Best three box Naim system

552DR + 250DR?

I have a poor mans three box system but it still sounds bloody good

272/XP5XS/250

250 is from 1985 and freshly serviced by Naim

Bob the Builder posted:

It seems to be fashionable to have less boxes at the moment with 272/XPSDR/250DR becoming a firm favourite and so it got me thinking what other three box systems do people have and how do they stack up.

As a general answer rather than from personal reference, I would suspect the other (usual) 3 box options would be NDX / XPSDR / Supernait and ND5XS / NAC 152XS / NAP 155XS.  Both those 3 box systems could have a CD player instead of the streamer. 

When I say three boxes I mean three Naim boxes so for instance 252/SuperCap/250DR is a three box system ( 2 old style shoeboxes count as one) so if you have Nas drives, switches, linear psu's, phono stages or dacs tucked away as long as they are not Naim and are not on show or are discreetly tucked away they don't count.

Surely a 252 / SuperCap / 250DR isn’t three box as you are missing any source.  A three box system must be that ... source, pre and power amp in three boxes.  The same way as a one box system is source, pre and power amp in a single box.

You can ignore NAS drives, switches and (non-Naim) wallwart type PSUs, but I don’t think phono stages or DACs can be ignored so you get away with calling it a “three box” system.  

I have a 282/300 which is three boxes and an Lp12 all my other little boxes Trichord Dino phono stage, Chord 2Qute, Linn Lingo, CTpsu and Raspberry Pi are all tucked away out of sight and I think my three boxes sound pretty good and look pretty good.

Three boxes?  Doesn’t count (IMO).  The 282 needs a PSU doesn’t it? The LP12 counts as a “box” as does (to a lesser extent) the Chord 2Qute.  Okay so the ancillaries are out of the way, but they still surely need attention in terms of positioning, cabling, etc.  

Three box systems (as mentioned above) are literally that - three boxes (okay the NAS / switch is separate) containing source, pre and power amplifiers.  For some reason you are aspiring to three boxes and trying to shoehorn an expanded system into that desire.

I still have fond memories of my first 3 Naim boxes, it is from these that I have built my system and there is still that sonic footprint in my current system!

So I would say:      NAC72-HiCap-NAP140

My source as and still is an LP12.

Richard

 Eloise is spot on. To qualify as 3 box the system must include source, pre and power amplification, i.e. capable of producing music when attached to speakers. I suppose there will be one or two smart arses who will maintain the 272 can't produce music (discounting radio, Spotify etc.) without the assistance of a server, but I think we'll just ignore them!!

This was done to death a while ago. In my view a three box system must be precisely that, including source, power supplies and DACs. I’d let a nas off though. One I’d like to hear is the NDS, 555PS and SN2. The other obvious one is NDX, 282 and 200DR. But I’d say that Bob’s setup, with three Naim boxes and loads of other stuff is disqualified. In fact it’s really a non-entry. 

Ft

Bob the Builder posted:

It seems to be fashionable to have less boxes at the moment with 272/XPSDR/250DR becoming a firm favourite and so it got me thinking what other three box systems do people have and how do they stack up.

When I say three boxes I mean three Naim boxes so for instance 252/SuperCap/250DR is a three box system ( 2 old style shoeboxes count as one) so if you have Nas drives, switches, linear psu's, phono stages or dacs tucked away as long as they are not Naim and are not on show or are discreetly tucked away they don't count.

I have a 282/300 which is three boxes and an Lp12 all my other little boxes Trichord Dino phono stage, Chord 2Qute, Linn Lingo, CTpsu and Raspberry Pi are all tucked away out of sight and I think my three boxes sound pretty good and look pretty good.

What powers your 282?

I have a 272 / 555dr / 250dr and very happy with this set up

Eloise posted:

Bob the Builder posted:

It seems to be fashionable to have less boxes at the moment with 272/XPSDR/250DR becoming a firm favourite and so it got me thinking what other three box systems do people have and how do they stack up.

As a general answer rather than from personal reference, I would suspect the other (usual) 3 box options would be NDX / XPSDR / Supernait and ND5XS / NAC 152XS / NAP 155XS.  Both those 3 box systems could have a CD player instead of the streamer. 

When I say three boxes I mean three Naim boxes so for instance 252/SuperCap/250DR is a three box system ( 2 old style shoeboxes count as one) so if you have Nas drives, switches, linear psu's, phono stages or dacs tucked away as long as they are not Naim and are not on show or are discreetly tucked away they don't count.

Surely a 252 / SuperCap / 250DR isn’t three box as you are missing any source.  A three box system must be that ... source, pre and power amp in three boxes.  The same way as a one box system is source, pre and power amp in a single box.

You can ignore NAS drives, switches and (non-Naim) wallwart type PSUs, but I don’t think phono stages or DACs can be ignored so you get away with calling it a “three box” system.  

I have a 282/300 which is three boxes and an Lp12 all my other little boxes Trichord Dino phono stage, Chord 2Qute, Linn Lingo, CTpsu and Raspberry Pi are all tucked away out of sight and I think my three boxes sound pretty good and look pretty good.

Three boxes?  Doesn’t count (IMO).  The 282 needs a PSU doesn’t it? The LP12 counts as a “box” as does (to a lesser extent) the Chord 2Qute.  Okay so the ancillaries are out of the way, but they still surely need attention in terms of positioning, cabling, etc.  

