Dynaudio Focus 160 vs. Proac Tablette 10
Posted by: john kent on 03 October 2018
Hello.
Fairly new to Naim...and to say the least, i'm so stoked that i've discovered this wonderful brand!
I've used Dynaudio speakers for so long...and I'm in love with the brand, but they need more power than my newly acquired 5i-2 can deliver.
Don't get me wrong - they sound wonderful with the Naim, but they just need more power as they are 86db/1 watt and 4 ohm - they need heavy amp watts...and I love this little nait so much that I'm afraid to trade up to something more powerful. It just sounds so great.
Enter Proac - I wanted something that this wonderful little Nait would pair well with. After some research, I settled on the proac tablette 10s. I've only had them for one day, and I'm so thrilled. The first thing I noticed was the voices...they are so real - they have so much texture. The second thing I noticed is the imaging - it's kind of close to wearing headphones or earbuds because you can hear everything, and the speaker truly disappear. The thing that's better than headphones though, is that you can place the instruments and voices in front of you on the stage.
I'm fully hooked on the British sound! The dyns are getting a krell and i'll report on that setup if anyone is interested!
Cheers!
Glad you are loving the Tablette 10s. I'm running recently purchased Tablette 10 Signatures off all mighty 14 watts (or is it 13?) of the NAIT 1... and they sound glorious. Granted, it's in a near field listening setup, but the 1983 NAIT is vastly more involving in this setup than the circa 2003 Arcam A32 (2x100w!) integrated I first used to power them. Nothing specifically wrong with the Arcam, but the NAITs musicality just puts the bigger more modern amp to shame.
I also am a big Dynaudio fan but have found them to be a lot more sensitive than the figures say. I have run my Contour 3.4 with a 300, 250, 200 and a 180 and have found them to perform perfectly with each amp. I would love to hear how the 160 sound with a powerful Krell though which model?
XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
spurrier sucks posted:XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
The same thought here; and the XS2 is a lovely amp... I was in the shop to buy the 5 series amp, but when I (and my wife) listened to the XS2 there was no way back... ????
spurrier sucks posted:XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
Problem is I'm never ok with just fine. I always want max power so I would have to go for the SN2 if I take the plunge.
Bob the Builder posted:I also am a big Dynaudio fan but have found them to be a lot more sensitive than the figures say. I have run my Contour 3.4 with a 300, 250, 200 and a 180 and have found them to perform perfectly with each amp. I would love to hear how the 160 sound with a powerful Krell though which model?
It's a small integrated kav 300i...300 x2 into 4 ohms and also 2 ohm stable.
john kent posted:spurrier sucks posted:XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
Problem is I'm never ok with just fine. I always want max power so I would have to go for the SN2 if I take the plunge.
XS 2 is more than fine for 160 or 260. A Qute is fine for 160 at normal listening volume. If you’re cranking the volume I’m sure the 5i is a bit weak at higher volumes. XS 2 will play at higher volumes.
John if your tablette's are new just give it a few weeks they open up even more.
Great speaker I'm on my second pair after upgrading to the signatures.
spurrier sucks posted:john kent posted:spurrier sucks posted:XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
Problem is I'm never ok with just fine. I always want max power so I would have to go for the SN2 if I take the plunge.
XS 2 is more than fine for 160 or 260. A Qute is fine for 160 at normal listening volume. If you’re cranking the volume I’m sure the 5i is a bit weak at higher volumes. XS 2 will play at higher volumes.
It's PHENOMENAL with the 160s at low to mid volume...prat or whatever you may call it is really pretty amazing.
But when I want to listen to loud rock or hip hop or electronic, everything kind of just falls apart, bass gets weak.
john kent posted:spurrier sucks posted:john kent posted:spurrier sucks posted:XS 2 will power the 160 just fine.
Problem is I'm never ok with just fine. I always want max power so I would have to go for the SN2 if I take the plunge.
XS 2 is more than fine for 160 or 260. A Qute is fine for 160 at normal listening volume. If you’re cranking the volume I’m sure the 5i is a bit weak at higher volumes. XS 2 will play at higher volumes.
It's PHENOMENAL with the 160s at low to mid volume...prat or whatever you may call it is really pretty amazing.
But when I want to listen to loud rock or hip hop or electronic, everything kind of just falls apart, bass gets weak.
I can believe that. That’s what I was told with 160’s when used with a Qute and 5i. That said the XS was said to be great with them and 260. I’m hoping to replace my Mites with 160 on my Qute. In that room I don’t need high volume levels.
ryder. posted:I have tried the Krell KAV-300i in my system for several days many years ago(9 or 10 years ago) and about a year or 2 later tried the Nait XS. The Krell integrated excels with macrodynamics and raw power but sounds unrefined. The bass of the Krell is a solid hard thumping bass. The Naim sounds more refined and sophisticated and is more to microdynamics. It doesn't have the raw power and signature bass power of the Krell. Both have their own merits, and apart from personal preference the loudspeaker that is matched to the amps is another factor that will contribute to the end result.
Totally agree.
Got the Krell KAV 300i today and i'm listening right now on my Focus 160s...as i've decided the naim/proac combo will be together forever...total dynamic duo...in my cave where I listen to my favorites.
First impressions of the Krell/Dyn combo - The sound is huge - just more of everything from top to bottom. The sound isn't warm. It is precise and some would say cold, only to be warmed by the perfect midrange and bass delivery. Everything is crisp and clean.
Excellent soundstage with this combo and it seems like it's fast...like the notes and beats and transitions happen quickly - the naim seems to slow things down and make you hear every single note, beat, keystroke of the piano...and I love that as well.
When I play it loud on some (probably shittily recorded) rock recordings I want less treble...but the bass is just awesome so that kind of makes up for the upper register uneasiness and exaggeration.
This amp really excels with piano, male and female vocals, guitar, sax...and luckily i've found - 80's synth pop! (level 42 something about you sounds so good loud on this setup and the whole family loves when I blast it on this setup lol)
With all this said - I cannot WAIT to spend some time with my naim/proac setup this weekend...
It's fun having two totally different sounding systems for different styles of music and listening.
Cheers all hope this amateur review is informative
Kent
Sometimes I prefer amateur to professional reviews as they are more truthful and honest coming from owners themselves. I largely agree with your impressions on the Krell KAV-300i. Cold, certainly not warm. A powerful cold sound. Everything is laid bare with the details all right in front of you unlike the Naim which actually sounds a little warm and laidback in comparison to the Krell, not as forward. The detail at the top end is smoother with the Naim.
With the right speakers the Krell can sound great with its powerful bass and upfront delivery. Dynaudio speakers are a little to the warmer side so it may have matched well with the Krell. However I don't think the Proac will match well with the Krell but you can try. The Proac's detailed sound may be too much for the equally detailed and raw delivery of the Krell but there is no harm for you to try. Personally i think the more refined sound of the Naim will be a better match for the Proac.
Enjoy..