Nap 250-2 D R

the bass is definitely much improved and more powerful now. (the ceiling is rattling again)

it was approaching a month since last cycle off. Anyway will do this every month now.

Not sure if this is what Naim (Steve Sells) had in mind though? Slightly annoying to have to do this.

Coming from a full Blown Linn Aktiv System, with LK 280's, the first thing I noticed was the Richness & Thickness of the 250.2's.

When the new DR amp Technologies hit the market, repeatitive adjectives like, lean, clear, detailed, and quiet always seamed to pop up.

Perhaps Naim is evolving for The best!

PRAT + ( lean, clear, detailed, quiet) 

Who can argue with that, even though it may take time, to acclimate from Naim's former Rich & Thick Sound!

JMHO

 The Armchair QB!

interesting comments and for me I will progress with care as I like the current Naim sound and boogie!

��

I don't think there is any need to proceed with care.

250 DR does not sound lean to me at all, has much lower and deeper bass than the previous 250.2 amp, and it is an improvement in every way over the previous generation of amps.

The Naim sound is still there, just better. The boogie factor is still there.

One thing though, the 250DR does not draw attention to itself the way say a NAP200 does, you just hear more music against a completely silent background.

Having said all this, I still like my NAP 200 a lot, and it was the 202/200 that brought me over to Naim in the first place.

hmmm... must admit have not felt the need todo this powercycle, but then perhaps its because i dont have a DR amp, yet.

glad its sorted anyhow...

enjoy

ken

So let me get this right, the DR amps take months to finally come on song, then you get a few weeks where they are great. They then turn crap again, due to needing to be turned back off again on a regular basis after you once again feel you have not enjoyed your music for a few weeks.  

Well all I can say is that I received my 250.2 DR in early September and it has sounded consistent throughout.  It's been powered down once, for a fortnight at Christmas as we went away for 2 weeks.

I've only noticed one off day which was early on, this could have been me rather the amp.

I think it has improved slightly since I received it (mine was ex demo, only used for a show for a weekend) but couldn't be completely sure.

It's all rather wonderful!

Richard

gary yeowell posted:

So let me get this right, the DR amps take months to finally come on song, then you get a few weeks where they are great. They then turn crap again, due to needing to be turned back off again on a regular basis after you once again feel you have not enjoyed your music for a few weeks.  

I think that is overstating it to extremes. As the length of this thread indicates, most DR owners were not experiencing the same problem. And as for power cycling, this isn't specific to the DRs. My 250.2 never sounds crap but a power cycle once every couple months does it wonders. 

feeling_zen posted:

gary yeowell posted:

So let me get this right, the DR amps take months to finally come on song, then you get a few weeks where they are great. They then turn crap again, due to needing to be turned back off again on a regular basis after you once again feel you have not enjoyed your music for a few weeks.  

I think that is overstating it to extremes. As the length of this thread indicates, most DR owners were not experiencing the same problem. And as for power cycling, this isn't specific to the DRs. My 250.2 never sounds crap but a power cycle once every couple months does it wonders. 

You don't say. 

Listening to some of the paranoia on here.....

gary yeowell posted:

So let me get this right, the DR amps take months to finally come on song, then you get a few weeks where they are great. They then turn crap again, due to needing to be turned back off again on a regular basis after you once again feel you have not enjoyed your music for a few weeks.  

Good questions Gary...

enjoy

ken

I've often wondered what DR stands for, and now I know. Demands Rebooting. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

I've often wondered what DR stands for, and now I know. Demands Rebooting. 

enjoy

ken

Gentleman, I never heard the 250.DR, nor an 300, or 500, but familiar with the 200, and the 250.2. In my listening enviroment the 250.2 also appears to be richer & thicker than the 200, both retaining that Naim PRAT. Perhaps this why in the in the past, others have likened the voicing of the 200 to the 300.  However, the regulated 250.2 allowed increased volume without distortion along with the thicker sound.

Ok, where am I going with this, I did have the oportunity to  listen to 1 HP (700 watts) of raw power although the Statement, fronted with 2 x 555PS/NDS was not within my listening enviroment, it posecessed that lean, clear and detailed sound.

Listening to this 350K rig, I was not overily impressed with the Bass, until the owner selected a particular cut to display what the Statement could do, and WOW, quick hard hitting lean bass.

Perhaps what we are experiencing is the trickle down Statement Technologies!

If I'm not mistaken, I think the 250DR picked up an additional 13 watts, now rated @ 93 watts in 8 ohms!

JMHO

The Armchair QB!

Allante93 posted:

Gentleman,

... and ladies 

enjoy

ken

Allante - clearly the DR amps do have trickle down Statement technology - the new 007 transistors are the same as those used in the Statement. 

The bass of the 250DR is much tighter and faster than that of the 250.2, which always sounded too warm and woolly to me. I much preferred the sound of the 300, and to me, the 250DR sounds far more like a 300 than a 250.2. 

