Two box endgame, signing off - redux, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Kit I Have!

Posted by: Dr_J on 09 July 2016

So there I was, all ready to take delivery of my new 250DR and move to a two box system of SU + 250DR, losing my CD5si and 200DR in the process, and then my dealer sent the PL's early.....

Now HH has said a 100 PL's do not a 250DR make, and he's quite right, but they don't half make that step-up cost come into real sharp focus! And as I was already bi-amping (I can hear the mob yelling, the torches guttering and the pitchforks clashing), knew the 200DR is a better match for the SU's internal amp for that particular vice.

And then, rummaging about in the CD storage of an evening, I found I was really enjoying playing CD's as well as streaming, and appreciating really how good the little CD5si is for all its critics claims of it being a box of air! 

So my plans imperceptibly drifted towards keeping the SU + 200DR and possibly upgrading the CD5si, considering the CD5XS and even the dreadnought class CDP, the CDX2. But, again, the upgradeitis deprogramming therapy classes came to my rescue, crystallising the notion that if I was happy with my bi-amped SU + 200DR, then I was actually probably happy with the CD5si as well. And if I was happy...... then, OMG, I didn't have to change anything! I could hear my dealer stepping into the library for the service revolver. No, quite the contrary, the dealer could not have been more supportive. 

So, I stuck and stepped away for now. I have no doubt that the options I considered, with much of your help and support for my fool questions here on the forum; e.g. SU + 250DR -> 250DR + 272 or 272 + 200DR or 202 + 200DR + NDX may all be superior to where I am today, but I concluded were not necessary for my musical enjoyment. What I already had was, and is, really rather excellent!

I did take up the one upgrade that I had heard make an immediate, significant improvement to my listening experience, the PL's, and do not regret it for an instant. Which is a little bizarre for, as an engineer, this was the change I has questioned the most as the king's new clothes, and perhaps, or even indeed, it might be for I can offer no, sane, scientific explanation as to why a piece of wire should have such an immediate, perceptible impact on SQ?

So, to close, note-to-dealer - never, ever supply the customer with PL's before they finally make their mind up , and note-to-self - listen, listen and listen again before even considering a change, you might be really surprised at what you hear! 

Thanks all, HH, ChrisSU and many others for your help, support and patience. No doubt I'll be back in a couple of years when the detox therapy wears off.

KR, J

Posted on: 09 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Excellent!

It's very easy to get lost in all the boxes and cables and ultimately forget why we do this - to listen to and to enjoy the music.

Posted on: 09 July 2016 by ChrisSU

Good decision! You need to get off the treadmill for a while to maintain your sanity. I find that making large, infrequent upgrades is a good way to achieve this, especially if they clean out your bank account and force you to stop spending at a time when your system has reached a good balance.

There are those who seem to relish the opportunity to climb every rung of the Naim ladder. Fine if you enjoy it, but to me, that just seems a very expensive way to upgrade.