Downsizing thoughts - (Don't worry, it'll soon pass).

It's briefly crossed my mind, but the 552 and vinyl replay brings me back to reality.

Downsizing?  Don't be silly Dave 

you know the next step is a 500 

Horses for courses! It works for many but for me I love my system as it is.  

Polarbear posted:

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Downsizing?  Don't be silly Dave 

you know the next step is a 500 

Thank god for the Bear, normal service has resumed! 

Dave you  want more.....surely 

'What if?' What if you swapped that gorgeous 59RI for a LP Standard?

You know the answer Dave 

Polarbear posted:

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Downsizing?  Don't be silly Dave 

you know the next step is a 500 

That's under consideration as we speak, the prospect of which, is possibly what has prompted these thoughts? 

I'll probably feel better in the morning. 

You could always lose a 555ps. That's one box less. 

dave marshall posted:

Polarbear posted:

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Downsizing?  Don't be silly Dave 

you know the next step is a 500 

That's under consideration as we speak, the prospect of which, is possibly what has prompted these thoughts? 

I'll probably feel better in the morning. 

Play a record On your system Dave, sit back, relax and enjoy.

Now tell me you want to downsize 

S1 Preamp - that's one less box Dave...

Just get that 1952 LP Gold Top... that will cure the itch... 

dave marshall posted:

Polarbear posted:

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Downsizing?  Don't be silly Dave 

you know the next step is a 500 

That's under consideration as we speak, the prospect of which, is possibly what has prompted these thoughts? 

I'll probably feel better in the morning. 

Gosh, so tempted to "report reply " 

Dave don't do what I did...brought a 500 few years back had a service/DR upgrade last week.Tonnight,poured myself a glass of something nice and then let my ears...eh...work for a change and enjoy! Bliss. 

Whatever you think you might do don't....listen to the mus.....forum!!!!!

£50,000 worth of stuff just to listen to music. Do you really need it. Been there, done that, realised that you don't. 

Only one 555ps and revert to stock wires throughout, except for PLs. Could that be the quintessence of naim without the bling? Just a thought, Dave.

Best, Chris

Only one way to find out then, borrow that 272, and see what happens.

I apologize if my a question seems silly, but to believe that a 272/555DR can be equally 'satisfying' than an NDS with two 555DR PSUs and a 552 with relative PSU, isn't like denying the meaning of Naim itself? I mean, if you believe in the Upgrade Path why decide to go back? And if you don't, why reach that point?

I've been in that uncomfortable position a number of times, but never at such a level of gear; in the end, what made me do tabula rasa and start again was always the same: having gotten accustomed to the sound, and the consequent doubt if such a complex and costly system was still giving me musical pleasure; and the intense annoyance brought by the many SNAICs and cables. The 272 seems to be killing a multi-box system each day: either it is the best piece of equipment ever built by Naim, or the nuisance brought by many boxes comes to everybody after some time, on account of plain habitude.

Borrow that 272, but my hope for you, and for the meaning itself of the existence of Naim, is that you'll want to stick to your multiple-box solution. Nigel's question is sensible if seen from a perspective point, but he has I believe  a full set of SuperLumina cables, so his question could be reverted: at least 6/7,000 worth of cables just to listen to music – do you really need it?

Naim gear is not simply just to listen to music: we all know that. You're now in the down phase of the roller coaster, so just wait a little while and consider how silly it is to buy again what you have sold. And in case you have no idea, write to me and I will give you a picture of how it feels to re-buy, re-believe, re-install, restart the merry-go-round.

Best

Max

Downsizing is the habit of old people..... don't get old before you have too....

dave marshall posted:

It can't just be me, can it, when I sometimes look at the twin stacks of black boxes and wonder "what if"?

I know several folks on here have decided that a simpler two box system has a certain appeal, so I'd like to hear from you all as to whether you've had any pangs of regret since rationalising things.

I'm thinking of a 272, and retaining my 300DR, and one of the 555 power supplies, hence a four box setup.

It's an itch that needs to be scratched, so I may as well pester my dealer next week to borrow a 272 for a couple of weeks, and see for myself, but your thoughts would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Dave.

I and others have that system I also have a near by dealer who has my system with a 500DR and is considering parting with his  552/NDS for this modest system

OK - I plead guilty. Over 30 years or so I progressed through the Naim levels and ended up with a top end olive system - 52/SC/135s/CDS2/XPS/Nat 03. I also had LP12/Ittock/Troika and large Monitor Aidio floorstanders (GR60s). At every stage in the journey I did the dems, compared Naim to other options and felt each upgrade was a step forward.

My epiphany came at the Bristol show several years ago when they launched the original Uniti. There were 2 adjacent rooms - one with a 500 series system and one with Uniti/N-Sats. To my surprise, I spent far more time in the Uniti room - mostly because I preferred the music but also because it was just so damn enjoyable - no listening for nuances, no wondering what each element was contributing and whether I should buy one - just fun.

I went home and did a deal to trade in my Naim system for a new Uniti and enough money for half a BMW motorcycle. I did find the Uniti struggled at very high volumes (I'm a quarter of a mile form my nearest neighbour) but a Superuniti solved that and improved the sound significantly. I eventually replaced the speakers with N-Sats and a sub but I still have the LP12 rig which satisfies my inner geek.

It probably helped that my switch coincided with internet radio, streaming services, and ripping and dumping my CDs but I can honestly say I am getting more pleasure from my system than ever before and listening to and discovering more music. I am sure that in a A/B demo my old system would sound better than my current set up but I really don't care - I don't live in a hifi shop and the situation never arises. I will probably go for a Nova when it finally appears, mostly for the improved digital platform but that's the limit of my ambitions. 