Funny thing, Naim list The 250 @ 80 watts,  but Andrew Everard's Review on the 250 list the following:  BTW Nice article! Same adjectives!

Power Output: Statement

746W into 8 ohms, 1450W into 4 ohms, 9kW burst power into 1 ohm

Power output: 250 DR

Power output (<1% THD, 8/4ohm) 92W / 160W Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm) 93W / 163W / 265W / 345W

Both approaching that 2:1 Ratio

Hungryhalibut posted:

Allante - clearly the DR amps do have trickle down Statement technology - the new 007 transistors are the same as those used in the Statement. 

The bass of the 250DR is much tighter and faster than that of the 250.2, which always sounded too warm and woolly to me. I much preferred the sound of the 300, and to me, the 250DR sounds far more like a 300 than a 250.2. 

 

Sorry to correct you nige but it's 009 ,not the 007 trannies in the new updates..

Posted by The Armchair QB:

"Perhaps Naim is evolving for The best!

PRAT + ( lean, clear, detailed, quiet) 

Who can argue with that, even though it may take time, to acclimate from Naim's former Rich & Thick Sound!"

Now don't forget, Naim has been evolving all along, CB, Olivé, Black Boxes, and now Black Boxes with the new DR Technologies! 

If you take a second, and think about it, Naim has no choice, a Reputable Company must change, competition is Thick & Rich out there, the task is to produce  affordable high quality components.

We shall see, it appears that Naim is becoming more Mainstream, lets hope they retain The PRAT, that has produced this cult like following.

More Music, Less Hi Fi

Or

More Hi Fi, Less Music

Time will tell.......!

Enjoy your Music!

The Armchair QB!

Allante93 posted:

Posted by The Armchair QB:

 ( lean, clear, detailed, quiet) 

 

Since when did this equal better music? Sounds like adjectives used for the plethora of digital cameras on the market today. Film is so much more pleasant to look at. 

gary yeowell posted:

Allante93 posted:

Posted by The Armchair QB:

 ( lean, clear, detailed, quiet) 

 

Since when did this equal better music? Sounds like adjectives used for the plethora of digital cameras on the market today. Film is so much more pleasant to look at. 

I hear you Gary, I can easily justify better with a 350K rig ,  Bit 50K and Less!

Statement 9K watts @ 1 ohm

250DR 345 watts @ 1 ohm

Time will tell......

The Armchair QB!

There is some juicy bits to chew on here that's been put forward ! Has the Flat Earth become more Flat ? Has the Round Earth become more Round ? Since the long gone days of the original 250. Music and Hifi is very different now..

far from some nebulous amalgam of sorts, difference' can still make a difference.   Are you lot complaining that it's not different enough ?

I don't understand these reservations over the DR amps.

They are better than the older generation and boogie very well.

I still love my NAP 200, but really want to upgrade that also to a 200 DR !

TOBYJUG posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Allante - clearly the DR amps do have trickle down Statement technology - the new 007 transistors are the same as those used in the Statement. 

The bass of the 250DR is much tighter and faster than that of the 250.2, which always sounded too warm and woolly to me. I much preferred the sound of the 300, and to me, the 250DR sounds far more like a 300 than a 250.2. 

 

Sorry to correct you nige but it's 009 ,not the 007 trannies in the new updates..

Sorry, yes, that's what I meant to type! The 007 is in the pre-DR amps. I wonder what happened to 008?

Hungryhalibut posted:

TOBYJUG posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Allante - clearly the DR amps do have trickle down Statement technology - the new 007 transistors are the same as those used in the Statement. 

The bass of the 250DR is much tighter and faster than that of the 250.2, which always sounded too warm and woolly to me. I much preferred the sound of the 300, and to me, the 250DR sounds far more like a 300 than a 250.2. 

 

Sorry to correct you nige but it's 009 ,not the 007 trannies in the new updates..

Sorry, yes, that's what I meant to type! The 007 is in the pre-DR amps. I wonder what happened to 008?

008: Agent with whom M threatens to replace Bond in investigating Goldfinger when he thinks that Bond may turn it into a personal vendetta to avenge the murder of Jill Masterson. When it appears that Goldfinger is going to kill him with a strategically placed laser beam, Bond mentions that 008 will then take over. (Goldfinger; doesn't actually appear). 008 appears to be M's favourite back-up agent; M later threatens to recall him from Hong Kong to undertake the assassination of General Pushkin when Bond appears unwilling. 008 doesn't know Pushkin and "follows orders, not instincts".(The Living Daylights; again doesn't appear).

G

gary yeowell posted:

Allante93 posted:

Posted by The Armchair QB:

 ( lean, clear, detailed, quiet) 

 

Since when did this equal better music? Sounds like adjectives used for the plethora of digital cameras on the market today. Film is so much more pleasant to look at. 

Oh dear, there is another subject that could be debated for hours.  Personally I wouldn't go back to film for free