Three box systems (as mentioned above) are literally that - three boxes (okay the NAS / switch is separate) containing source, pre and power amplifiers.  For some reason you are aspiring to three boxes and trying to shoehorn an expanded system into that desire.

I'm afraid I have to disagree the fashion for less boxes is about aesthetics not SQ and compromises on SQ that are made to achieve less boxes. At first the fashion was for 2 boxes 272/250 but then the XPS was added to achieve a better sound and my very valid point is that you can achieve the aesthetics of a 3 box system WITH 282/300 without compromise to SQ.

If you walk into my living room you see a rack with three full size classic boxes and a TT above all my other hifi kit is hidden from view and so I believe I have achieved the aesthetics of a 3 box system without any compromise of SQ.

I like your iceburg system Bob as 90% is hidden from view

Taking it literally that would be a Nova and a pair of Niam speaker but which would be the best match? Probably room dependent but I can’t help wondering if it would manage a pair of DBLs but that’s still not strictly 3 box. If you also discount NBLs, SBLs, SL2s and any Ovator with a decoupled BMR for the same reason that they’re more than one box each you’re only left with 400s, IBLs and Arivas. 

CDS3, XPS2 and the fine amplifier I own, the NAIT XS.

Bob, you're way out of order with all your boxes  ;-)

OK  so now I have an ice berg system because I don't have every component on show.  So there are now rules to the three box system very, very simple rules I grant you but the rules are it must contain a 272 an XPS and a 250 or a 172/flatcap/200 and your allowed to hide away Nas drives, Cisco switches and linear psu's for the Nas or the cisco.

Based on those very strict rules you are correct I do not have a three box system.

Fix!!!

I was only joking Bob as you have a great system but where do we draw the line on a 2-3 box system as I could have 500 active system with 8 - 9 boxes hidden with only the 552 and NDS on view.

About 4 years ago we moved house and for almost 8 months I couldn't put the main system together. The compromise which went some way  to offsetting the upset of a difficult move was a 3 box system consisting of a Squeezebox Touch, ndac and Nait 3 with Royd Eden speakers. An excellent mix of old and new. 

BN

Christopher_M posted:

CDS3, XPS2 and the fine amplifier I own, the NAIT XS.

Bob, you're way out of order with all your boxes  ;-)

They call me big box Bob round my way !!

Ipod touch >> Apple TV >> Chord Sarum Tuned Aray >> Maplins Dac >> Chord Signature TA 2RCA - Din >> 282 >> Dual Cap >> Nap 300 all atreaming mp3 is it a mullet a sheep or an iceberg lettuce system?

Now if you had all those other boxes wouldn't you hide them away??

Bob the Builder posted:

So there are now rules to the three box system very, very simple rules I grant you but the rules are it must contain a 272 an XPS and a 250 or a 172/flatcap/200 and your allowed to hide away Nas drives, Cisco switches and linear psu's for the Nas or the cisco.

No, it doesn’t have to have a 272 (Or 172).  I gave 2 example of alternative 3 box systems - NDX / XPSDR / SuperNait (or Nait XS) or the, no longer available, ND5XS / NAC 152XS / NAP 155XS.  LP12 / StageLine / SuperNait would be another alternative 3 box system.

Personally I see the NAS / switches as analogous to the piles of CDs and the shelves.

Anyway it’s not “rules” ... and as you say having three box system is not about the ultimate SQ, but it’s about what you can do with 3 boxes these days and how much you are willing to compromise.  It’s a state of mind... saying you’ve stopped chasing the next tweak.  Stopped chasing the next big thing and you are content (IMO).  

Neither route is wrong...

PS. I love the description of an iceberg system... I wouldn’t see it as an insult.

NDS, 555PS, Nait 1 

For a time I had a CDX2/282/200 - lovely sound.  

NDS, 555PS DR and SN2 here and it sounds great! I recently upgraded from an NDX, XPSDR, SN2 with the objective of keeping to 3 boxes.

Eloise posted:

Anyway it’s not “rules” ... and as you say having three box system is not about the ultimate SQ, but it’s about what you can do with 3 boxes these days and how much you are willing to compromise.  It’s a state of mind... saying you’ve stopped chasing the next tweak.  Stopped chasing the next big thing and you are content (IMO).  

Neither route is wrong...

PS. I love the description of an iceberg system... I wouldn’t see it as an insult.

Well if that's the case then I definitely am not looking for a 'three box system' because if I can improve the SQ of my system within the confines of my financial position then I'm up for it.

This hobby for me is about achieving the best sounding system I can 'settling down' to one system is all a bit pipe and slippers IMO. There is only one golden rule in this hobby  for me and that is do not under any circumstances borrow money or over stretch yourself to buy HIfI be it 3 or 10 boxes.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

For a time I had a CDX2/282/200 - lovely sound.  

No cheating now - that's a four boxer...

james n posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

For a time I had a CDX2/282/200 - lovely sound.  

No cheating now - that's a four boxer...

I thought we agreed that the little stuff like the NAPSC doesn’t count?

james n posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

For a time I had a CDX2/282/200 - lovely sound.  

No cheating now - that's a four boxer...

I was thinking the same thing...