Dipping toes into the NAS (world) with no clue and getting rid of the CD player

Well, beans on toast until the ND5XS2 comes out around Christmas... 

Innocent Bystander posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

Timo posted:

 There is pair of Naim Allae — 

I've spotted a stunning pair on an on-line dealer's site. I can't tell you how many times my cursor has hovered over the 'submit' tile.

I need to get my front end sorted out first, thinking about speakers right now is crazy. I have always hankered after a pair of Allaes though, after an amp up-grade I will look again. 

Have you heard Allaes to know you like their sound? Speakers are the single most significant system component in terms of sound character...

But I thought your budget was already being stretched with Naim streamer plus the NAS you’ve bought?

I did live with a pair of Credo speakers for twenty years active and passive and AFAIK the Allae was derived from the Credo. The Allae does have a more sophisticated cabinet,  better mechanical de-coupling of parts in various ways to the Credo but they share the same drive units, crossovers and inverted layout , therefore their sound signatures are similar though the Allae being more refined.

I can't do both the front end and the speakers at the same time and as it stands; the rest of my system is just simply not up to the Allaes.

It's just that the ones I've seen recently are so nice they very nearly had me.

Part of the glory that is Allaes is that they work with what is essentially 5 series stuff, as well as, I'm told, the statospheric NAC252, NAP300 level.

Christopher_M posted:

Part of the glory that is Allaes is that they work with what is essentially 5 series stuff, as well as, I'm told, the statospheric NAC252, NAP300 level.

Yep, I agree chris. My Credos (which are similar to Allaes) were very easy to drive, easier than my Motive SX2's but they're also extremely revealing in the source component quality as well as the controlling amplifier. I find my Neat motive SX2's are far more forgiving than my Credos although harder to drive with a baby amp such as a NAIT 5si.

Stephen, I run a pair of allae with a naim Atom, and as mentioned before I recommend you trying an atom our especially with roon, as it runs all the metadata for you.

I live n Basingstoke and would gladly give you a demo if you would like.

longmanjon posted:

Stephen, I run a pair of allae with a naim Atom, and as mentioned before I recommend you trying an atom our especially with roon, as it runs all the metadata for you.

I live n Basingstoke and would gladly give you a demo if you would like.

Thanks for your kind offer here longmanjon but I think I know where i'm pretty much heading now. I'm going to get myself a Naim streamer, let that settle in for a while and then look to upgrading my amplifier.

Glad you're enjoying your Atom with Allaes, it sounds like you have a really nice compact and up to date system there. I do very much like Naim speakers, it's a shame they longer make them, look after yours and they will give you years of musical enjoyment!

Hi,

Just a quick one -

Is it possible to connect a NAC 272 to a NAIT5si?

You can see what i'm now considering, right?

I have a NAP90.3 here albeit un-serviced  with which I can get serviced or find a way of connecting a NAIT5si to a NAC272.

What do you reckon folks?

Stephen Tate posted:

Hi,

Just a quick one -

Is it possible to connect a NAC 272 to a NAIT5si?

You can see what i'm now considering, right?

I have a NAP90.3 here albeit un-serviced  with which I can get serviced or find a way of connecting a NAIT5si to a NAC272.

What do you reckon folks?

My understanding is that the Nait doesn’t have an input to its power amp (some integrateds do), so it would have to be the line outputs from the digital section of the 272 into one of the Nait’s preamp inputs, in other words using the Nait’s preamp not the 272’s

Tge question then would be which renderer/DAC is better, 272 or ND—- .

Innocent Bystander posted:

My understanding is that the Nait doesn’t have an input to its power amp (some integrateds do), so it would have to be the line outputs from the digital section of the 272 into one of the Nait’s preamp inputs, in other words using the Nait’s preamp not the 272’s

Tge question then would be which renderer/DAC is better, 272 or ND—- .

I know, crazy idea.

Anyway, i'm now thinking - sell the CD player - sell the NAIT - sell the Hi-Line - sell the Arcam irDAC.

Get hold of a ex-demo NAC 272 and ex-demo NAP 200 - this has got to be a much better system than my previously considered one?

Or a slippery never ending road to a marriage breaking up-grade path, something I do not wish to be lured into even though thinking about I already have. MUST BE CAREFUL.

Hi Stephen,

I've moved from a Unitilite to a 272 with a pre-loved 200 non DR and am very pleased with the uplift in sound quality.

