£10k to spend - on what ?

Hi,

You have an awesome power amp in the 300 so that is a keeper.

I am not very keen on your speakers, too warm and wooley for my taste, as is the Primare CDP albeit not important as you don't use it much anyway. So I would try some fast speakers to make the most of your PA such as the likes of ATC or PMC.

Also why not take the opportunity to improve the front end by getting a proper Naim streamer rather than your current Mac mini/DAC solution. Buying pre loved should get you to the NDX/XPS2 level and will bring far greater improvements than mucking about with racks or cables.

Ray

272/XPS-DR.

Or ndx/282/scap

Not sure about budget, but thats what you need to get the best out of your 300.

I would keep the mac mini and exchange the Dac V1 for a Chord Hugo Mk1 (£700) and add a 282 (£2,500) powered by either a HicapDR (£1,000) or a Supercap (£2,000) these prices are of course used prices but go to a reputable used dealer and you will be fine.  This will then leave you either £4,800 or £3,800 to spend on speakers depending on the psu you buy to power the 282 and on the used market those kinds of sums will buy you a whole lot of speaker.  If you trade in your DAC V1 and your spendors then that will cover the cost of the fraim upgrade.

Mac Mini + Nas >> Chord Hugo >> 282/SC >> 300 

Will99 posted:

My first thoughts are of trading in the Fraimlite for full fat Fraim  

As Bob alluded to above, no need to trade in your Fraim lite - it can be upgraded to full Fraim level. In fact, I'd probably do that first. Next demo some box upgrades, one by one. See where this leaves your speakers. I've never had Spendors home, but any I've heard at dealers were very good to my ears, notably with vocals and mids. Your A9s might end up being keepers. Point being you should keep a component constant as a familiar point of reference, and to me the speakers make the most sense for this purpose. Change multiple components at once and you'll have trouble evaluating the relative contribution of any individual. Good luck!

252/supercap dr./ndx

I’d advise two steps. 1) as mentioned, think about a streamer for the front end and 2) hang fire for a bit and see what used NDS prices look like when the new 555 starts shipping. You may be able to bag one instead of NDX/XPS2

Assuming the 300 is a keeper....you could by a sh pre loved 252dr and sell speakers and change them for something more dynamic like pmc 26's........... 

or if you're delighted by the speakers - and 300 combo try and find a sh 552.... if you are thinking of Dave ........ I suggest you audition carefully... I heard it at the Bristol show directly driving the 300 ........ and it did not gel.... but that could have been setup and an amp not full run in and warmed up....

(I went the 552 route and never regretted it)

Good luck keep us posted....

joerand posted:

Will99 posted:

My first thoughts are of trading in the Fraimlite for full fat Fraim  

As Bob alluded to above, no need to trade in your Fraim lite - it can be upgraded to full Fraim level. In fact, I'd probably do that first. Next demo some box upgrades, one by one. See where this leaves your speakers. I've never had Spendors home, but any I've heard at dealers were very good to my ears, notably with vocals and mids. Your A9s might end up being keepers. Point being you should keep a component constant as a familiar point of reference, and to me the speakers make the most sense for this purpose. Change multiple components at once and you'll have trouble evaluating the relative contribution of any individual. Good luck!

Agree that upgrading the Fraim Lite is really good value for money. A few weeks ago I just had HiFi Racks, but bought glass and cups for eight shelves (including TT and CDX2) at £100/shelf. Absolutely amazed at what it has done.

282/SCDR with 300DR is an amazing combination on good racks. The 555DR PS is by far the best PS for a Naim digital source. However, don’t underestimate your existing setup when its on good racks with good spacing of the 300 from everything else.

Phil

Bob the Builder posted:

I would keep the mac mini and exchange the Dac V1 for a Chord Hugo Mk1 (£700) and add a 282 (£2,500) powered by either a HicapDR (£1,000) or a Supercap (£2,000) these prices are of course used prices but go to a reputable used dealer and you will be fine.  This will then leave you either £4,800 or £3,800 to spend on speakers depending on the psu you buy to power the 282 and on the used market those kinds of sums will buy you a whole lot of speaker.  If you trade in your DAC V1 and your spendors then that will cover the cost of the fraim upgrade.

Mac Mini + Nas >> Chord Hugo >> 282/SC >> 300 

Plus 1

Hi Will, it seems you only have digital source? If that's correct then you have no real need for a dedicated Naim preamp, and therein lies the rub - Naim recommend only their own preamps for thier power amps, otherwise all bets are off. This means connecting a third party DAC, such as your suggestion of a chord Dave, with built in preamp would not be a good idea with 300.

You have two options in this scenario, stick with Naim 300 power amp and get something like 272 or ndx2 and forget Dave, or trade in your 300 power amp and V1 and try chord Dave direct to a n other power amp or active speakers such as ATC SCM40A, SCM50ASL, SCM100ASL (power amps built in).

