Upgrade to Home Theatre

RogerP, The AV2 and The N-VI have an output for the sub, like you say most subs are active, i have never figured out why you need another power amp for the dts on the AV2

Roger,

99% of subs are active and it would take its signal from the appropriate output on the AV2. Your existing set-up would provide the front L and R channels, the 175 would power the centre and surround channels. The nVi is another option - a neater one in my view with all the processing and amplification built-in. But there are alternatives. The AV2 is superb but is extremely expensive for what it offers IMO. Unless you are desperate to have Naim amplification for the remaining channels, the cost of an AV2 will buy you a stunningly good AV receiver from the likes of Pioneer etc. which will integrate easily with your existing set-up. You then just need a sub and centre/surround speakers. Sorry to say so here, but having owned both DVD5 and AV2 in the past I really think that they are now way over-priced for what they offer, despite being superb products in themselves. The truth is that similar performance levels can be had these days for far less cash.

Regards,

Peter

I could be wrong but I think the 'DTS' comment is refering to the additional rear speakers (a 7.1 configuration rather than 5.1) ... The NAP150 would power the additional 2 speakers - not the sub.

Hi Roger

I've recently set up a home theatre system based around the 122x and the 150x. Great choice!

I had a PS3 so use that with a Onkyo AV amp. Some of these amps are very good and have three primary advantages over the AV2.

1. they can handle the new audio and video formats
2. they can allow video switching and maybe some upscaling etc, you mileage will vary.
3. set-up. Quite a few have very sophisticated automated set-up features like Audessy.

The choice is huge as well and the price very competitive. I kick the front two channels out to my 122x which has unity gain on the av input.

If you have something like the nsub you can attach it to the av amp and the subwoofer outputs on the 122x. You'll benefit from individual av and music set-ups.

Before you think I am down on the av2, I'm not at all. It is excellent sounding and works very well as a music and av pre-amp. You could consider replacing your 122x with an av2 but you would lose a little bit on music replay. The av2 can also be used in a high definition set up via the analogue inputs.

Hope that helps.

Jay

quote:

Originally posted by gazla:
I could be wrong but I think the 'DTS' comment is refering to the additional rear speakers (a 7.1 configuration rather than 5.1) ... The NAP150 would power the additional 2 speakers - not the sub.

That's right gazla. The two optional rear channels that some (bugger all) DTS discs came with.

Jay

quote:

Originally posted by Jay:
Hi Roger

I've recently set up a home theatre system based around the 122x and the 150x. Great choice!

I had a PS3 so use that with a Onkyo AV amp. Some of these amps are very good and have three primary advantages over the AV2.

1. they can handle the new audio and video formats
2. they can allow video switching and maybe some upscaling etc, you mileage will vary.
3. set-up. Quite a few have very sophisticated automated set-up features like Audessy.

The choice is huge as well and the price very competitive. I kick the front two channels out to my 122x which has unity gain on the av input.

If you have something like the nsub you can attach it to the av amp and the subwoofer outputs on the 122x. You'll benefit from individual av and music set-ups.

Before you think I am down on the av2, I'm not at all. It is excellent sounding and works very well as a music and av pre-amp. You could consider replacing your 122x with an av2 but you would lose a little bit on music replay. The av2 can also be used in a high definition set up via the analogue inputs.

Hope that helps.

Jay

Spot on reply Jay. I have an AV2 which as you say, when the chips are down, has superlative sound quality and rather better than anything comparable that's currently obtainable from Japan.

However, this must be balanced against its old-fashioned design - lack of video processing, processing of the latest HD sound formats, lack of HDMI etc.

If I was just venturing into Home Cinema then the integrated amp/processors from the likes of Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon etc. would make far more sense.

(Please Naim, let's have an AV3...)

Although 6.1/7.1 channel audio encoded disks have been rarer than rocking-horse poo in the past, I note that many of the latest BluRay disks are becoming available in these formats and although I'd hesitate to upgrade to a 7.1 system from a 5.1 system again, nevertheless they do sound rather splendid!

