Best three box Naim system
Posted by: Bob the Builder on 10 October 2017
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.
NDX 282 200 here if we can ignore the napsc out of view.. but I'll be disqualified when the hicapdr I ordered 5 weeks ago finally shows up..
272 / 555DR / 250DR.
Rad LP12 Nait or CDS3 Nait...
Stu
Pipe and slippers it is then! To move up in SQ from current system would involve expenditure of at least £500k on moving house to a gaff with a bigger, dedicated listening room! Not much chance of that happening without a lottery win, which is unlikely as I don't participate. I'm fortunate to be totally satisfied with the quality of playback, and now concentrate solely upon enjoying my existing stock of sounds, and exploring new bands and artists.
NAC12/NAP120/LP12
I don't know if it would match up properly but I would guess the best choice in the known limitations is
- Statement Preamp
- NDX
- NAP 250DR
This subject has indeed been done quite a few times over the last couple of years, not least by me! I spent quite a bit of time listening, thinking i would probably end up with 272/XPS/250, but after listening, I preferred NDX/282/200DR, so that's what I bought.
Unitiqute + 250dr
Warning : what follows is influenced from a personal confirmation bias due to having to justify large expenditure on Naim boxes.
One of the best, if not THE best 3 box Naim systems is the 272/555DR/250DR. Although I expect Pixies NDS/555DR/ SN2 may eclipse it due to the excellence of it source.
In fact I think my 3 box system is not far off a Statement system in terms of pure musical enjoyment! I do not say this lightly as I have listened to 2 Statement systems and yes they are more detailed and realistic sounding. However what the 272/555DR/250DR brings to the party is superb timing, which leads to a lot of foot tapping, a beautiful separation of instruments and also a 3D spaciousness to the music and also great imaging with my Ovator 400s. There is a lovely unforced quality to the music. I think it has every bit as much "boogie" factor as the 13x more expensive Statement. It really shows the law of diminishing returns in hifi. I must add the system is on a Fraim, has a dedicated spur and is in the right sized room.
I think a well set up 3 box system from Naim takes a lot of beating, if you value musical flow and involvement over the nth degree of added detail that more boxes bring.
I have a great two box system - Plinius Hautonga integrated and CD5X. Superb built-in MM phono stage on the Hautonga for my RP6. The third box would be a HCDR on my 5X, and I can live with or without the PSU. Granted, I've ventured outside the 'all-Naim' rule, but I've been there, done that and moved on.
Like Joe I have also ventured outside of the Naim amp equation so now useing a Nagra PLL valve line preamp with a Dartzeel NHB 108 Poweramp.The Dartzeel is so holographic and timberaly correct also transients are extremely fast - just dovetails the Nagra beautifully.
As a source my Naim NAT01 is a favourite as it sounds so rich and smooth.
Can I pip in as a dissenter ?
Unitiserve. Ndac and Karan KAI 180 mk2 integrated. All pimped up with the best cables and support I could afford. Does the little tp power supply for the serve count ?
the Karan amp seems to get a very good reputation and sounds "naim" like apparently?
Timmo1341 posted:
Pipe and slippers it is then! To move up in SQ from current system would involve expenditure of at least £500k on moving house to a gaff with a bigger, dedicated listening room! Not much chance of that happening without a lottery win, which is unlikely as I don't participate. I'm fortunate to be totally satisfied with the quality of playback, and now concentrate solely upon enjoying my existing stock of sounds, and exploring new bands and artists.
Timmo1341 my pipe and slippers comment was in response to the comment below made by Eloise
" 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)."
Also you could improve the SQ in your sytem for a whole lot less than £500K a whole lot less you could for instance trade in your 272 for a 282 and then buy an NDX for around £2K I'm sure NDX/555/282/250DR would offer SQ improvements over your present system. There is also an NDS or a 252 all for well under £10K.
You can also stream via a small Auralic streamer into a Chord Dave into a 252/250DR with trade in again less than £10K but if like Elouise you are content then I am very, very happy for you.
While it may not be the "best" 3 box Naim system, the CDX2, Supernait and Hicap has always been one that I have enjoyed immensely and felt an excellent and complementary combination. It's one where you listen and before you know it whole albums have been played and hours have passed and you wonder just how much better things can really get from this. With the right speakers I think I could be happy with this simple 3 box system for a long time.
Richard Dane posted:While it may not be the "best" 3 box Naim system, the CDX2, Supernait and Hicap has always been one that I have enjoyed immensely and felt an excellent and complementary combination. It's one where you listen and before you know it whole albums have been played and hours have passed and you wonder just how much better things can really get from this. With the right speakers I think I could be happy with this simple 3 box system for a long time.
Richard agreed but wouldn’t a CDX2/202/200dr be even more so?
I think that the NAC202/NAP200 would quickly gain a NAPSC so doesn't qualify here. However, I do think that the CDX2 and Supernait are a great pairing - character of the amp nicely complementing that of the player.
Problem with a CDX2 is so much better with an XPS, XPS brings far more SQ to the party than does a HiCap on the Supernait, so I would opt for CDX2/XPS into Supernait to keep it in the 3 box category.
However my top choice with a Supernait would be NDX with the FM/DAB module - & as thats a 2 box its a tossup over a HC or XPS or a Hugo for the 3rd box.
Agree XPS almost essential on a CDX2/NDX.
I'm running a NDX/UnitiQute2/NAP100 into ProAc Tablet 10's at my office. Sound is very impressive... so good I could easily make it my main system.
Uniti Core , Nova and 250DR surely worth consideration ?
I have the combo that Pete T15 has suggested into PMC 25.26, nice tight, musical portrayal.
Chris Bell posted:I'm running a NDX/UnitiQute2/NAP100 into ProAc Tablet 10's at my office. Sound is very impressive... so good I could easily make it my main system.
What happened to your Klipsch's? I'd say my office setup of UQ1 and KEF Ls50's (plus a set of FMC's before hand) gives me a thrill every time I hear it. Might add on an amp at some point but for office listening it would be overkill. Or try a sub since the UQ so nicely has an output for one. Or just K.I.S.S.
The Klipsch's were a summertime fling... ultimately they went back to the online retailer. The ProAc's are so impressive, everyone who has visited my office has been blown away. (Naim guys and mortals).
Chris Bell posted:The Klipsch's were a summertime fling... ultimately they went back to the online retailer. The ProAc's are so impressive, everyone who has visited my office has been blown away. (Naim guys and mortals).
I get my 10’s tomorrow to join a 272/250DR front...an..tici...pation...
G