1st post and some advise please

Keep the ES11, they are much better than later Epos offerings, make sure to use matching stands

SBL are nice but very different - good value, they need tight placement up against wall.

I ran a 282 from a flatcap 2x for a couple of years even hanging a superline off AUX2 in that time. I prefered a single Snaic from the flatcap to using both outputs for the 282 but in either case the sound was fast but a bit lacking in body compared to using a single hicap which also seemed to give a more relaxed impression without losing the timing, probably by letting notes decay more naturally. When I moved to a supercap there was more grip with better bass resolution and control like I’d have expected to have to upgrade the power amp to achieve. I’ve since put the hicap back on the 282 and still find it a very satisfying combination (but it’s no longer my main system). Whether the 82 reacts in the same way to the 282 I can only assume.

For backs to the wall speakers apart from old Naim designs Larsen look interesting but I’ve not heard them. 

Speakers:

The only way to asses squeakers is to listen with your own ears.  Their presentation differs more than any other component.

Make a tour around all the HiFi shops in your area and listen to as many pairs as you can, then draw up a short-list of maybe 3 pairs; try your best to convince the dealers to let you have them on a home demo (or for s/h speakers, on a sale or return basis).  This way you can accurately asses how the speakers will integrate (acoustically and aesthetically) into your room.

So one hicap running the 82 would be better than 2 flatcaps then, don't know f you can get the flatcaps serviced,  but I guess that you can and if so getting then updated might be worh it maybe?  Or just get a nice serviced hicap and be done with it.

So running 2 hicaps is not worth it over the 2 flatcaps, or could I  get the flatcaps fitted with better transformers ECT and make then into like hicaps  but in the different boxes 

So a suppercap is not worth the cost then over say over one hicap on the 82 ? As if I was to have to buy 2 hicaps then I might as well just pay a bit more and get a suppercap 

As for the sbl speakers are they still worth buying these days then as they are getting on a bit now 

Before aquiring a 282 I had a Supercap powering a pots 8 82 and it made a very big difference indeed.

Ditto keep the ES11s. I have some ES14s (my first ‘proper’ speakers) which I love with 90/92 but are on their last legs. Michael Creek replaced a broken tweeter for me - already a good few years back - and said the parts wouldn’t be available for further repairs. So I think you’ll get more value from wearing ‘em out. 

My ‘posh’ speakers are now Spendor D7 which to my ears are a good match for naim, including higher up the hierarchy. I won’t recommend a model because that depends on your budget and tastes but the cheaper A series is highly recommended too. Happy demo’ing.  

Use my tannoy r3 these days as they sound much better, much more alive and much better mid and bass and the epos can only slightly better the r3 top end when pushed, but the r3 sound ok but feel they are holding my new system back now but then I might be wrong as they did get good reports back in the day, but things must have moved on in the speaker world and wish for a more detailed sound 

I once dreamed about SBL speakers, but that was a long time ago and just had a loom for some second hand but only found a very tired looking set for sale and think trying to find a nice set running 100% might be hard to find, but interesting that they are still up there

Having owned a Pots 8 82 I would say that one Hicap is better than two Flatcaps. Two Hicaps makes diddly squat difference over one, and is a waste of time. A Supercap (rather than a suppercap) is a lot better than a Hicap. But....... with a bare ND5xs the amp would really be too good for the source, which would need improving. One alternative you may like to consider is to sell the ND5, the 82 and the flatcaps and get a used 272. Add a Rega phono stage and your 250 and you have all you need. As to the speakers, if you want to match with a 250 and locate them near a wall, SBLs are hard to beat, and given you can get a really nice pair with Mk2 bass units for £800 or so, you have the potential to get a really good system for a sensible price. Have a look at the Tom Tom Audio website for some. 

Thanks all 

So as I like my Olive system I want to stick with it, yes I know I have one black but that can not be helped. I will look at finding a hicap to go with my 82 and put my old flat ap back with the 3.5 cup and then go looking for speakers. If some nice SBL come up for sale soon then great

I used a Olive system 82/Suprcap/250 for over twenty years never with a Flatcap but changing from a Hi cap to a Supercap was a very worthwhile upgrade in my system I was using ES14 speakers at the time.

Speaker are a very personal choice I had SBLs out on demo on a couple of occasions couldn't get on with them ended up with Heybrook Sextet's which I much preferred.

Just take your time with speaker choices.

DuncPC posted:

Thanks all 

So as I like my Olive system I want to stick with it, yes I know I have one black but that can not be helped. I will look at finding a hicap to go with my 82 and put my old flat ap back with the 3.5 cup and then go looking for speakers. If some nice SBL come up for sale soon then great

Your amp/speaker upgrade path is in danger of leaving your source behind. I would think about either changing the ND5 for an NDX, or adding an offboard DAC or PSU to it. 

ChrisSU posted:

DuncPC posted:

Thanks all 

So as I like my Olive system I want to stick with it, yes I know I have one black but that can not be helped. I will look at finding a hicap to go with my 82 and put my old flat ap back with the 3.5 cup and then go looking for speakers. If some nice SBL come up for sale soon then great

Your amp/speaker upgrade path is in danger of leaving your source behind. I would think about either changing the ND5 for an NDX, or adding an offboard DAC or PSU to it. 

I run olives, 82 Hicap 2*135s into B&W804S (the 2007 ones without the diamond tweeter), fronted by an NDX, it’s a fine combination to my ears in my room. (He says playing vinyl.)

Not going to change my streamer any time soon as it's just so easy to use and it sounds better than the the 3.5 with flatcap and my main soure is the rega P6 these days when I get time

May get a better cd in time but for now 3.5/flatcap will do. Looks like the hicap will be next and then speakers.

Also need to get the 250 serviced as it' been a while now it did have the transformer changed for a different one years back but it could do with being looked at, or is there any ther updates that can be done to improve it these more these days.

Speakers then I will have to take a look at the heybrook 

If its a Nap 250 olive green or chrome bumper, no updates to my knowledge.

It will then be decades old and definately benefit from a service.

Heybrook did some fine speakers back then, I remeber indeed the HB1, the Quartet but different to your Epos, not better imo.

Todays offerings I would list and go to hear the following if possible, there are plenty others, use a dealer thats willing to home dem:

Guru

Neat Motive or Iota Alpha

Rega RX

Kudos X/S range

Graham

Russell K

250 is Olive and yes could do with a service, did think that someone did different boards for them or did, carnt remember there name but think it began with an A

Neat speakers are on my list as have a mate with a nice naim system that has a pair and loves them and must say it did sound nice last time I got the pleasure to hear it

For service, send it to Class A in Sheffield. It will be serviced to Naim specification; no alternative boards or other fiddling. 

Yes that is the place that did the 82

Well a bit of an update as a few things have changed in the system.

Still have the 82 but it' now on a supercap and sounding very nice and clear and so much improved I can hardly beliee the difference 

Streamer is also now on an xps and highline and once again the difference it has made using tidal is massive 

CD is back on the old flatcap for now but might latter on in the year update it but will see if I miss it first as I feel it is just going to be a dust catcher now, but as said we will see

But the other main change is speakers as yesterday I finally took the gamble on an old pair of mk11 SBL, they needed a bit of work as the cabinets needing touching up a little but being black that was easy and now look like new, also had to 're older the all the speaker terminals back on to the boards as they all where lose. But got them up and running 2 hours ago and once again the system has took a massive leap forward in sound and apart from some new grilles coming that will be it for now as it' time to enjoy some music