Now where's the BluRay Lord of the Rings trilogy in 7.1?

Not sure if I'll get this post deleted or not, but, has anyone had a look at the Audiolab 8000AP that's out ?

Does LPCM processing on HDMI and you could then feed this to a stack of Naim amps ?

Roy.

quote:

(Please Naim, let's have an AV3...)

Yep.

I am contemplating a move to HD/Blu-Ray with a decent Pioneer plasma as the viewing medium.

In the absence of anything from Naim, I am having to look at a Pioneer LX08 or LX81 Blu=ray player and a Pioneer LX81 AV receiver.

This leaves me with a sense of deja-vu....

I bought my Audiofile Base rack about 6 months before Naim launched their Fraim

I bought my Wilson System V speakers (2nd hand) about 6 months before Naim launched their NBL

I bought my Lingo about 6 months before Naim launched their Armageddon

I bought my Pioneer DVD player about 6 months before Naim launched their DVD5

Oh well, here goes...........

Cheers

Don

Roy,

I've seen a less than complimentary review of the component you mention. I'm not sure if running Naim power amps off it would be a good idea - my understanding is that the Naim preamps are vital to getting the correct performance from the power amps.

Peter

Jay & tonym - Very well said. Pretty much sums up the position I find myself in, as I've said in a few posts of late...

I'm fairly new round here so have refrained from complaining too much, but the whole situation does dismay me somewhat....I really want the AV2 and if money was growing on trees in by garden then I would just get it regardless...But, sense is holding me back right now....Yes, there are a couple of options out there I could use instead of, but they are workarounds and besides, I want to have an all Naim set-up, for both sonic and aesthetic reasons...I think what rubs salt into the wound also, is that there is just no word on future plans or intentions, I imagine it would make big difference to peoples thinking and plans if they at least knew something.....I mean, even Apple and Leica (two companies which dominate my professional life), with all their arrogance, let snippets out the bag to keep the devoted holding on - The M8 might have been years late, under-spec and over priced, but at least all the pros knew it was coming and were even consulted on it...!!!

I guess, for me, it's saving me £2.5k just now....Of course, there's 2nd hand, but...

Problem for Naim, is it's also holding me back on all the associated purchases I aimed to make...

I feel a bit silly, wanting to spend money (which is expensive for me), and not being able to - well, not feeling good about it anyway...

I use an Arcam proc/power combination with my 282/250 driving the fronts. The solution works reasonably well but I am considering something like a Harmony remote so I can programme it to automatically switch over the 282 to AV input every time I make an input choice on the Arcam. I really should look into whether I can do this with the CR80 actually...hmmm...

My goodness! What great posts! Thank you for your replies -- all are very helpful.

Like you guys, I am more than a little daunted by the price of the options that are open to me if I go for a Naim home cinema set up. And, obviously, I don't want to sacrifice audio quality in the process!

What concerns me is the balance of sound quality. The NAPV175 seems perfectly matched to the NAP150x in terms of power (presumably same components inside). And I'd rather upgrade than downgrade.

Jay: I'm intrigued by your set up and I might well do the same as you. But one thing I don't understand: You're taking the Onkyo's sub output into the sub AND the 122x's sub-woofer into it as well? (Sorry if I'm being dumb here.)

I am really chuffed (and a little surprised) to know that I won't get a serious imbalance of sound quality if I drive the centre and two rears from (say) a Pioneer or Onkyo, whilst taking the two fronts and the sub via the 122x and 150x route. It's not that I am critical of any other product it's just that Naim amps do have their own characteristic sound and I wasn't sure what would happen to the sound stage if I started mixing things up. Seems to go against the purity of sound thing.

But the gist of what people are saying is that a no-Naim option is the logical way to go for an AV amp at the moment (for the non super-rich) even if we are all big Naim fans.

