Naim Nait 5si & Nait XS-2

Shane

Shane I know you'd like us all to offer opinions but I can't begin to tell you what a waste of time that is for you and for us. Your last sentence is the key. Listen to both. Do not do an AB back and forth demo. Listen to them both separately at some length in your system if possible. Which one, overall,  makes you want to listen to music more? That's the one you want. If you end up liking both, buy the least expensive and spend the rest on music.

A discussion of damping factor will not help you at all. Naim make quality equipment. Let them worry about damping factor. Pick the unit that moves you.

Cheers

If you're still using JPW ML-110is does it matter?

Q1. Quite possibly, you'd need to compare them.

Q2. Being Naim amps, I suspect the damping factors of both are low compared with many other commercially available hi-fi amplifiers. I find that consequently naim amps suit speakers which are highly damped. This is an opinion. Others disagree. You might be one of them. Which sort of takes us to your last point. Enjoy the dems.

Chris

Just for fun, try an uptempo energetic song like uptown funk with naim 5si. A swarm of energy will take you! For smoothness the supernait will have the edge but the 5si is special.

Pyrrhon posted:

Just for fun, try an uptempo energetic song like uptown funk with naim 5si. A swarm of energy will take you! For smoothness the supernait will have the edge but the 5si is special.

True but listen to some classical violin, muted trumpet or mediocre quality rock recordings and you might lose your enthusiasm.

The XS 2 gives up a bit of the 5si's snap in exchange for a more supple delivery (and heftier price)

Just remember to demo ALL kinds of music for a sufficient period of time before deciding.

the XS (1 or 2) level amps are - no doubt - superior to 5i or 5si range.

but that does not automatically mean there won't be any chaps which will favor the smaller amp! after all we buy our hi-fi to listen and enjoy music, and not for measurements.

as there were folks which preferred the XS to SN or 202/200, or SN to superior pre+power... there is no guarantee by looking at specs which one will suit you taste... so i concur to my previous fellows' posts in strongly suggesting an audition.

i, for once, preferred the 5i instead of an XS one time, when speakers and positioning in the room did more damage to musicality with added strength of the XS...

catalinmetal posted:

the XS (1 or 2) level amps are - no doubt - superior to 5i or 5si range.

but that does not automatically mean there won't be any chaps which will favor the smaller amp! after all we buy our hi-fi to listen and enjoy music, and not for measurements.

as there were folks which preferred the XS to SN or 202/200, or SN to superior pre+power... there is no guarantee by looking at specs which one will suit you taste... so i concur to my previous fellows' posts in strongly suggesting an audition.

i, for once, preferred the 5i instead of an XS one time, when speakers and positioning in the room did more damage to musicality with added strength of the XS...

Another argument for tone controls or room correction.

I think tone controls should...oh no here we go again

Iconoclast - you ought to really live up to your name...

Both a graphic equaliser and a multi-filter parametric equaliser as a minimum, and preferably independently configurable for the right and left channels!    

I recently auditioned the Supernait 2 for that past week and was very impressed. Smooth and lots of bass.  This week I'm auditioning the Exposure 2010S2.  Ok so far, but my mind keeps wandering back to thinking about that Supernait 2.  So yes, it does help to audition if you can.

WTCRP posted:

I recently auditioned the Supernait 2 for that past week and was very impressed. Smooth and lots of bass.  This week I'm auditioning the Exposure 2010S2.  Ok so far, but my mind keeps wandering back to thinking about that Supernait 2.  So yes, it does help to audition if you can.

I consider the 2010s much more of a competitor to the 5si than an SN2.  The 2010s and 5si have similar design philosophies and are somewhat similar in strengths and weaknesses.  The SN2 is in a different league.

What source and speakers do you have (are they the Grahams in your 'likes')?

The SN2 will drive much more difficult speakers than either of the others and will present far more detail.  However if you have older, simpler and less revealing speakers (as is the case for the OP), then even on home audition you won't be hearing all the benefit that the SN2 will bring when you upgrade your speakers to something matching the SN2's quality level.

Huge posted:

 

I consider the 2010s much more of a competitor to the 5si than an SN2.  The 2010s and 5si have similar design philosophies and are somewhat similar in strengths and weaknesses.  The SN2 is in a different league.

What source and speakers do you have (are they the Grahams in your 'likes')?

The SN2 will drive much more difficult speakers than either of the others and will present far more detail.  However if you have older, simpler and less revealing speakers (as is the case for the OP), then even on home audition you won't be hearing all the benefit that the SN2 will bring when you upgrade your speakers to something matching the SN2's quality level.

Thanks for your input.  I'm very new to modern Naim gear so the OP is really gonna have to audition for sure!  I'm using a Resonessence Labs Mirus borrowed from a friend until I decide digital or vinyl.

 My speakers are Devore Fidelity Nines.  Last week, I brought home the SN2 and the Graham for a week long audition - yes I took some time to do a photoshoot as you saw.  My Nines were a bit louder than the Graham's however I felt the Graham's had a slightly more open sound compared to my Nines but doesn't quite have the bottom octave reach of the Devore's.  In the end, I could easily lived with the SN2 + Graham combo but my preference is still the floor stander.  

I also borrowed pair of ProAc D2 for the SN2 towards the end of the week for a quick comparison too and that sounded horrible to me with the SN2.  The port from this speaker sounded "pff" to me.  I'm not sure what you mean by upgrading speakers to the SN2 quality level, as I thought the modern D2 should suffice which it did not to my liking.  

I've never auditioned any other modern Naim gear other than the SN2 but was quite impressed with its abilities compared to my former Nait 2 - of course thats a different story.  So yes my first impression of the modern SN2 has left quite a big mark in my life that kinda overshadows my nostalgic memory of my former Nait 2.

Even with this weeks audition of the Exposure amp on my Devore's, my mind is still pondering about the SN2.  At this point, I could easily live with the SN2 but I'm just trying to be open minded about other available brands before committing.

So to the OP:  just audition!!