NAP135 vs NAP 500 vs NAP500DR

jon honeyball posted:

500 is boring. Has pretentions of detail, but its bit of a bully. I find it boring, it doesnt hold my attention over time. 

300 boogies, is lighter of foot, good detail. Smaller than 500, but more engaging. 

300DR boogies lots more, and is more detailed and open and airy. Big step up. 

500DR boogies hardest, has staggering detail and air. 500dR plus Townsend Allegri is about as good as it gets, realistically. (Apologies to 552 owners - I think 552 is way past its prime now, even with DR. Waaaay past...)

Jon,

So in your opinion the sound of NAP500 is rather bland? For me the NAP135 pair have  a very good prat and a very engaging, beaufitul midrange. 

In regards to Townsend Allegri (RCA) - NAP500DR (XLR) setup. What cable did you use? I am guessing that it is not the standard Naim cable.

Hi Jon

would also be very interested in your cable recommendations for using an Allegri in an otherwise-Naim system?

40 below posted:

Hi Jon

would also be very interested in your cable recommendations for using an Allegri in an otherwise-Naim system?

Blasphemy, just the the mere thought of an Naim Amp, decoupled from an 552!

My Bad, it slipped! 

This is a Naim Forum!

All joking aside, replies like this is a plus, for the Forum.

Keep up the good work!

Allante93! 

40 below posted:

Hi Jon

would also be very interested in your cable recommendations for using an Allegri in an otherwise-Naim system?

I guess "whatever matches your wallet and gullibility?" would be the wrong answer?

Still find it hard to believe the 135's are preferable to the 500, as good as the 135's are and I've got half a dozen of them, until a few months ago was 8 !

and been using them since 1989

but a key point with the 500 is DR

anyone buying a 500 will eventually start looking towards this, and from what I've read across a variety of posts it takes a least 6 months to settle out and it's quite a rocky ride getting there 

for us active folk pwr amps and speaker cables represent a far bigger commitment, for me the only step up is 3 x 500's and although three big standard 500's is relatively do-able the idea of sploshing out 15 big ones, waiting a few months and then when I've got them back waiting another 6 months for them to do what I've paid for them to do !!

Think I'll wait til I sell the house for that one, then I can do all 3 at once (and a new AMG Merc)

in the meantime, the next couple of years I'm concentrating on Chord Sarum full loom and possibly a 552dr

lyndon

lyndon posted:

Still find it hard to believe the 135's are preferable to the 500, as good as the 135's .........

.....for us active folk pwr amps and speaker cables represent a far bigger commitment, for me the only step up is 3 x 500's and although three big standard 500's is relatively do-able the idea of sploshing out 15 big ones, waiting a few months and then when I've got them back waiting another 6 months for them to do what I've paid for them to do !!

Think I'll wait til I sell the house for that one, then I can do all 3 at once (and a new AMG Merc)

in the meantime, the next couple of years I'm concentrating on Chord Sarum full loom and possibly a 552dr

lyndon

 

 

Lyndon, just peeped at your profile, don't sweat it!

It's as good as it gets!

Being an Active Fan, if I was in pursuit of the Loom, albeit, SL, Vertere, or Chord:

Source, Snaxo, Speaker Cable, and last but not least, 4pin/XLR.

90 day burn in at each stage, with 2nd hand Cables!

Just Dreaming!

Allante93!

Enjoy your Music, nice rig!

Dibbles!

Jon I notice in your profile you have Superline again! Welcome back to the club - this too for the added boogie factor? 

Lyndon,

Your system is very similar to a friends. He actually has thirteen 135's due to his love of the cinema. All of it on Mana racks (very wife friendly) and with his DBL's on a 3 level Mana sound stage.

I've heard his system many times and I often use it as a reference point - Naim at the pinical of their game circa 1998. And, as Allante93 says, a good system will always be a good system.

Does it embarrass my single 500 with DBL's? At high volume levels - possibly. Does it make me pine for my old active system again - not really. I think that when playing around at this level - 135's, 500 or 500DR you pick your starting point and just enjoy your journey.

Felix H posted:

Jon I notice in your profile you have Superline again! Welcome back to the club - this too for the added boogie factor? 

