Upgrade suggestions for active system

Gary,

I'm always amazed that people here will say its ok to mix amps in an active system as Naim amps all have the same gain and in the next breath say how massively different a 250 / 300 is ??

I tried a 250 mk2 and a 150 active into Allaes and it was not at all good. 2x 250 mk2 were excellent.

I'm running 3 x 250 mk2s into NBL at present and they sound wonderful. On the way I tried a single 250 mk2 passive into the NBLs and didn’t like it at all. (Big hole between LF and MF)

So my vote would be for the 2 x 250 mk2s

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Gary,

I would have to say that changing the source is going to be an expensive sidwards step. You already have a decent source in the fully loaded linn.

An improvement in the pre-amp would be worthwhile. If you have the funds the 552 would show massive gains, however if you havn't there's the 252 which will give decent improvements.

There are merit's in changing the power amp but I wouldn't do this without considering the pre-amp first.

Lastly there's the speakers, a pair of SL2's would do you nicely, if you can justify the price increase. They have the same characteristics as the SBL's but are better in most sences.

You don't say which dealer you are using but Pete @ Cymbiosis is well worth talking to.


Regards


NB

Thanks NB and London Lad for comments so far. My usual dealer is Audio Counsel cheadle even tho I am in leicester. Pete and Cymbiosis are too a great dealer but I somehow end up migrating back "home".

Deck wise I am not too sure at all about the WT. I heard the entry level deck and thought wow this is getting so much more off the disk but at the same time it left me cold for some odd reason. The LP12 boogies esp wiht supercapped prefix.

From all past experience I rekkon the pre-amp may be a very sensible move but it was simply tht the old SNAXO appeared to have strangled so much of what was getting to the speakers, this made me think power amps next for once.

I have recently had new drivers in the SBLs
due to playing jimmy smith tooooo loud (ie full wick) and now the SBLs are the best I have ever heard them. Previously I thought they were a limiting factor but now, no way.

Anyway hopefully I will get some more comments before shortlisting some gear to borrow for a bit :-)

Best wishes

Gary

I too would strongly consider the 552...this would also allow you to sell off the Prefix's SC and apply the funds towards its aquisition. Seems that after you get a fair price for the 52 and 2xSC, the additional expense incurred in the 552 would be far better value for money than any other way in which you chose to dispose of your money.

And do NOT consider mixing amps in an active sytem- I have tried all combinations of a 300, 500 and 135 in my previous tri-amped system. Using 6x135 with the 552 was by far the most satisfying end result. Using the 52 with any/all of the amps, active or passive was several shades of magic less.

Ron
Dum spiro audio
Dum audio vivo

Well this is certainly getting interesting. The 552 appears a quantum leap then? There is no benefit of retaining scap for prefix with one of these I understand? A pair of 500's hey!? Thats several years of concert going plus nothing left for other things like food. oh well I know it makes sense.... (tee hee).