Bristol sound and vision 2018

nigelb posted:

A slightly different argument but listening to the Nova at the Show driving the new stand-mount Kudos Titan 505s (with an Innuos Zenith server thingy) sounded….err…. entirely complete. Certainly no need to add any power amps, pre amps or power supplies. This one-box system (excluding speakers and server) was making some of the best sounds at the show, I kid you not.

That Nova is one superb bit of kit all by itself. If I was starting again and had limits on my budget, I'd just get a Nova. No doubt in my mind.

Nigel

I 100% agree, I was sat in that room listening to the 505 thinking, such sounds for such simplicity. Two boxes, integrated Ripping, Roon support, not even sat on Fraim etc etc. Made me question all the Fraim, burndy, cable dressing that goes into separates.

Rob

nigelb posted:

A slightly different argument but listening to the Nova at the Show driving the new stand-mount Kudos Titan 505s (with an Innuos Zenith server thingy) sounded….err…. entirely complete. Certainly no need to add any power amps, pre amps or power supplies. This one-box system (excluding speakers and server) was making some of the best sounds at the show, I kid you not.

That Nova is one superb bit of kit all by itself. If I was starting again and had limits on my budget, I'd just get a Nova. No doubt in my mind.

sure sounded pretty good, but based on what i heard elsewhere at the show for me if were starting again id be very severely tempted by either PMC Cor or the Rega Osiris. Both sounded stupidly good for the money to me..

Any word on Focal Kanta No. 1 at the show?

kevin J Carden posted:

nigelb posted:

A slightly different argument but listening to the Nova at the Show driving the new stand-mount Kudos Titan 505s (with an Innuos Zenith server thingy) sounded….err…. entirely complete. Certainly no need to add any power amps, pre amps or power supplies. This one-box system (excluding speakers and server) was making some of the best sounds at the show, I kid you not.

That Nova is one superb bit of kit all by itself. If I was starting again and had limits on my budget, I'd just get a Nova. No doubt in my mind.

sure sounded pretty good, but based on what i heard elsewhere at the show for me if were starting again id be very severely tempted by either PMC Cor or the Rega Osiris. Both sounded stupidly good for the money to me..

I visited the PMC room a couple of times. The first time a pair of Twenty5 26s powered by the AVM pre a dual monos was sounding nice if a little soft. I made the effort to revisit later when I knew the Fact 12s would be demoing. What I didn't realise is that the PMC Cor integrated would be driving the Fact 12s. This sounded the polar opposite to the earlier demo, sounding rather harsh and clinical to these ears. I think the Cor must have been struggling or a mismatch to the Fact 12s. I was rather disappointed as the Cor driving a Twenty5 range speaker (26s I think) at the Audio East Show a few weeks ago sounded rather good.

I have also heard various PMCs sounding wonderful at previous Bristol shows being driven by Bryston amps.

spurrier sucks posted:

Any word on Focal Kanta No. 1 at the show?

Didn't see any sign of the Kanta No 1 at the show.

WHich speakers were on demo in the Dynaudio room ?

When I was in the Dynaudio room they had the Special 40s on demo with a full Naim rig driving them and they sounded superb. The Dynaudio room I have found over the years has been one of the best sounding, but they always seem to have Naim kit so I am probably preconditioned to the kind of SQ emanating from that room.

The Special 40s are rather…err….special though.

ok so it was the special 40's..... thank you NigelB.

Must audition these now.

nigelb posted:

When I was in the Dynaudio room they had the Special 40s on demo with a full Naim rig driving them and they sounded superb. The Dynaudio room I have found over the years has been one of the best sounding, but they always seem to have Naim kit so I am probably preconditioned to the kind of SQ emanating from that room.

The Special 40s are rather…err….special though.

Good to hear,I use Core/272/XpSDR//250DR with my special 40s,and love what I am hearing,just curious what was the full Naim rig they were using at the show?

No quarter posted:

nigelb posted:

When I was in the Dynaudio room they had the Special 40s on demo with a full Naim rig driving them and they sounded superb. The Dynaudio room I have found over the years has been one of the best sounding, but they always seem to have Naim kit so I am probably preconditioned to the kind of SQ emanating from that room.

The Special 40s are rather…err….special though.

Good to hear,I use Core/272/XpSDR//250DR with my special 40s,and love what I am hearing,just curious what was the full Naim rig they were using at the show?

Not sure exactly what the Naim rig was but it was above 202/200 because the pre had a double row of buttons with either NDX or NDS with a decent power supply. I only glanced at it but it looked a pretty serious set up.

nigelb posted:

No quarter posted:

nigelb posted:

When I was in the Dynaudio room they had the Special 40s on demo with a full Naim rig driving them and they sounded superb. The Dynaudio room I have found over the years has been one of the best sounding, but they always seem to have Naim kit so I am probably preconditioned to the kind of SQ emanating from that room.

