SNAXOS 2-4-2 set up
Posted by: Rich Jerskey on 20 September 2003
Yeah, before you start scolding, I know that somewhere buried in this labirithine forum lies some clues as to my following query but nevertheless I'll be bold and ask anyway.
I'm going active after years of sitting on the passive sidelines wondering about the grass being so much greener on the other side.
What I have is 2 250's of different vintages (late olive and older-recapped). SBL's, 82, CDS2 (thanks Bob Neill), XPS, a new SNAXO 242 with dedicated Hi-cap and a pair of Hi Caps for the amplification.
Any SUGGESTIONS on tweaking the inner potentiometers of the SNAXO to maximize the audio setup given the two different vintaged 250's? Thanks for any and all feedback except those that say I should have gotten a 500 instead.
[This message was edited by Rich Jerskey on SUNDAY 21 September 2003 at 06:21.]
[This message was edited by Rich Jerskey on SUNDAY 21 September 2003 at 06:22.]
I'm going active after years of sitting on the passive sidelines wondering about the grass being so much greener on the other side.
What I have is 2 250's of different vintages (late olive and older-recapped). SBL's, 82, CDS2 (thanks Bob Neill), XPS, a new SNAXO 242 with dedicated Hi-cap and a pair of Hi Caps for the amplification.
Any SUGGESTIONS on tweaking the inner potentiometers of the SNAXO to maximize the audio setup given the two different vintaged 250's? Thanks for any and all feedback except those that say I should have gotten a 500 instead.
[This message was edited by Rich Jerskey on SUNDAY 21 September 2003 at 06:21.]
[This message was edited by Rich Jerskey on SUNDAY 21 September 2003 at 06:22.]
Posted on: 20 September 2003 by Manu
Don't touch the pots yourself unless you know exactly what you do.
I'm not sure your olive and recapped 250 are best for the new Snaxo layout.
The new Snaxo layout is designed for the new 250 and up.
New layout: 1 amp for both channel low freq, 1 amp for highs (horizontal setup).
Old layout: 1 amp for left channel, 1 amp for right channel, (vertical setup).
IMHO, you should ask Naim what they recommand.
What I would do is: send the 250s and Snaxo to Naim, ask them to match the amps and rewire the Snaxo for vertical setup.
Or you use what you have, as is, in this case use the late olive 250 on the hights and the old one on the bass.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
I'm not sure your olive and recapped 250 are best for the new Snaxo layout.
The new Snaxo layout is designed for the new 250 and up.
New layout: 1 amp for both channel low freq, 1 amp for highs (horizontal setup).
Old layout: 1 amp for left channel, 1 amp for right channel, (vertical setup).
IMHO, you should ask Naim what they recommand.
What I would do is: send the 250s and Snaxo to Naim, ask them to match the amps and rewire the Snaxo for vertical setup.
Or you use what you have, as is, in this case use the late olive 250 on the hights and the old one on the bass.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 20 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
Yeah, Naim said the new SNAXOS would work with the gear mentioned and in the way the new SNAXOS is set up for: one amp for highs and one for bass. Your suggestion regarding which amp for which freq. makes sense. I won't mess with the inners of the SNAXOS then. Thanks.
Posted on: 20 September 2003 by Manu
Mark, we agree, a vertical setup needs the 2 amps to be perfectly matched and it can be done.
IMO, with the power available on the olive 250 PSU, it is better distributed in a vertical setup. This power limitation is no longer a problem with the new ones.
I agree, the new Snaxo layout gives more flexibility, you can use different amps for each band.
The only problem is you need a better amp for the highs and a more powerfull amp for the bass. In the Naim line the better one are also the more powerfull ones, so...you end with the same amps.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
IMO, with the power available on the olive 250 PSU, it is better distributed in a vertical setup. This power limitation is no longer a problem with the new ones.
I agree, the new Snaxo layout gives more flexibility, you can use different amps for each band.
The only problem is you need a better amp for the highs and a more powerfull amp for the bass. In the Naim line the better one are also the more powerfull ones, so...you end with the same amps.
Emmanuel
All opinions are my own, and reflect those of the organisation i work for, even if not stipulated.
Posted on: 20 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
Both of the 250's are good. The olive being newer should probably tackle the detail and resolution of higher frequencies. The older one should have no problem doing justice to the bass. In this scenario, horizontal configuration is the way to go. I agree with both Mark and Manu in this respect.
Posted on: 22 September 2003 by sean
Rich,
Before you start twiddling take a step back, a deap breath and do nothing. Seriously, let the whole system bed in for a good long while. If I had friends round and reverted to active set up as opposed to passive it was always a big dissapointment to them. A warm passive system will sound better than a cold active one. Be warned.