My system sounds very enjoyable, I'm listening to more music than ever and I haven;'t wanted my old system back for even a minute - certainly not after getting the SU.  Just my a-lot-less-than-twenty-grands'-worth .

I'm very much enjoying the 272...if that helps

G

Seems a shame to make such a sacrifice for something as soulless as half a BMW, or even a whole one. 

Max_B posted:

 

Nigel's question is sensible if seen from a perspective point, but he has I believe  a full set of SuperLumina cables, so his question could be reverted: at least 6/7,000 worth of cables just to listen to music – do you really need it?

Best

Max

 

The answer, of course, is that you don't, though if I were being picky I'd point out that all the cables would cost 'only' £5,000. 

I certainly wouldn't suggest that a 272 is as good as an NDS/552 - that would be silly. I only sold my big system because I couldn't afford it, and I'm sure that if my 272 was replaced by an NDS and 552 I'd enjoy it a bit more.

In the intervening ten years or so since the CDS3/555PS/552/300/SL2/Fraim walked out of the door to be replaced with a CD5x, Nait 5i and nSats I've had all sorts of equipment and ended up four years ago with a CDS2/82/250/IBL setup. But fearing the dreaded upgrade bug I ditched that as well and got a SuperUniti and some PMCs. But though I banged on about how wonderful it was, it wasn't quite wonderful enough, so when I was left some money I went for the 272/250 without even hearing it. I then happened upon some SL2s and bought them. From there I added the XPS and the aforementioned unnecessary swanky wires. 

So my downsizing was initially out of necessity, but after some toing and froing it's worked out really well. The 272/250 will have been here for two years in a couple of months time, which says a lot given my past as a serial box swapper. 

People downsize for all sorts of reasons; because they have to or because they want to. So long as people end up with something they are happy with, enjoy listening to, and can afford, it really doesn't matter whether they have one box or twenty one. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

 

I certainly wouldn't suggest that a 272 is as good as an NDS/552 - that would be silly. I only sold my big system because I couldn't afford it, and I'm sure that if my 272 was replaced by an NDS and 552 I'd enjoy it a bit more.

 

People downsize for all sorts of reasons; because they have to or because they want to. So long as people end up with something they are happy with, enjoy listening to, and can afford, it really doesn't matter whether they have one box or twenty one. 

I know in advance that if / when I borrow the 272, then I cannot expect the same level of performance that my present setup gives, and that a couple of weeks trialling it is probably not long enough to arrive at an informed decision. 

As to the "why bother"?  

Well, just a growing sense of unease at the amount tied up in my present system, no doubt brought into focus by the fact that I'm considering the possible addition of a 500 DR in the next few months. 

I guess my feelings are not too far removed from yours, HH, insofar as "do I really need all this kit in order to enjoy music"?

We'll see.

As a result of my absence from work my pay has stopped so perhaps luckily for me I have something I'm happy with as I couldn't afford to upgrade even if I wanted to. The issue I'd have with your system is that the MF9 is a far better match to a 552 than a 272, though perhaps the same could be said for my SL2s. I guess it depends on what you'd do with the cash freed up, and whether you need it. We all have little extravagances, whether it's the Hifi, the car, nice watches, posh wine or even Cirio tomatoes when Lidl cheapos would suffice. 

I'll be interested to hear your conclusions. 

Max_B posted:

I apologize if my a question seems silly, but to believe that a 272/555DR can be equally 'satisfying' than an NDS with two 555DR PSUs and a 552 with relative PSU, isn't like denying the meaning of Naim itself? I mean, if you believe in the Upgrade Path why decide to go back? And if you don't, why reach that point?

I've been in that uncomfortable position a number of times, but never at such a level of gear; in the end, what made me do tabula rasa and start again was always the same: having gotten accustomed to the sound, and the consequent doubt if such a complex and costly system was still giving me musical pleasure; and the intense annoyance brought by the many SNAICs and cables. The 272 seems to be killing a multi-box system each day: either it is the best piece of equipment ever built by Naim, or the nuisance brought by many boxes comes to everybody after some time, on account of plain habitude.

Borrow that 272, but my hope for you, and for the meaning itself of the existence of Naim, is that you'll want to stick to your multiple-box solution. Nigel's question is sensible if seen from a perspective point, but he has I believe  a full set of SuperLumina cables, so his question could be reverted: at least 6/7,000 worth of cables just to listen to music – do you really need it?

Naim gear is not simply just to listen to music: we all know that. You're now in the down phase of the roller coaster, so just wait a little while and consider how silly it is to buy again what you have sold. And in case you have no idea, write to me and I will give you a picture of how it feels to re-buy, re-believe, re-install, restart the merry-go-round.

Best

Max

 

Hi Max,

I know, from your reports in the past, that an endless cycle of selling / rebuying the same kit is not a happy place to be, and that if I convince myself now that I can happily live with a 272, there can be no guarantee that I will still necessarily be feeling the same way six months on.

The upgrade path?

Well, we all seem to seek that little bit more from our systems, and having been as guilty of this as the next person, I can honestly say that the music here is hugely satisfying .............. and yet ............... I'm seriously considering the addition of a 500 DR within the next couple of months, just to squeeze that little bit more from it?

As I said, in reply to HH, above, it's just a sense of unease that I possibly don't need all this kit, in order to enjoy listening to music.

I accept that this viewpoint goes against the accepted stance here on the forum, and, who knows, I may well "see the light", with, or without, the planned 272 trial.

Regards,

Dave.