Naim Preamp/Non-Naim Poweranp?
Posted by: joebone on 31 January 2003
I'm curious as to use by others of Naim preamps with power amps other than Naim.
Some background - when moving into current house six years ago, I sold my NAC 82/dbl. hicap/NAP 250 electronics in order to swing some cash loose. Over the last few years, I built the system up again, based primarily around Conrad-Johnson SS electronics and a pair of BEL 1001 amps in monoblock configuration.
About six months ago, I bought a used CDX, which led to revisiting the NAC 82, so now I have the the 82 and one hicap driving the BELs.
I'm real happy with the sound; as I've resumed playing the trombone over the last few years, I'm fascinated by the manner in which I find the Naim sound compelling as I re-familiarize myself with the experience of playing live. And the "just the music" approach of the Naim electronics works well in my room, as compared with soundstage/imaging information that doesn't work so great in my space. And perhaps my long-standing Naim ARO appreciates regained proximity with family!
But given the Naim orthodoxy discouraging mix-and-match, I'd love to hear from others who have ventured into heterodox practice. It would be nice to hear from others that have gone down this road.
I hope to try out a 250 several weeks from now, I have trouble imagining it being as good as what I'm currently getting. My speakers are fairly efficient (Spendor SP1/2 w/REL sub), but my room is large and cursed with some echo issues for which the cures are too unsightly to contemplate. My recollection of the 250 leads me to expect it will sound a bit thin, but I want to try it out before committing to long DIN-RCA interconnects (current kludge is 1-meter Chord to Audiotruth Diamond to poweramps).
So, any other hybrid Naimsters out there?
Some background - when moving into current house six years ago, I sold my NAC 82/dbl. hicap/NAP 250 electronics in order to swing some cash loose. Over the last few years, I built the system up again, based primarily around Conrad-Johnson SS electronics and a pair of BEL 1001 amps in monoblock configuration.
About six months ago, I bought a used CDX, which led to revisiting the NAC 82, so now I have the the 82 and one hicap driving the BELs.
I'm real happy with the sound; as I've resumed playing the trombone over the last few years, I'm fascinated by the manner in which I find the Naim sound compelling as I re-familiarize myself with the experience of playing live. And the "just the music" approach of the Naim electronics works well in my room, as compared with soundstage/imaging information that doesn't work so great in my space. And perhaps my long-standing Naim ARO appreciates regained proximity with family!
But given the Naim orthodoxy discouraging mix-and-match, I'd love to hear from others who have ventured into heterodox practice. It would be nice to hear from others that have gone down this road.
I hope to try out a 250 several weeks from now, I have trouble imagining it being as good as what I'm currently getting. My speakers are fairly efficient (Spendor SP1/2 w/REL sub), but my room is large and cursed with some echo issues for which the cures are too unsightly to contemplate. My recollection of the 250 leads me to expect it will sound a bit thin, but I want to try it out before committing to long DIN-RCA interconnects (current kludge is 1-meter Chord to Audiotruth Diamond to poweramps).
So, any other hybrid Naimsters out there?