Going active

Option 3. As you'll need a SNAXO & HC (at least) and another couple of speaker cables, I suggest you leave your amps alone. Note that olive NAXO & SNAXO 2-4 are wired differently to the black SNAXO 242, so go for the latter and put the "better amp" on the trebles.

Option 3 but then you know my thoughts on Actice ????

The general idea is to get views from people who haven’t already told me what they think I will be reading your messages again shortly 

i think I am minded to go for 3 (long term always the best approach) but want to gauge general opinion, if there is such a thing

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

The general idea is to get views from people who haven’t already told me what they think I will be reading your messages again shortly 

i think I am minded to go for 3 (long term always the best approach) but want to gauge general opinion, if there is such a thing

????????????  I am sure you will. 

I think wonky active may be less than ideal if the amps have different characters, and it seems to be a general view that 300 and 250 sound quite different. So the result would be doubtful unless the difference is confined only to something positive in the frequency range an amp is covering (e.g better bass control or extension on the one to be used for bass).

But it is fine to have different power capability of amps on the different sections, less power being needed at higher frequencies than at the bass end - against which, for clarity on the crucial midrange area it is often suggested that the best amp go on the driver covering that. 

Having been up and down the active ladder in the past I would say that Naim's hierachy of amp design is very difficult to beat and for me I think goes something like this...passive 135's will beat active 250's, a passive (stock) 500 will beat active 135's (it did in my system and to my ears). I think active DR'd 300's might give a (stock) passive 500 system a close run but then a DR'd 500 will pretty much devastate everything. Then of course you have the passive Statement that will easily overshadow active 500DR's.

My reccomendation would be to avoid an active wonky system and either go 300DR or, better still, find a nice used 500? I'm sure that cost wise this would also be the cheaper option?

On the topic of wonky amplification. I decided that my activate my 102-SC, 250, SBL system. For sure I had a long term plan, but in the interim I pressed into service any old amps I could find. A NAXO & HC duly arrived over Xmas a couple of years ago, so the first iteration was 102-SC, NAXO-HC, 250 on the trebles and a Meridian 103D on the mid-bass. 

I found that I preferred the the wonky amp active SBLs over passive, and as a “proof of concept” it was deemed a success. Enjoyed it for about seven months, until I managed to grab a SNAXO + Burndy for a very good price.......the Meridian amp was then enjoyed for another half year before the second 250 arrived.

In conclusion, even a wonky amp setup was a good stepping stone towards the current 82-HCx2, SNAXO-SC, 250x2, SBLs. (All Olive, of course).

I initially went wonky active with IBLs, an IXO, a 250, a 180 and some bespoke signal cables. Definite improvement over passive with a single 250.

In due course added a second 250, snaxo/hicap, then supercap. Improvement at each step.

Willy.

There is something about active that just grabs me. I understand the thing about 1 x 500 should blow away 2 x 300 but actually I don't believe it. There is an immediacy, a drive, an in your face factor about actives, (well good ones), that is sooooo addictive. PRaT to the max. My goal is a great 2 way active system. Trying for a passive with a NAP 300 doing the boogie but if my boat came in heck  2 x 300s into some killer medium sized two way speaker would be Nirvana. And to hell with the box count. 

Willy posted:

I initially went wonky active with IBLs, an IXO, a 250, a 180 and some bespoke signal cables. Definite improvement over passive with a single 250.

In due course added a second 250, snaxo/hicap, then supercap. Improvement at each step.

Willy.

Heard some IBLs with 4 x 135s about 20 years ago. What's the favourite Naim forum expletive?  Blimey! And I am not even English. Had active SBLs driven by CB250s on a brief sojourn in my lounge room a few years prior, and even though audio memory is very unreliable, the IBL system ate it for lunch.

Geko posted:

Having been up and down the active ladder in the past I would say that Naim's hierachy of amp design is very difficult to beat and for me I think goes something like this...passive 135's will beat active 250's, a passive (stock) 500 will beat active 135's (it did in my system and to my ears). I think active DR'd 300's might give a (stock) passive 500 system a close run but then a DR'd 500 will pretty much devastate everything. Then of course you have the passive Statement that will easily overshadow active 500DR's.