However, I am now getting an itch to try it with a PS the fact that I have a spare shelf in the rack isn't helping either.

If you go down this path at least you can get streaming immediately, not so much toe dipping more like in the deep end.

I'm sure you will be fine.

ATB with your final decision.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I can almost definitely live with three boxes. I'm not that keen on PSU upgrades but I reckon I could probably stomach just the one, once all the dust has settled. I am obviously very well and truly over stretching myself here financially with just the basic system but with a lot of willing and determination I think I can manage it!

I just have to put all the hard work in and also convincing SWMBO.

Many thanks

It's very funny that you should mention "convincing SWMBO" it was going through my mind as I typed my previous post.

TBH most of the people who know me cannot understand why my good lady is still with me. I have bought and sold (at a loss) so much stuff on hobbies over the past 20 years it is quite ridiculous. I certainly wouldn't wish to bore anyone but there is an A to Z.

As they say 'a leopard doesn't change its spots' or something like that. 

I will pick my moment carefully regarding the addition of a PS, after all I have had plenty of practice. LOL.

I guess life is too short for what ifs?

Stephen Tate posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

My understanding is that the Nait doesn’t have an input to its power amp (some integrateds do), so it would have to be the line outputs from the digital section of the 272 into one of the Nait’s preamp inputs, in other words using the Nait’s preamp not the 272’s

Tge question then would be which renderer/DAC is better, 272 or ND—- .

I know, crazy idea.

Anyway, i'm now thinking - sell the CD player - sell the NAIT - sell the Hi-Line - sell the Arcam irDAC.

Get hold of a ex-demo NAC 272 and ex-demo NAP 200 - this has got to be a much better system than my previously considered one?

Or a slippery never ending road to a marriage breaking up-grade path, something I do not wish to be lured into even though thinking about I already have. MUST BE CAREFUL.

Hey Stephen,

some members here can better respond to you, but if you go from original nait5i / nd5xs2 combo you were planning to 272/ 200, the later is better for sound quality:  better amp, better preamp, and a streamer in the level of the nd5x.   I you have a good price for ex demo 272/200, don’t hesitate.   The second positive aspect is that the 272 is not upgradable, only with a ps if you want later.  You will have a very well balanced system, i am sure HH won’t disagree.

You may find a used NDX to be better value than the 272 as with the NDX being replaced there are likely to be more available especially as the 272 remains a current model.

This would allow you to continue to use your existing amp until you find a nice SuperNait 2 perhaps and do this in stages which may better suit your wallet?  Some people on this forum prefer NDX/SuperNait to 272/250dr so it's not necessarily a poorer choice.

trickydickie posted:

You may find a used NDX to be better value than the 272 as with the NDX being replaced there are likely to be more available especially as the 272 remains a current model.

This would allow you to continue to use your existing amp until you find a nice SuperNait 2 perhaps and do this in stages which may better suit your wallet?  Some people on this forum prefer NDX/SuperNait to 272/250dr so it's not necessarily a poorer choice.

Great post here Richard, thanks.

I must admit I am leaning more towards a NDX and continuing to use the NAIT5si as is until I can upgrade to something like a Supernait 2 (my dream amplifier) more so; than the thought of selling off most of my present kit and then 'over stretching' myself to a 272/200.

What you have suggested makes perfect sense to me in my situation as funds are tight. Anyway, selling the NAIT 5si will be a little sad for me I think, I really enjoy it's musical character and I would really like to hand it down to one of my sons in all fairness.

Thanks Richard!

i am now curious to know what you will choose finally, Stephen:  wait for the nd5xs2, sell all and take ex demo 272/200, or take an ex demo ndx ....

the nas seems to stay now. this step is behind.

French Rooster posted:

i am now curious to know what you will choose finally, Stephen:  wait for the nd5xs2, sell all and take ex demo 272/200, or take an ex demo ndx ....

the nas seems to stay now. this step is behind.

Yup. Exactly that FR.

Out of all those I am leaning towards the NDX the most but i'm also very curious as to what the new range is like. Difficult one.

The ball will be in my dealer's court in terms of an audition and with any deal they may offer me on a older model.

The NAS is most definitely staying too. 

There have been comparisons of N272 with ND5XS, with latter scoring better. But as yet of course ND5XS2 is an unknown qualtity. 