At this time it is always tempting to start fiddeling to tune up the sound, just leave it to warm up good and proper. I have in the past got into a terrible mess tweaking my old six pack (naxo) and regretted ever touching it. However, benefits are to be made to tune the response of the speakers to your room. This is to be done with almost infanatismal adjustments at a time, no heavy handedness. My dealer told me "Only adjust the xover when you are in the mood to do it and not when you are frustrated with the sound, and once adjusted leave it to bed in at the new position and until you get used to the sound again". Advice I have followed.
When I got a snaxo I never had to adjust it once, that may be the case with the new snaxo.
Sean.
Before you start twiddling take a step back, a deap breath and do nothing. Seriously, let the whole system bed in for a good long while. If I had friends round and reverted to active set up as opposed to passive it was always a big dissapointment to them. A warm passive system will sound better than a cold active one. Be warned.
At this time it is always tempting to start fiddeling to tune up the sound, just leave it to warm up good and proper. I have in the past got into a terrible mess tweaking my old six pack (naxo) and regretted ever touching it. However, benefits are to be made to tune the response of the speakers to your room. This is to be done with almost infanatismal adjustments at a time, no heavy handedness. My dealer told me "Only adjust the xover when you are in the mood to do it and not when you are frustrated with the sound, and once adjusted leave it to bed in at the new position and until you get used to the sound again". Advice I have followed.
When I got a snaxo I never had to adjust it once, that may be the case with the new snaxo.
Sean.
Posted on: 22 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
Sean,
Sounds like good advice. I'm not messing with the Snaxos but setting up the active system this weekend per suggestions earlier in this thread. Should be really interesting to hear the difference.
Only problem: at the same time I've replaced my CDX with a CDS2 so the difference in sound will actually be two fold. While I'm thinking (typing) out loud... I should hook up the CDS2 and play it awhile before introducing the other components I've just acquired to make the system active. This way I'll have at least some frame of reference to compare... 1.) Passive: CDX vs CDS2 and then 2.) Active vs Passive with the CDS2. I only hope I'm patient enough to linger long enough in the new passive mode before jumping to the active one just waiting in the wings so to speak.
Probably won't be......
Sounds like good advice. I'm not messing with the Snaxos but setting up the active system this weekend per suggestions earlier in this thread. Should be really interesting to hear the difference.
Only problem: at the same time I've replaced my CDX with a CDS2 so the difference in sound will actually be two fold. While I'm thinking (typing) out loud... I should hook up the CDS2 and play it awhile before introducing the other components I've just acquired to make the system active. This way I'll have at least some frame of reference to compare... 1.) Passive: CDX vs CDS2 and then 2.) Active vs Passive with the CDS2. I only hope I'm patient enough to linger long enough in the new passive mode before jumping to the active one just waiting in the wings so to speak.
Probably won't be......
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by Phil Sparks
When I went active with my kans my approach when tweaking the naxo was to REDUCE rather than increase the treble or bass pots. (need more treble - reduce the bass). I seem to recall JV recommending this approach on the old forum.
the other useful thing was to try and use lots of different source material. When I got to the point of thinking LP could do with a touch more treble but Radio 4 a bit less I stopped fiddling.
HTH
Phil
the other useful thing was to try and use lots of different source material. When I got to the point of thinking LP could do with a touch more treble but Radio 4 a bit less I stopped fiddling.
HTH
Phil
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by Martin Payne
quote:
Originally posted by Rich Jerskey:
Only problem: at the same time I've replaced my CDX with a CDS2 so the difference in sound will actually be two fold. While I'm thinking (typing) out loud... I should hook up the CDS2 and play it awhile before introducing the other components I've just acquired to make the system active.
Rich,
I'd definately recommend you do this, if you can wait.
If the CDS2 is s/h, I'd leave it running for a good week, before trying to go active too. If it's new I'd leave it for longer...
cheers, Martin
E-mail:- MartinPayne at Dial.Pipex.com
Posted on: 23 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
Martin,
Thanks. I needed a little encouragement to do just that. It does make the most sense. Just need to hook up my patience in the process.
RJ
Thanks. I needed a little encouragement to do just that. It does make the most sense. Just need to hook up my patience in the process.
RJ
Posted on: 24 September 2003 by ken c
rich: also dont play with the pots if you are going to re-arrange furniture in your listening room.
enjoy
ken
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 24 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
The CDS2 is up and running and in the process of "warming up" even though it is S/H. Makes a HUGE difference over the CDX. Next week I'll connect the SNAXOS242, the new hi-cap and the second 250 and be ACTIVE. So far so very good!
Posted on: 25 September 2003 by Rich Jerskey
Good ideae, Mark. No problem plugging these in without other components "loaded" to them?
I know in low level stereos like HK etc. it was always warned against turning on the power amp if the speakers and source were not also hooked up. I gather Naim circuitry is totally different and thus no such interdependance is warranted. Thanks for your comments.
RJ
I know in low level stereos like HK etc. it was always warned against turning on the power amp if the speakers and source were not also hooked up. I gather Naim circuitry is totally different and thus no such interdependance is warranted. Thanks for your comments.
RJ