Naim Audio party pooper.

Bob the Builder posted:

 

Now of course I only crank it up once in a very blue moon but still it would be nice to know that I could if I wanted to.

 

You're in luck. There's a Blue moon coming at the end of this month.

Perhaps a silly question but is the output from your Mac high enough? 

I was playing vinyl to begin with and streaming from my MacBook did cope slightly better at volume but at a cost to SQ.

Obviously the Dynaudio Contours are a bit of a drain on the Nap 300's power and it normal levels it isn't an issue so perhaps they just need more power than the 300 has to play loud.

Hard to say where the problem might be without talking a look and a listen. I can play my own Naim system (amp is a 250DR and speakers are SL2s) loud enough to be almost deafening without any sense of strain. It's on Fraim, and I use 10m per channel of NACA5. If your system sounds so bad even at a quarter to on the volume dial then there's a problem somewhere.  Maybe time to get your dealer over to take a look and have a listen.

I'd say the speaker and room interaction will cause the most distortion. The 282/300 combo should be more then enough for party levels. In comparison my humbler SU/SM100 combo can easily reach 'party mode' ..... i listen to electronica/dance/house tech/ambient/soul and funk often.  

I agree with Richard,get your dealer over to check things out.I can easily crank my 282/200 well past 11 o'clock if need be without any issues apart from my ears bleeding.

I'm surprised the 300 is struggling. Back in my seperates days I got fed up with the 250 tripping its thermal cut out and had to get 135s. These fixed it and I would have thought the 300 should be at least as capable.

Now I am  one box person I had trouble with the original Uniti but the SU and the Nova have been fine. Ah, the joys of country living with no neighbours 

Yes good advice I'm afraid that the SuperCap will have to wait again as the 282/300 will be sent for a service and a once over asap. Hopefully that will cure any underlying issues in the meantime I will play around with speaker placement.

Which service would make the most differences Nac 282 or Nap 300 as I may have to split the cost both are from 2003?

I would go 300 first.

Doesn’t sound right at all. I am running an LP12/Superline into NAP 300 (non DR) and Contour 1.8 Mk 2s and it is happy right up to at least 11 o’clock, with an optimum around 10 o’clock. The NAP 300 is well up to driving the Dynaudios with plenty of oomph. The only issue I find is that speaker placement with regard to proximate walls and surfaces with the Dynaudios can be critical, although that is more of an issue with 1.8s and not specific to   output volume.

My 1.8s are about 30% of room length in from the wall, by the way. I found by trial and error that this made quite a difference for soundstage. 

Bob - you use Non Naim PSU and Non Naim-SNAIC cables.

Naim have repeatedly warned Naim owners not to try and use aftermarket parts and cables....

You also use Non-Naim approved speaker cables.

Try a real Hi-cap and NACA5 ? 

Bob (the Builder),

I know it's of no help and a little off topic, but I shiver at the idea that a Naim system close to £20,000 is used at a party, and available to guests who have had too many drinks. For that, I'd suggest a Sony Playstation into active pro speakers. The idea that it was used with LPs makes me even more shivering. It's not a critic to you, but my own plain sensitivity. A party, better yet, needs Spotify. Anyway, I hate parties so my opinion is biased and probably useless.

Best

M.

Could members please respect forum rules and refrain from discussion of unauthorised modifications to Naim equipment - this includes discussion of non - Naim power supplies, "SNAICs" etc.. Thank you.

I find the 300DR more than capable but that’s through my Sopra 2s which to these ears are an excellent system match including interconnect cables. Mind you I dont often go beyond 8 to 9 o’clock on the dial as I find it plenty loud enough. I should add that I mostly listen to classical and jazz. 

Of course in addition to a fundamental mismatch somewhere increased volume might be causing all manner of room interactions which you don’t hear at lower volumes.

Richard,

as far as I am concerned, no problem: I have deleted my post. I shouldn't have posted it in the first place, but I hope, nonetheless, that the member I addressed had the time to take notice of my opinion on his. I apologize. M.

I found that when my cables were routed messy all kind of issues appear, especially in treble. Personally, I would just disconnect the whole setup and resetup.

I do think Analogue is after something. In my setup I had normal Snaic-4's from the Snaxo to the Power amp and this caused distortion on higher volume levels - the Power Amps did seem to struggle. Replaced them by 'Naim Active Leads' ... issue gone. I did in the same excercise also repositioning of the loudspeakers so I'm not 100% sure what the reason was but fact is that after resetup the issue was gone.

I don't know if the cable between the Nap PS and Nap 300 is called a Burndy - but there are weird stories about Burndies on this Forum. Good chance it needs a 'massage' or so.

Max_B posted:

Richard,

as far as I am concerned, no problem: I have deleted my post. I shouldn't have posted it in the first place, but I hope, nonetheless, that the member I addressed had the time to take notice of my opinion on his. I apologize. M.

OK, thanks Max.

analogmusic posted:

Bob - you use Non Naim PSU and Non Naim-SNAIC cables.

Naim have repeatedly warned Naim owners not to try and use aftermarket parts and cables....

You also use Non-Naim approved speaker cables.

Try a real Hi-cap and NACA5 ? 

 

 

 

FYI apart from speaker cables all my interconnects and power cables are standard issue Naim but thanks for the WARNING.

Max_B posted:

Bob (the Builder),

I know it's of no help and a little off topic, but I shiver at the idea that a Naim system close to £20,000 is used at a party, and available to guests who have had too many drinks. For that, I'd suggest a Sony Playstation into active pro speakers. The idea that it was used with LPs makes me even more shivering. It's not a critic to you, but my own plain sensitivity. A party, better yet, needs Spotify. Anyway, I hate parties so my opinion is biased and probably useless.

Best

M.

 

I thought snobbery was only for the British Max in any case not a party in that sense more drinks that got a bit lively anyone who could not handle a couple of drinks and started acting like a drunk teenager wouldn't be invited in the first place so no need of Playstations as I'm 48 not 14.

For proper party levels you really want a speaker that's efficient and with at least 10 inch woofers that have massive magnets to keep them on time.

No matter what power amp your using - going into slim floorstanders with average 4/5 inch woofers, it will go loud but still won't move air.    

I knew a chap threw up on someones record player at a party, he opened the lid first mind, he’d had nothing other than alcohol either. 

Mmh i think something isnt okay with your Naim gear or the loudspeakers must be bad or damaged.

When i crank my system up to 11 clock, its like a jet is in my room, talking is not possible and the bass is physicall as a boxer hits me in the stomach.

Dynaudio speakers need Watts. Especially at high volumes. Naim amplification is just not suitable at Party Levels. 

Maybe get an amp you can use a parties as a secondary. Something like a Rogue Audio Medusa?  

Bob, I also use an LP12 and 300, into SBLs in my case. It does party levels with ease. There must bo something wrong unless your living room is an arena.

Max, my only concession to partying with Naim is I use the CDS3 rather than the Sondek!

Stu