Profile is out of date -- moved on from superline a few years ago. Linn Radikal and Urika here

Profile now updated with other bits

Thanks for the bio update: five Naim systems, impressive! What digi sources do you use withe the NDAC/XPS?  

(I  suppose this is relevant enough for the amp thread, hehe)  

lyndon posted:

anyone buying a 500 will eventually start looking towards this, and from what I've read across a variety of posts it takes a least 6 months to settle out and it's quite a rocky ride getting there 

for us active folk pwr amps and speaker cables represent a far bigger commitment, for me the only step up is 3 x 500's and although three big standard 500's is relatively do-able the idea of sploshing out 15 big ones, waiting a few months and then when I've got them back waiting another 6 months for them to do what I've paid for them to do !!

in the meantime, the next couple of years I'm concentrating on Chord Sarum full loom and possibly a 552dr

lyndon

 

 

There's no wait Lyndon, my 500DRs sounded great from the off, with only minor hiccups in the first couple of weeks. They're undoubtedly becoming better with time, but they start off as a considerable improvement. 

jon honeyball posted:

Felix H posted:

Jon I notice in your profile you have Superline again! Welcome back to the club - this too for the added boogie factor? 

Profile is out of date -- moved on from superline a few years ago. Linn Radikal and Urika here

Profile now updated with other bits

Hi Jon,

Why do you prefer the Urika? Is it better in all respects?

I would be greatfull for your thoughts.

Best regards

Hans

Superline can (or could) have issues when powered by supercap -- it can go into RF resonance, depending on the cartridge loading. I had issues with this -- sometimes it sounded fabulous, other times meh. Note this will not happen with superline powered by hicap, or by supercap not using the burndy-- this issue requires the  SL, SC *and* burndy. No idea if this is ameliorated by SCDR feedling SL. And much more is known about cartridge loading plugs now, for example. 

Linn bits are arguably not quite as good as SL/SC but I found it more consistent. Plus I got the PSU so I got 45rpm after using an Armageddon for a long time. 

jon honeyball posted:

Superline can (or could) have issues when powered by supercap -- it can go into RF resonance, depending on the cartridge loading. I had issues with this -- sometimes it sounded fabulous, other times meh. Note this will not happen with superline powered by hicap, or by supercap not using the burndy-- this issue requires the  SL, SC *and* burndy. No idea if this is ameliorated by SCDR feedling SL. And much more is known about cartridge loading plugs now, for example. 

Linn bits are arguably not quite as good as SL/SC but I found it more consistent. Plus I got the PSU so I got 45rpm after using an Armageddon for a long time. 

Thanks

jon honeyball posted:

500 is boring. Has pretentions of detail, but its bit of a bully. I find it boring, it doesnt hold my attention over time. 

300 boogies, is lighter of foot, good detail. Smaller than 500, but more engaging. 

300DR boogies lots more, and is more detailed and open and airy. Big step up. 

500DR boogies hardest, has staggering detail and air. 500dR plus Townsend Allegri is about as good as it gets, realistically. (Apologies to 552 owners - I think 552 is way past its prime now, even with DR. Waaaay past...)

So Jon further thoughts on NAP135.

Would the following words describe a pair of NAP135:

135 Boogies, less lighter of foot (excuse the horrible english), less detailed than 300, smaller than 300, engaging.

Your opinion please.

250dr is blown out of the water by std old NAP500 no contest ........ as you have read before 500dr is awesome. I am not knocking 250dr it is a very good amp ...... I would imagine 135 would still be superior to 250dr ..... 

Well, the 500 may be boring, and the 500 will out perform the 250DR any day of the week, wonder how those sorry 250.2s were performing at the 2007 CES Show:

https://youtu.be/AFzMuO3K3ZY

Allante93!

PS. 555CD>282>Snaxo>3 x 250>Dibbles!

I had a 250.2 it had the same warmth that the 500 ....has in my system through mid base. Still enjoyed 250.2 amp ..... 

Thank you all for your contribution in this discussion.

Now I have a pretty good handle on the hierarchy of Naim amps  and how they sound compared to each other.

It is great to have you guys around and read your opinion.