Bi-amping with Nap 250's - possible?

You only need 1 Hi-Cap (just to power the pre-amp) and in theory you could use the 250's in this way. The 135's would be the best solution though...

Ok thanks.  

If getting a pair of 250s, then perhaps think about going active? But I suspect that a pair of 135s might be better than active 250s; that is based on a demo many years ago of active 140s versus a single 250.

hierarchy for sbls: single 250 is (small) bettered by pair of 135s is *considerably* bettered by 2x250 active is (small) bettered (but not much) by 4 x 135 active

ignore this biamp nonsense. Do the job properly with a snaxo242 and a hicap (preferably a supercap, but thats a lot more money)

far better to have 2 x 250 + snaxo242 + supercap rather than 4x135 + snaxo242 + hicap

So are we thinking active and 2 x 250's would trump 2 x 135's?  Also snxos re hard to come by built to the spec i'd need.

Lewis (and others), be mindful that some posts are sailing close to the wind re. forum rules.  I have edited one post and had to delete one from another poster.  

The SNAXO 2-4 or later SNAXO 242 for SBL/SL2/Credo/Allae etc.. come up for sale every now and then.  Be patient and you should see a good number throughout the year.

Hi Richard, unsure how this has been the case with my posts, but please be assured that is not the intention, apologies. 

Looking at your profile, is it correct that you are using a 250 with a UnitiQute? If so, it's the preamp where the improvement needs to be made, surely. Active 250s with a Qute would be seriously weird. 

Quite right forget that second 250 and buy yourself a 272 with the money instead or if your feeling flush NDX/282 the 282 will improve the sound of your LP12 no end.

I use the UQ as a source guys.  32.5, hicap, 250, UQ2 as source and LP12.

I think the Qute works very well driving a 250 -- i do just that with 250DR into ATC SCM11s

Driving active? Why not. The improvement by removal of the passive crossovers is huge.

Well, we are not going to deduce that from your profile....

If the Qute is a significant source than this is probably where investment should be directed. And as to the amps, as Jon says above, it's active 250s that will really show what the SBLs can do. A pair of 250s with half of each used passive would be pointless. But I can't help thinking that source and preamp is where you need to look. If you need to look anywhere of course. 

According to my brother, who went active a couple of months back, there's a list of dealers on the Naim website. He worked through the dealer websites and found a used snaxo in short order. Also found a 180 built within a few months of his existing one.

Willy.

Driving one channel of each of a pair of 250s would give that channel the whole of the transformer to draw on, whether you'd hear any benefit over a single 250 unless it was struggling I don't know but while you're waiting for a Snaxo why not, better than bi amping most likely. You will need a second ps for the Snaxo when you get it.

A qute 2 might be a bit light source wise but I'm playing CDs on a DVD5 into a 552/500 at the moment and I'm really surprised how much I'm enjoying it and there's always the turntable.

CDs played on a DVD5 sound really good.  It reminded me a bit of the old CDX in a way...

Rather uncharacteristically ambiguous of you Richard!

Hungryhalibut posted:

Well, we are not going to deduce that from your profile....

If the Qute is a significant source than this is probably where investment should be directed. And as to the amps, as Jon says above, it's active 250s that will really show what the SBLs can do. A pair of 250s with half of each used passive would be pointless. But I can't help thinking that source and preamp is where you need to look. If you need to look anywhere of course. 

Are we faced with a mullet here?

Drewy posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Well, we are not going to deduce that from your profile....

If the Qute is a significant source than this is probably where investment should be directed. And as to the amps, as Jon says above, it's active 250s that will really show what the SBLs can do. A pair of 250s with half of each used passive would be pointless. But I can't help thinking that source and preamp is where you need to look. If you need to look anywhere of course. 

Are we faced with a mullet here?

More likely a swordfish

There's an LP12 in his profile so probably.

yeti42 posted:

There's an LP12 in his profile so probably.

I have listened to an LP12 in the 80s whilst mulleted. Good thing about mullets: no hair over the ears; maximum sound 

I am now cometely confused.  I have no desire to change anything else I would just like to try more grunt through the SBL's.  I have a top spec chrome bumper set up and the UQ2 works excellently as a source for me.  May add a unitiserve at some point too.

so ultimately I could go active with 2 x Nap 250's, but i'd needd  naxo too?  Just one? 

PS:  I have edited my profile just for Hungry Harry

Even though you can't be bothered to get my Forum name right, I'll still try to help...

What exactly do you mean by more grunt? I used a 32.5 and 250 with SBLs for years and it was just brilliant. I used it with an LP12 that was, at that time, top of the line. 

Is the LP12 your main source? If it's the Qute, despite what others say, I still maintain that it's not ideal with your amp and speakers. Is the Qute less grunty than the LP12? If so, that tells you something. 

You mention a Unitiserve, which assuming you already have a nas, is something of an unnecessary luxury. If you can afford say £1,400 for a Serve, you can afford say £2,200 for a used NDX, once the sale of the Qute is taken into account. 

The advice about active systems was always to get the best passive setup first, then go active. Simply adding amplification won't necessarily improve things anyway, and can make things worse if the source isn't good enough. If you really do want to follow that route you need another 250, a crossover (naxo or snaxo) and a power supply (Hicap or supercap). And more wire, sockets and shelves. 

Again, the key question is what you mean by more grunt. 

Lewis posted:

I am now cometely confused.  I have no desire to change anything else I would just like to try more grunt through the SBL's.  I have a top spec chrome bumper set up and the UQ2 works excellently as a source for me.  May add a unitiserve at some point too.

so ultimately I could go active with 2 x Nap 250's, but i'd needd  naxo too?  Just one? 

there is nothing wrong with unitiqute as a source. It sounds great. And even more important, you have it and it works. I sometimes use mine as a source into my 52/6x135/dbl system and it is a supremely competent device and excellent value for money. 

What you want is better performance from your SBLs. More drive, more timing, more clarity, more music. 

I owned SBLs. They were great driven by a 250. But driven actively with two 250s, they really come alive. 

You need a NAXO (or SNAXO which is a later and better design) to do the active crossover filtering between your preamp (ie unitiqute) and 2x 250s. You only need one NAXO/SNAXO. But it does need a power supply. 

You havent really heard what SBLs can do until you drive them active. And 2 x 250 is perfectly fine for the job. 

And you can do this for relatively small amounts of money too