My reccomendation would be to avoid an active wonky system and either go 300DR or, better still, find a nice used 500? I'm sure that cost wise this would also be the cheaper option?

I have discussed that option with someone - he helpfully pointed out that one of the issues I am probably facing is that the passive crossover on my SBLs is now probably restricting me more than it was a few years ago.  Naim don’t supply new paxo’s for SBLs anymore. Better to get SL2s than put money into my SBLs I think - or go active (and get SL2s!). Possibly ... as nothing’s certain

I would challenge the view that passive statment poweramps will eclipse an active 500dr setup, yet depending on speakers. 

Er, statement definitely out of the question, even if it would save a few Fraim shelves

My thoughts:

Sell the 250DR and SBLs.

Invest in DR:ing the NAP300 and 555PS.

Get yourself a NAC552/552PSDR.

Only after the above consider active with another 300DR.

Good luck

Hans

HansW posted:

My thoughts:

Sell the 250DR and SBLs.

Invest in DR:ing the NAP300 and 555PS.

Get yourself a NAC552/552PSDR.

Only after the above consider active with another 300DR.

Good luck

Hans

 

Won’t things be a bit quiet if the OP sells the SBLs?

But I will have a lovely shiny 552 to look at

Some questions how old is your 300 ? Does it need servicing ? Ditto 52.  nothing wrong with a 552 but an enormour outlay. You have already a 250dr or just contrmpkating ..? Cheers f

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

But I will have a lovely shiny 552 to look at

You can’t sell my SBLs!! 

Hungryhalibut posted:

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

But I will have a lovely shiny 552 to look at

You can’t sell my SBLs!! 

Well, if you want them back, I’m sure that Living in Lancs.... would swap them for, say, a nice pair of SL2s.....

OTOH if a 552 is incoming then the 52 will need a home.......have you ever heard of the South Coast Retirement Home for Olive Preamps (unreg. Charity no. xxxxxxxxx)? No? I’ll post my, er sorry,  the charity’s address.

Hungryhalibut posted:

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

But I will have a lovely shiny 552 to look at

You can’t sell my SBLs!! 

I’ll swap em for your SL2s! 

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

living in lancs yearning for yorks posted:

But I will have a lovely shiny 552 to look at

You can’t sell my SBLs!! 

I’ll swap em for your SL2s! 

Bingo!

And just could drop off the 52 on your way to collect the SL2s ....... Result!  

Franz K posted:

Some questions how old is your 300 ? Does it need servicing ? Ditto 52.  nothing wrong with a 552 but an enormour outlay. You have already a 250dr or just contrmpkating ..? Cheers f

52 serviced when I got it (or shortly before) around six years ago. I think 300s will be due service in a couple of years. I am picking up 250dr in a couple of days - impulsive purhase brand new as it was stupid cheap (and yes I have checked it is pukka) - may use with my unitiqute and nsats in the loft, will be able to trade towards a used 300 in a year or two without losing much . 552 won’t be happening until I retire I don’t think but a 252 wouldn’t be enough of a jump over the 52 I don’t think to be worth bothering with

Sorry, misread the first post. I thought the SL2s had been purchased already.

Hans

So just go for it then. All you need  is a snaxo a psu and another set of cables. Oh and maybe one or two more fraims. A wallshelf for your lp12 is definitely worthwhile will free a fraim and doesn’t cost an arm or leg. A 52 is up to specks for active as is a 300 and a 250dr. And then you’ll see. Of course options are numerous. Dring, 552, Sl2s Another 300, etc. 

Enjoy the ride

cheers F  

I have a pair of 250drs into SBLs bought recently; absolutely stunning but with a 552 and same front end as you. What cables are you using? Can make a huge difference when upgrading black boxes. Supercap into Snaxo 242 was also a big improvement.