Downsizing system - which way to jump?!

As you already have the NDX it would make sense to keep it and get a Supernait 2. I’d question selling the Linn, unless you specifically want something a bit easier to set up and maintain. Once you have the electronics sorted out, you can try other speakers at home against your Ruarks, at your leaisure. 

I’ve been up and down the ladder over the years. Have now settled with 272/XPSDR/250DR into little Proac Tablette 10 as we recently moved to a ‘nearly empty nest’ smaller house.

It is a beautifully balanced system, feeling like it was all designed together somehow. Puts a big grin on my face every time!

Enjoy your quest.

G

You seem settled on your choice.  Can’t comment on the vinyl side of things. However, some other options to consider :

• 272 and ATC ASCM19A or PMC result6; 
• NDX, 282 , HiCAP DR, and the same speaker options (as you seem to like the PMC sound, ATC is similar sounding).

Jude

Thanks so much for the replies, guys. Now that's given me food for thought!

Selling the Linn etc is not ideal as I've owned for over 30 years and despite its age, love the sound. I could live with a 'plug and play' turntable as don't play as much vinyl as I used to and tend to listen mostly via the streamer, but nostalgia and all that!

272/250 was mighty fine. NDX/Supernait 2 similarly fine, so either way I guess I end up with a great two box system. Just may've to hold back on the speaker purchase until funds permit!

Thanks again for your replies. So nice to discuss with like-minded souls!

Dave

Meant to add, will try and check out the 272/ATC ASCM19A option Jude mentioned. I like the idea of active speakers reducing the box number. Thanks, Jude.

Dave

When you sell the 82 you will need a phono stage. If you got the Naim Stageline, or a Prefix if you can find one, you could power it from the Supernait. If you have a 272, it can’t power a phono stage. You could of course get a self powered one, but it’s another consideration. To get a turntable that is as good you are probably looking at a Rega P9, which wouldn’t release cash. You could get the cheaper RP6, but it wouldn’t be as good. The Aro is such a lovely arm. I’d keep the Linn if it were me. 

I retired in January, and I have to say that it is rather nice to have a leisurely breakfast then read the paper while playing music, rather than getting suited and booted and joining the rush hour hordes....

Thanks, HH. Yes, I had thought about the phono stage angle. A bit easier with the Supernait 2, but as you say, I could get a powered phono stage if I went for the 272. Re the turntable, I guess as much as I'd miss it, given 99% of my listening is via the streamer, I almost feel like I'm not doing the Linn justice! Ideally it needs a service, cartridge retip/or change, but that's not something I can do at this stage. I'm sure I could live with an RP6 for the amount of listening I do, but that Aro - well, it's a joy to behold!

I totally get where you're coming from re the leisurely breakfast, and no rush hour! SWMBO and I retired very early last August (I'm only 53). I call it a 1 star retirement, but we have something precious (to us at least) - time. Time to spend listening to music, walking the Lakeland fells (on our doorstep), travel, reading etc. The trade off is no more extravagant hifi purchases (which is fine by me), thus the desire to simplify the system and end up with something that gives enjoyment for many years to come with just the odd future upgrade (he says, hopefully)!

Sounds like you're enjoying your well deserved retirement too, HH. I've read a lot of your posts and have to say, despite the more obvious option being the SN2, your enthusiastic posts on the 272/250 and my recent demo, really did draw me to that option. This hifi malarky is contagious, me thinks!

Dave

Just occurred to me - checkout the Rega P1Plus with built in phono stage ...

Will do. Thanks, Jude.

Well, given what you say about how much you listen to vinyl, selling the LP12 and getting an RP6 could make sense. A Rega cartridge and phono stage is certainly nice and simple and will be more than good enough for the odd listen. I still think the 272/250 is a wonderful combination but was simply saying that the NDX makes more sense as you already have it. I’m sure you will work out what’s best for you. There’s no rush. 

Thanks, HH.

Personally, I would never get rid of your vinyl rig, it's much too good, to replace it would be a mistake in my opinion, and while you think you could happily live with the Rega, it's actually the P6 now, the RP6 has been discontinued, take it from personal experience, it's a huge difference, and even if you don't listen to vinyl much, the times you do, the Linn will be greatly missed. For the small investment needed to get the Linn current, it will be well worth it in the long run. There are some great sounding cartridges for very little investment, check out some of the Hana cartridges.

The amps you're considering are both excellent, that's a personal choice that only you and your ears can decide, either will be excellent. The combos you auditioned each have their pros and cons.

You only list two speaker brands, I don't know the reasons, and while both brands auditioned are nice, there are other brands that are also very capable. I would listen to as many different brands as possible, just to get an idea of the different presentations available with other speakers.

The main thing is to take your time and enjoy the ride, do what your ears tell you, not what the popular vote is on an internet forum.

Thanks, Badlands. Yes, I'm struggling to get my head round selling the Linn, it has to be said! I'm torn because I quite like the 'hassle free' option of buying new from a dealer with a trade in, but would have to sacrifice the Linn to fund it. I guess the best option is to take my time, sell privately via PFM/ebay etc and keep my Linn, and then buy the electronics. 

Re speaker selection, it was based on having something that didn't take over the room, would work reasonably close to the wall (no more than 30cm) and had good WAF. Also, being in Cumbria, depending on the brands, demos often require a trip to Newcastle, Manchester or Glasgow. Happy to consider other brands - would welcome your thoughts on other speaker options you think would be worth a listen. Have also thought about Proac, Dynaudio, Focal.

Totally agree re listening - the forum is great for getting feedback and hearing others experiences, but I ultimately would always let my ears decide!