I again suggest patience, and audition - and if you can’t do that, then just find a dealer who can demo the current and realistically soon affordable options, then make your decisio. And go for it.

The view from a conversation I had with Naim is the ND5XS2 has a very much advanced sound performance over its predecessor(s), the XS part effectively means the bells and whistles have  been reduced as opposed to SQ this time apparently.. for example the ND5XS2 has no screen display for example...

Been looking around on the web and the ND5 XS 2 appears to have gone up in price before it's even released. Up from £1,999 to £2,299.

This is not fair already.

>Crikey, give us a chance Naim, i'm struggling to get on the ladder as it is < 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

The view from a conversation I had with Naim is the ND5XS2 has a very much advanced sound performance over its predecessor(s), the XS part effectively means the bells and whistles have  been reduced as opposed to SQ this time apparently.. for example the ND5XS2 has no screen display for example...

That's good to hear Simon, thanks.

272/200 or NDX/Supernait are both good systems. My preference would be for the latter. The old streaming platform they both use is good, certainly if you use it for streaming your own music from a NAS. For streaming from web sources, though, I would seriously consider waiting for the new streamers. 

I would also suggest that a wired Ethernet connection is pretty much the only reliable option for the old streamers, whereas the better WiFi performance of the new models makes it a realistic option. 

Stephen Tate posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

My understanding is that the Nait doesn’t have an input to its power amp (some integrateds do), so it would have to be the line outputs from the digital section of the 272 into one of the Nait’s preamp inputs, in other words using the Nait’s preamp not the 272’s

Tge question then would be which renderer/DAC is better, 272 or ND—- .

I know, crazy idea.

Anyway, i'm now thinking - sell the CD player - sell the NAIT - sell the Hi-Line - sell the Arcam irDAC.

Get hold of a ex-demo NAC 272 and ex-demo NAP 200 - this has got to be a much better system than my previously considered one?

FOr a slippery never ending road to a marriage breaking up-grade path, something I do not wish to be lured into even though thinking about I already have. MUST BE CAREFUL.

Stephen, if you are stretching your budget here, why not go for pre-loved instead of ex-demo. If you can find these pre-loved from a dealer or a trusted source you can save a slug of cash and pre-loved is as good as ex-dem or new when it comes to SQ. Half of my Naim rig is pre-loved which I could not have afforded new or ex-dem.

nigelb posted:

Stephen Tate posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

My understanding is that the Nait doesn’t have an input to its power amp (some integrateds do), so it would have to be the line outputs from the digital section of the 272 into one of the Nait’s preamp inputs, in other words using the Nait’s preamp not the 272’s

Tge question then would be which renderer/DAC is better, 272 or ND—- .

I know, crazy idea.

Anyway, i'm now thinking - sell the CD player - sell the NAIT - sell the Hi-Line - sell the Arcam irDAC.

Get hold of a ex-demo NAC 272 and ex-demo NAP 200 - this has got to be a much better system than my previously considered one?

FOr a slippery never ending road to a marriage breaking up-grade path, something I do not wish to be lured into even though thinking about I already have. MUST BE CAREFUL.

Stephen, if you are stretching your budget here, why not go for pre-loved instead of ex-demo. If you can find these pre-loved from a dealer or a trusted source you can save a slug of cash and pre-loved is as good as ex-dem or new when it comes to SQ. Half of my Naim rig is pre-loved which I could not have afforded new or ex-dem.

Indeed, especially with a 200, as the benefits of a 200DR over the older non-DR model are really in its ability to power a Naim separate preamp, The 272 does not use this power supply. 

ChrisSU posted:

Indeed, especially with a 200, as the benefits of a 200DR over the older non-DR model are really in its ability to power a Naim separate preamp, The 272 does not use this power supply. 

Just to mess with Stephen's brain a bit, I was all set to go for the 272/200 recently. The dealer also had a 2nd hand 250 at a good price, but that nudged me to check out the current 250DR so we added that to the audition. It was genuinely a big difference, ending on the DR. The word on the street when I delved in to it was that the 200 is ok, but the step up to the next level with a 250DR is a big leap. IME it is.

Go on Stephen, fill your boots. 272 / 250DR. If you go for the 200 you'll just spend the next few years wishing you'd aimed higher anyway, so you may as well save yourself the cost of buying a 200 then buying the one you really want.