As I continue to build "the big olive system",I have a very important decision to be made. What next.
I have just sold my recently serviced nap 180 and have got myself into a bit of a pickle (I will not have an amp by this Monday)
At the moment my replacement options are ..1999 nap 250 serviced by Naim Uk 2008 price is around £1000. My other option is a pair of 1987 135's serviced 2013 by naims serviced agent here New Zealand, the price of the 135's is around £1500. The 135's left the Naim factory as chrome bumpers but have been retrofitted into olive boxes at some stage. This is kinda concerning but I'm sure it was done by the right person that I have no doubt about.
my system: cds2 olive XPS, Olive SuperCap, nac82 1997 credos. The xps, SC have been recently serviced.
The Xps is a 2003 Naim olive build request and the SC dates back to 1995. Cds2 was a cds1 upgrade (for some) back in the day. Im guessing the 135 have holden fisher transformers but from what I read they my be a little slow and I know I'm a glass type of guy. If I was to buy the 135's it would be unsighted. The nap 250 I know well and is a good performing amp.
if I get the 250 I'll have some room to be able for some semi decent isolation but the 135's will have to sit stacked. Naim fraim and powerlines will been done when funds allow. I have had a play with Naim powerlines, I was total amazed how well they perform, absolutely astonishing
once agian looking for some sound advice.
best wishes cheers.
Posted on: 04 February 2016 by davidf
Hi SF, I have top of line olive system- cds2, nat 01, 52,super, 135s, with Focal 1038 speakers. I have owned 250, 82, 102, etc. I also have powerlines all around, Hiline for cds.
I would go for the 135s- better amp than 250 and they have been recently serviced and they have olive look which will match other boxes. Hard to beat them at that price.
Eventually would change 82 to newly serviced 52
david
Posted on: 04 February 2016 by Richard Dane
No need to be concerned about the 135s. Cosmetic updates from CB to Olive were a popular option offered by Naim. A local pair of freshly serviced (by the official Naim distributor) 135s at £1.5k sounds like a rather good deal. They're all superb, whether early or late. I'd be on the phone now...
Posted on: 04 February 2016 by naim_nymph
One possible advantage of getting a 250 is if you ever decide to go active; it's easier and less expensive to go active with 2 x 250.
If you buy a pair of 135s, it's nice but going active later you will either need to buy another pair of 135s for the blissful 4 pack [plus the need for two additional shelves] or sell them to buy 2 x 250.
If you are sure the system will remain passive then a pair of 135s is top of the olive tree, and if going active at a later stage then a 4 pack or 6 pack of 135s really is "the big olive system" : )
Debs
Posted on: 13 February 2016 by Sounsfaber
Well, it started about two years ago. The sale of a uk made audiolab 8000a/8000p (100 rms) and replaced with Naim 92/90. For 30 watts rms the little Naim held its own against the audiolab.
So from then to now cds2,xps,82,SC,180. Now the 135's which have been on for about 16 hours. (40038/40039 was last of the chrome bumper era but has been changed out to Olive at some stage, oh holden fisher Transformers too).
What a monster of a combination amp package. The 2013 rebuild/serviced by Chris has been a game changer for me. It's help the bottom end on my very cheap to buy 97 credos WoW. I'm told the amps will improve over the next week as they have been sitting for a while, but to date...detail is up, dynamics are off the planet. It makes me just want to cry with emotions, all my "burnt out"neurons are just fizzing.
The 135 are not close to my buddy's 500 or my other mates 300 for detail, but it's just such a nice feeling sound so moving not so hifi like the later gear IMO. Just goes to show you that they have been getting it right for a very long time.
.