Thanks again.

The Karik, 282, Hicap and 250 are all desirable items and would easily sell via PFM, assuming you have enough posts to be able to sell stuff. You’ll get far more selling privately. If you went for a used SN2 you’d generate cash to put towards speakers and get to keep the Linn, which you clearly want to keep. I’d try to avoid buying speakers new as they lose value so quickly. £2,000 will get you a great pair of speakers. 

Congratulations on your retirement. 

With that event looming on the horizon my recent choice for my home system was to move to the NDX/SN2. I use a NAS and TIDAL to stream music into a pair of Ovator S-400. Sweet and simple!

With your situation with the turntable I would be thinking of selling the Linn, picking up the Rega Planar 6 with the new Ania moving coil cartridge. It has been getting sweet reviews. A cash positive transaction with a lower maintenance/future service cost transaction would be the way I would look at it for a low volume utilized item.

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks, HH. Yes, I do have enough posts on PFM. I think that has to be the way forward. I've done some research on eBay/PFM re potential prices and also have had trade in figures from my dealer, so have a rough idea of what I could potentially ask, but will be a bit of an educated guess. I have the boxes, cables, original receipts, and all are in excellent condition, with just two minor blemishes on the 282.

Yes, I was planning on buying the speakers ex demo or secondhand rather than new.

Cheers.

Thanks, Seakayaker. Head says sell the Linn. Heart says no! I think I'll do this in stages. Get the electronics sorted without doing anything with the Linn, and then decide what to do next to finance the speaker purchase (whatever speaker that turns out to be!) should it need a cash uplift. The Rega P6 was on my list.

Decisions! Decisions!

DaveM6 posted:

Thanks, Badlands. Yes, I'm struggling to get my head round selling the Linn, it has to be said! I'm torn because I quite like the 'hassle free' option of buying new from a dealer with a trade in, but would have to sacrifice the Linn to fund it. I guess the best option is to take my time, sell privately via PFM/ebay etc and keep my Linn, and then buy the electronics. 

Re speaker selection, it was based on having something that didn't take over the room, would work reasonably close to the wall (no more than 30cm) and had good WAF. Also, being in Cumbria, depending on the brands, demos often require a trip to Newcastle, Manchester or Glasgow. Happy to consider other brands - would welcome your thoughts on other speaker options you think would be worth a listen. Have also thought about Proac, Dynaudio, Focal.

Totally agree re listening - the forum is great for getting feedback and hearing others experiences, but I ultimately would always let my ears decide!

Thanks again.

 

Hi Dave kudos worth a try if your local to cumbria as stocked in Carlisle, that said I could be biased  

Cheers, Matthew. Kudos was on my list, and I know the place in Carlisle. Would prefer to hear some of the options side-by-side, but realistically that's not always going to be possible. Home demo always helps though.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I retired in January, and I have to say that it is rather nice to have a leisurely breakfast then read the paper while playing music, rather than getting suited and booted and joining the rush hour hordes....

I agree wholeheartedly. Yet, I find the exact opposite I still experience (retirement in 2/3 years) also nice: I have a quick small coffee, get suited and booted, join the rush hour hordes and then, when at work, I start playing music.. I'm lucky.

Great you can listen to music at work, Max! No chance where I worked.

Just throwing a few questions/ comments into the mix. 

If you have the space I’d give a lot of consideration as to why you want to reduce box count. I understand the attraction but 282>250 is quite a  system in 2.5 boxes. 

The 272 is a dead end from the point of view of the new Uniti platform, your NDX is as future proofed as the 272. There is very little reason for moving to it from what you have. 

As for the Linn, if you love something, set it free. I have a RP3 for the odd occasion that I need to spin vinyl and it’s fine. If you said you listen to 90% vinyl we’d be questioning your need for a streamer . I’d use the proceeds from its sale to improve the full system, - streater and  speakers.  

Mind you if you’ve just retired maybe you should do nothing, enjoy what you have and make the decision when this new found freedom becomes normality.

Make haste slowly. 

.sjb

As you stream for majority of your listening, I would wait and give yourself the opportunity to listen to the NDX2 and NDS (think ex demo) before revisiting your decision about vinyl or streaming and amplification. 

This will give you a more informed decision about which boxes to cut - no rush to get the current deal as attractive as it is ( the 272 will limit your streaming upgradability and you already have a more capable pre-amp than the 272 or SN2 - keeping to the source first philosophy).

In the meantime, I would have some fun with home demos of speakers (active and passive) with your current set up , to give a reliable sense of their presentation and perfrmance in your listening room. Logistics can be a nuisance , but good dealers and manufactures will make it happen IME.

Jude 

I've been retired nearly 10 years now - went at 57 ! One thing I've found is that I have time to listen to more music but I tend to listen to a wider variety than before and am more willing to try new things. This thread has made me reflect on this and I think that when I was working I had limited time with my hifi so I focussed on music I knew I liked and at the highest possible quality. That meant I had a 7 box top end olive set up with LP12/ittock/Troika. I now still have the LP12 but the 7 boxes have been replaced by a Nova and I have never enjoyed my hifi more. The LP12 satisfies my inner hifi geek but the ease and quality of streaming gives me the most pleasure. 

Try to hear the Nova - it may be all the hifi you need (along with the LP12!) - it works for me and I can't imagine going back to multiple boxes. 

If you were to sell the LP12 privately and if you have the box and all accessories for the Aro, I'd suggest you consider removing it from the LP12 and selling it separately. You should check out eBay for a price guide, but I think you'll find that Aros attract a better price when sold separately than when sold on the turntable. They are still one of the best tone arms around IMHO.