The Special 40s are rather…err….special though.

Good to hear,I use Core/272/XpSDR//250DR with my special 40s,and love what I am hearing,just curious what was the full Naim rig they were using at the show?

Not sure exactly what the Naim rig was but it was above 202/200 because the pre had a double row of buttons with either NDX or NDS with a decent power supply. I only glanced at it but it looked a pretty serious set up.

It was Core, NDS/555, 552/552PS, NAP300DR with full SL loom.

No wonder it sounded sublime. Nothing ever comes close to it at Bristol for me!

Regards

David

Thanks,S3...looks like I have plenty of room to upgrade with these speakers then.

I am never impressed with the large Focal speakers that Naim use for demonstrating at shows. To me the Dynaudio Special 40s sounded better, although it could have been due to music I heard and my view of the aesthetic appeal of the Focals - each to his own! Give me Kudos, PMC, Neat, Dynaudio any day!

S3 posted:

nigelb posted:

No quarter posted:

nigelb posted:

When I was in the Dynaudio room they had the Special 40s on demo with a full Naim rig driving them and they sounded superb. The Dynaudio room I have found over the years has been one of the best sounding, but they always seem to have Naim kit so I am probably preconditioned to the kind of SQ emanating from that room.

The Special 40s are rather…err….special though.

Good to hear,I use Core/272/XpSDR//250DR with my special 40s,and love what I am hearing,just curious what was the full Naim rig they were using at the show?

Not sure exactly what the Naim rig was but it was above 202/200 because the pre had a double row of buttons with either NDX or NDS with a decent power supply. I only glanced at it but it looked a pretty serious set up.

It was Core, NDS/555, 552/552PS, NAP300DR with full SL loom.

No wonder it sounded sublime. Nothing ever comes close to it at Bristol for me!

Regards

David

Well there you go. No wonder it sounded good. However, the Dynaudio Special 40s must be very capable to convey the qualities of a Naim 500 rig!

I have heard from Dynaudio's Bill Livingston who, while in accordance with forum rules cannot post on this here himself, has clarified what Naim kit was being used with the Special 40s;

The demonstration system used with the Special Forty at The Bristol Show was as follows:

Naim NDS Streamer
Naim 555 PS DR Power Supply
Naim NAC 252 Preamp
Naim SuperCap DR Power Supply
Naim NAP 300 Power Amplifier
Naim 300 PS DR Power Supply
Naim Uniti Core Server
Naim Fraim

Naim Super Lumina Speaker Cables
Naim Super Lumina Interconnect Cables
Naim Powerline Mains Cables

Naim/Dyna always good.  

Richard Dane posted:

I have heard from Dynaudio's Bill Livingston who, while in accordance with forum rules cannot post on this here himself, has clarified what Naim kit was being used with the Special 40s;

The demonstration system used with the Special Forty at The Bristol Show was as follows:

Naim NDS Streamer
Naim 555 PS DR Power Supply
Naim NAC 252 Preamp
Naim SuperCap DR Power Supply
Naim NAP 300 Power Amplifier
Naim 300 PS DR Power Supply
Naim Uniti Core Server
Naim Fraim

Naim Super Lumina Speaker Cables
Naim Super Lumina Interconnect Cables
Naim Powerline Mains Cables

Pretty hard for the Special 40s not to sound good ...

I remember vividly with a similar system at Bristol 2017 driving a pair of Contour 20 speakers - best at that show for me too!

Used 272's are difficult to find...and for good reason...they are very good. With an xps power supply they are exceptional. Try and find an ex dem model and save a bit of money and then when naim launch the new upgraded model/models then trade in. At least then you will have enjoyed the use of a 272/250dr (or 300dr) for a couple of years

I was speaking to my local dealer and he mentioned that it is possible that naim will bring out better models of the 272 (using possibly a 282 or 252 pre-amp!) using the new/upgraded chipset platforms used in the Nova etc but it is some way off.

Me too Stephen. The sound coming out of those Contour 20s driven by the same Naim system last year was the best I’ve ever heard.

Kudos Titan 505 - for those wanting a bit more info as to how they sound, its worth checking out the AV Forums podcast. 

I was listening today as they were specifically discussing the highlights of Bristol S&V and the 505’s were Ed Selley’s ‘sound of the show’ as it were. He seemed impressed (esp bass response) and gave them a brief, if enthusiastic mini review.

If you don't want to listen to the whole thing its 21minutes in!