fancy cables after this cables won't make up the difference between a 200 and 250dr.

dcp posted:

My dealer emailed back. He thinks if I got the 250DR then I would also need a HiCap (preamp power). He recommends instead a HiCapDR first $2595 (big improvement) and later upgrade to a 250DR. And (again) urges new speaker cable and better power (which you all have disposed of). And believes that upgrading 200 to 250DR would only make a small difference because my speakers are very efficient. Hmmm. I'm not sure which of the links in the chain to tackle first...

One does wonder about some Naim dealers, and why Naim let them sell their equipment. You cannot add a Hicap to the 272. If the dealer thinks you can, they are an idiot. Similarly, if they think that the 250DR is only a little better than a 200, they are an idiot. If they think cables.....

Hi,

D48R is a looooot of a speaker.

If I had it I'd match the best separate source I could NDX/XPS2 at least.

Obviously it'd be about time to get the 250.2 at that stage for a great match, also the NAP 200 as good as it is (I got it )won't be up to the job.

Thanks, all. Super helpful. Dealer evidently confused 272 with 202. Very glad I don't need to do these all at once. 

My 552/500 seems to run fine with Naca5....

As others have already well posted, 250DR is a bear minimum for D48R, and for any other ProAc above D18 or D20R for that matter. It took the 300 to assume a better control of my D28. Needless to say that the D48R is a lot of and great speaker. They do go quite low in the spectrum thanks to their dual 165mm woofers and therefore need a lot of space - say a minimum of 5000 cu ft FWIW.

NACA5 is still a very good fit to all Naim amps unless at 252/300, if not 552/300 level (all DR) where you may start to consider SuperLumina. Others will argue that Chord or Tellurium Q are most credible alternatives.

Chag -

What the Halibut said - 250DR and XPS.  Assuming your black stuff is Naca it's entirely fit for purpose.

Regards,

Lindsay

On reflection, I'm thinking the more modest D20 with 272/XPS/250 is going to be a much better system, for around the price of the original suggestion. It's nicely balanced, unlike the under-amped, over-speakered setup proposed by the dealer. Such systems are rarely successful, and end up costing a lot of money in order to feed the speakers. With the D48, something like an NDS, 252 and 300 might be more in order. 

+1 a nicely balanced system will yield far more all round enjoyment of the music.

Indeed HH, with 272/250DR and middle size rooms go D20 or even D30 or any sensible alternative speaker including some great standmounts.

Chag -  

My dealer was happily singing the praises of the "Naim-tuned" Sopra 1s with N-272 and NAP250DR only yesterday.

C.

Thanks all, for the advice. I auditioned the D20R, D30R, and D48R, some PMCs, and some Harbeths. I found them all stunning. The D48Rs felt to me like they had a kind of power and resolution especially at the low end that I loved. I take your point about needing better upstream links and so I'm going to give back the 200 for a 250DR, knowing that further additions (XPS) are likely down the road. 

Which PMC's did you demo?