Does anyone know of an inexpensive AV pre-amp? With a NAPV175 (but it is expensive) and an active sub, that would be all I would need. (I'll probably still go down Jay's route though.)

Thanks again!

Marantz AV8003 pre/processor is what I'll go for if nothing happens soon on the Naim front....There's also a new Rotel processor, but I haven't heard much about it.

quote:

I am really chuffed (and a little surprised) to know that I won't get a serious imbalance of sound quality if I drive the centre and two rears from (say) a Pioneer or Onkyo, whilst taking the two fronts and the sub via the 122x and 150x route. It's not that I am critical of any other product it's just that Naim amps do have their own characteristic sound and I wasn't sure what would happen to the sound stage if I started mixing things up. Seems to go against the purity of sound thing.

I wouldn't worry - go with that solution and then add Naim power amps (and finally an AV3 if anything comes out from Naim) as finances allow. My old system used a mararantz processor feeding a 72/140 for the front channels and a couple of 90.3 amps fed from the marantz pre outs for the centre and rears.

James

As I learned from bitter experience, with Home Cinema the matching of the speakers is more important than matching amps/processors, especially with the Centre speaker.

Until Naim produce the AV3 (I'm the eternal optimist) I'm content to go along with using the 7.1 channel analogue outs from my BluRay player into my AV2 - the results are very good indeed.

quote:

Originally posted by james n:
I wouldn't worry - go with that solution and then add Naim power amps (and finally an AV3 if anything comes out from Naim) as finances allow. My old system used a mararantz processor feeding a 72/140 for the front channels and a couple of 90.3 amps fed from the marantz pre outs for the centre and rears.
James

No issues with slight phase differences with signals being processed by different AV circuitry?

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
As I learned from bitter experience, with Home Cinema the matching of the speakers is more important than matching amps/processors, especially with the Centre speaker.

I intend to carry on with my Focal 714s and just extend the family, so at least every speaker will be from the same stable. However, whilst the Focals are a reasonable match with the 150x, I don't know how well they'll cope with anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by RogerP:
Jay: I'm intrigued by your set up and I might well do the same as you. But one thing I don't understand: You're taking the Onkyo's sub output into the sub AND the 122x's sub-woofer into it as well? (Sorry if I'm being dumb here.)

Hi Roger

The nsub can handle multiple inputs which you can select via the front panel or remote control.

I have the stereo subwoofer output hooked up to the stereo in on the nsub and the mono sub from the Onkyo to the mono in. I then switich between the two for cd (which goes through the 122x) and tv, cable, dvd, etc....(through the Onkyo). Gives me the best of both worlds and the nsub is obviously very highly recommended

quote:

I am really chuffed (and a little surprised) to know that I won't get a serious imbalance of sound quality if I drive the centre and two rears from (say) a Pioneer or Onkyo, whilst taking the two fronts and the sub via the 122x and 150x route. It's not that I am critical of any other product it's just that Naim amps do have their own characteristic sound and I wasn't sure what would happen to the sound stage if I started mixing things up. Seems to go against the purity of sound thing.

I thought the same to be honest but what's happened is that some of the better av amps have very good automated set-ups (with mic's) which can account for some of the likely imbalances. A later day day graphic equaliser! So not an ideal solution but very workable if can't match amplification and speakers 100%. Agree with Tony, speaker voicing more impt to match than amplification.

Jay

Seems Arcam will have their BD player at the Bristol show, plus a new AV pre and matching power amp not far behind...

I have a similar issue, I have NAC52 with NAP135.

I currently use a Yamaha E1000 which has done me proud, but now is the time to think seriously about sonics for multi channel. My source player is a Arcam 135. Not sure what to do about pre amp, I currently have a Arcam DV135 player (CD SACD DVDA), any suggestions?
Should I go for a NAPV 175 amp. Does any one know if there is a large sound difference? I thought I could buy another three NAP135's but that gets expensive.

Many thanks
Denis