S-800's

... won't you get evicted from your condo?

MangoMonkey posted:

... won't you get evicted from your condo?

Would they be more annoying to my neighbors?

Would a 250DR be good enough?

Trolling?

I would think you'd need 3 Nap500s - but no idea really...

No just curious. Everyone I've seen around here with 800 had active system.  

KR, do a Forum search on 'S800' and have a look down the threads.

A 250DR isn't adequate for these speakers i.e. you would be running passive (I'm not sure you can?).

These are large (in relative terms versus 400s) and much heavier.

According to the general opinion on this forum, they should be in an active setup. But it's not only the poweramp section and crossover what is important. I would also carefully look after the sources.

I don't think I'd bother unless I had a 500 and then I'd be saving for another two to complete the job. 

You have a big room? I've never seen or heard 800s but I have 400s and have seen 600s. The 800s look huge.

The road to an extreme Mullet. Probably best avoided unless, as others have said, you drive them with the level of equipment they deserve.

They may not be the bargain they first seem...

I have seen and heard the 800 at the Naim factory. They are amazing speakers, and were driven by active 500s. The idea of pairing them with a NDX and Supernait is...... well..... silly. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I have seen and heard the 800 at the Naim factory. They are amazing speakers, and were driven by active 500s. The idea of pairing them with a NDX and Supernait is...... well..... silly. 

Well I figured a SN2 wouldn't be appropriate.

Drewy posted:

I don't think I'd bother unless I had a 500 and then I'd be saving for another two to complete the job. 

You have a big room? I've never seen or heard 800s but I have 400s and have seen 600s. The 800s look huge.

I have a fairly large room 850 square feet with 20+ foot ceiling. So overall volume of the room is quite large.

Simple - try them! Even with with SN2! If arranging to do that at home is difficult, then initially at the dealer would at least tell you if the sound is worth it -if at the dealer then take your own speakers to give you a reference. Also hear (passively) with alternative amps to hear how much better they might be all the way up to 500. (I'd suggest only hear active 500s if that is a realistic possibility to aspire to.) If the sound to you with the SN2 is worth it, then even if not as good as it might be, that is all that matters especially if improving the amplification is a realistic prospect in due course (knowing what difference that would make). Of course, there is only one way to be certain you'd still like them at home...

It is a matter of having a large Chrismas tree:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...66#51267011376377266

Kevin Richardson posted:

Drewy posted:

I don't think I'd bother unless I had a 500 and then I'd be saving for another two to complete the job. 

You have a big room? I've never seen or heard 800s but I have 400s and have seen 600s. The 800s look huge.

I have a fairly large room 850 square feet with 20+ foot ceiling. So overall volume of the room is quite large.

IMO, with that size of room the 800s would play better, louder and would offer a more balanced sound than the 400s. Try them if possible.

Kevin Richardson posted:

I found a dealer with ex dem 800's for sale at a very tempting price. What is the minimum Naim system to make 800's a worthwhile upgrade from my 400's?

a local dealer near by has a pair of passive Carbon S-800's I've heard on a non-DR full 500/552/NDS/SL fill loom

greekspec2 posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

I found a dealer with ex dem 800's for sale at a very tempting price. What is the minimum Naim system to make 800's a worthwhile upgrade from my 400's?

a local dealer near by has a pair of passive Carbon S-800's I've heard on a non-DR full 500/552/NDS/SL fill loom

And how did it sound?

Ardbeg10y posted:

greekspec2 posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

I found a dealer with ex dem 800's for sale at a very tempting price. What is the minimum Naim system to make 800's a worthwhile upgrade from my 400's?

a local dealer near by has a pair of passive Carbon S-800's I've heard on a non-DR full 500/552/NDS/SL fill loom

And how did it sound?

if I did not have my Sopras they be my second or third choice, we took out the NDS and put a N272/555 in its place and was very impressed which explains my setup

Kevin Richardson posted:

Drewy posted:

I don't think I'd bother unless I had a 500 and then I'd be saving for another two to complete the job. 

You have a big room? I've never seen or heard 800s but I have 400s and have seen 600s. The 800s look huge.

I have a fairly large room 850 square feet with 20+ foot ceiling. So overall volume of the room is quite large.

Just attended an event last Saturday, Baby Grand, violinist, and guitar. Sunken Living Room French Design Home.

Living Room not quite as large as yours, 700 square feet!

Not Bad, Bach, and Satin Doll, point being, with a room that size you can use Speakers of that magnitude!

Have you considered Wilsons New 109K Alexx!

If I recall, all Amps Clips, I wouldn't be shy with power!

D Agostino Mono Blocks/Alexx

Even Alexia!

Keep an open Mind!

BTW Nice Home!

Allante93!

Lucky guy !

Heard them on NAP300 passive with the 272 (poor source) and full lomm SL. We could really feel the lack of abilities of the source but the speakers were singing so well !! S800 are marvelous speakers and they are also very good in passive. Of course, a quiet large room is required. They are able to spread the music in such a magic way.... a masterpice definitely and a big pity to stop the production !

Ardbeg10y posted:

greekspec2 posted:

Kevin Richardson posted:

I found a dealer with ex dem 800's for sale at a very tempting price. What is the minimum Naim system to make 800's a worthwhile upgrade from my 400's?

a local dealer near by has a pair of passive Carbon S-800's I've heard on a non-DR full 500/552/NDS/SL fill loom

And how did it sound?

Yeah, tell us what you thought. 

Ikoun posted:

Lucky guy !

Heard them on NAP300 passive with the 272 (poor source) and full lomm SL. We could really feel the lack of abilities of the source but the speakers were singing so well !! S800 are marvelous speakers and they are also very good in passive. Of course, a quiet large room is required. They are able to spread the music in such a magic way.... a masterpice definitely and a big pity to stop the production !

So a 272 + 300 + 800 should sound better than my NDX + SN2 + HICAPDR + S400 + REL G2 sub? Obviously a fully active setup is optimal but I'm looking for lowest cost solution that makes a significant improvement.

The dealer wants 20k for the 800's which seems like a deal since the MSRP was 60k if I recall correctly.

They cost £30k as far as I recall. Certainly not £60k. Though are you talking in dollars? Might you one day be able to stretch to a full 500 system? If not, I wouldn't go there. The Naim dem room is really big and I've heard SL2s filling it to deafening levels on the end of a 500 system, so size isn't everything. 

I meant 60k $ USD. Prices are always much higher in the USA. I'm never going to 500 level Naim system. I just like my 400's so much. Thought about getting 600's as I figured they were just a better version of 400's. I haven't seen much love around here for the 600's though.