Well there’s always an old 82 with a hicap and chord qutest dac

thats what I would do 

sell the v1 keep the Fraim and get some really nicer speakers 

IMHO you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The DAC-V1 may not be loved on this forum but it has great synergy with the NAP300. Not sure why you have the DR version though as it's not required with the DAC-V1. It also a very flexible unit.

If it was me I'd be looking at the front end. Have you considered Sonore microRendu, or something similar, for streaming from your MM or NAS?

Then look at the speakers.....

Dave

Hallo I was faced with the same issue ........ I wanted the Dave ... but could not drive the 500 .... with it. In the end bit the bullet... and went for a 552 .... then sold my 272 ant put money toward a pre loved NDS....absolutely no regrets.

Knowing what I know now I’d buy the Dave and a used 172 as a preamp

thats how I heard Dave first time and it sounded superb !

im not keen to spend any more money on amplifiers all my money goes on sources now

i i could do it again I’d buy a 82/250 olive combo with a blu2/Dave source

with vertere interconnects between Dave and the preamp (similar to Superlumina but cheaper at their DFI or Pulse B)

in fact a Vertere din interconnect between Dacv1 and Nap 300 may be all the improvement needed without spending tons of cash

dave4jazz posted:

IMHO you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The DAC-V1 may not be loved on this forum but it has great synergy with the NAP300. Not sure why you have the DR version though as it's not required with the DAC-V1. It also a very flexible unit.

If it was me I'd be looking at the front end. Have you considered Sonore microRendu, or something similar, for streaming from your MM or NAS?

Then look at the speakers.....

Dave

I’m not sure what’s meant by the DR version not being ‘required’ with the V1. Whether DR or not is irrelevant. 

Will99 posted:

I'm actually very happy with my system, but now due to a change of life circumstance - separation and remortgage to be precise - I can release approx £10k to spend. 

Ok it's unbalanced but as you're very happy with the system I'd be careful messing around too much and eating up that 10k too quickly. I'd get a dedicated mains supply installed if you don't have one already and then look at fronting the DAC-V1 with something better than the Mac Mini (Melco, Innuos etc).

Alternatively there is of course the 272 route which a lot of people seem happy with.

I'd go and consult a good dealer, listen to a few options and see which one floats your boat.

Returning to the OP’s post, two things strike me. The first is that you are happy with your existing system. The second is that remortgaging has freed up £10,000. It is, perhaps, not entirely sensible to use a secured loan to finance a depreciating asset. If it were me I’d reduce the mortgage by the £10,000 and stick with the system you profess to be happy with. I’ve heard very good reports of the V1/300 combination. You run the risk of asking for ideas and getting a load of suggestions based on people’s own bias and experience, many of which are mutually exclusive and ultimately get you nowhere. It’s easy to spend other people’s money. Reduce the mortgage.

Hungryhalibut posted:

dave4jazz posted:

IMHO you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The DAC-V1 may not be loved on this forum but it has great synergy with the NAP300. Not sure why you have the DR version though as it's not required with the DAC-V1. It also a very flexible unit.

If it was me I'd be looking at the front end. Have you considered Sonore microRendu, or something similar, for streaming from your MM or NAS?

Then look at the speakers.....

Dave

I’m not sure what’s meant by the DR version not being ‘required’ with the V1. Whether DR or not is irrelevant. 

Maybe he was thinking of the 200, where the DR spec only applies to the preamp PSU, which is not used by the V1?

Actually Mr Halibut ..... has a very good point - makes total sense ...... I hate mortgages ......... its all a life balance........ 

That’s right. The 300 cannot power a preamp. 

For sure it’s better to reduce the mortgage.

ChrisSU posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

dave4jazz posted:

IMHO you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bath water. The DAC-V1 may not be loved on this forum but it has great synergy with the NAP300. Not sure why you have the DR version though as it's not required with the DAC-V1. It also a very flexible unit.

If it was me I'd be looking at the front end. Have you considered Sonore microRendu, or something similar, for streaming from your MM or NAS?

Then look at the speakers.....

Dave

I’m not sure what’s meant by the DR version not being ‘required’ with the V1. Whether DR or not is irrelevant. 

Maybe he was thinking of the 200, where the DR spec only applies to the preamp PSU, which is not used by the V1?

Exactly. However, I now understand the DR power supply used in the NAP 300DR uses linear regulated power supplies throughout. My apologies.

Dave

Reducing the mortgage makes perfect sense but so does treating yourself following the events that led to remortgaging in the first place. If the traditional mid life crisis reaction of a large motorcycle isn’t appealing to you and blowing 10k on hifi does, get yourself to a dealer and start auditioning. You’ve had plenty of contradictory suggestions, now it’s time to hear some of the options.

Depends on age if younger releasing some capital against property through mortgage can make sense.  Whether investing that capital in consumer electronics, even Naim where the depreciation is less, is another matter. 

But that’s not the advice the OP is seeking.  Replace the DAC V1.  2 options:

272/555 PSU

NDX/282/HCDR.  

Good luck.  

Lindsay

as other have suggested - front end 272/555 or NDX/282/HCDR which I also have into my 300DR and love the musicality of the system