Who Has Stopped?

Tomorrow morning sundaymorning mass, Advent 1. I will play 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' BWV 661, JS Bach.

Making music on a real instrument far exceeds what Naim can give.

Still can't get an organ reproducecd correctly on my Naim and speakers so I can't stop yet. Need extra full range speakers.

Now one more beer and continue on Tchaikovsky 5.

Never really but upgrades will be emphasized more on speakers probably. As someone who is more value oriented, NAIM offers little as you ascend the ladder. Needing an external PS is a joke, wasteful, and so 20th Century. An insult to intelligence really. I refuse to go with separates, so I guess the SuperNait3 or a Reference IA is what I'll be looking for. Or like many other satisfied switchers, I'll look at Teddy.

Stopped a couple of years ago.  Finally decided my setup was delivering all the music my ears could handle, and I still feel the same today. 

Last purchase was an SL DIN5 to replace a HiLine.  

Have also considered 1) SC for SuperLine, 2) DR'ing my 300, 3) SL full loom, and 4) 300 to 500DR trade-in. All these upgrades have their merits I'm sure, but why scratch if there's no itch?

Probably also has something to do with getting closer to retirement, where every expenditure now feels to me like a missed investment opportunity.  Guess I've  become a right old penny pincher!

Lastly, I find that having reached a stopping point also means I post here only rarely. Still check in most days, but feel I have little to offer the HiFi Corner these days.

System is just about there. Main bit left is to join the double garage onto the house, and convert it into a room for the Hi-Fi. Quotes are in, some architects help needed to tie the roofs together, all I need now is the cash!!

Only NAP500 DR upgrade left, while I am also trying to convince myself that I can do without it....

CariocaJeff posted:

System is just about there. Main bit left is to join the double garage onto the house, and convert it into a room for the Hi-Fi. Quotes are in, some architects help needed to tie the roofs together, all I need now is the cash!!

Just noticed on your profile,  your speaker cables are TQ black diamond and TQ Graphite ....can I ask which ones you prefer? 

wenger2015 posted:

CariocaJeff posted:

System is just about there. Main bit left is to join the double garage onto the house, and convert it into a room for the Hi-Fi. Quotes are in, some architects help needed to tie the roofs together, all I need now is the cash!!

Just noticed on your profile,  your speaker cables are TQ black diamond and TQ Graphite ....can I ask which ones you prefer? 

Interconnects are mainly diamond and speaker cables are graphite. Only comparison I have is the interconnects where I feel the diamonds are better with more definition, and a more rounded sound. All relative though - they are both excellent cables. Will audition the diamond speaker cables when system moves to its new room sometime in future, although with the speed TQ release new top of the range cables, there is likely to be another to choose!

CariocaJeff posted:

wenger2015 posted:

CariocaJeff posted:

System is just about there. Main bit left is to join the double garage onto the house, and convert it into a room for the Hi-Fi. Quotes are in, some architects help needed to tie the roofs together, all I need now is the cash!!

Just noticed on your profile,  your speaker cables are TQ black diamond and TQ Graphite ....can I ask which ones you prefer? 

Interconnects are mainly diamond and speaker cables are graphite. Only comparison I have is the interconnects where I feel the diamonds are better with more definition, and a more rounded sound. All relative though - they are both excellent cables. Will audition the diamond speaker cables when system moves to its new room sometime in future, although with the speed TQ release new top of the range cables, there is likely to be another to choose!

I have TQ Graphite interconnects, not sure if I should go for the Graphite speaker cable to match or move to the black diamond,  some reviews suggest the Graphites can sound a little harsh. I borrowed the black diamond interconnects and to me they seemed slightly smoother and warmer...but as you say their may well be another to choose from..

Wenger - yes I agree with your comments, guess that's what I meant by a more rounded sound. 

Don't know if I'm on the top rung or half way up my ladder. I don't feel any compulsion to go further, having already achieved more than I thought was possible. But there was a time when a CDS3/252/300 was the fantasy system, the one we would get if only we could scrape it together (theoretically possible with time and a favourable wind) and justify the outlay (impossible).

So who knows? Past the in line fiddling and peripheral upgrades, my next big upgrade options would cost the same as a house. I'd rather have the investment, rental income and something for my children to inherit. Then again.....

Just about to press the button on a NAP300 DR upgrade when I came across a very tasty looking pre-loved 500.  But have been listening to some early 60s Blue Note this evening that really blew me away.  Who could ask for more?

Aside from maybe a SuperNait3 or a Statement IA, I am most likely done with NAIM and will look elsewhere for one box solutions. The PSU thing is not a gimic I intend to buy into and separates are not my thing either. The value add of climbing the NAIM ladder just isn't there for me.

when I find a new home for my 300DR so I can replace it with a NAP 500 I should be done

I downsized the Naim system three or so years ago and am much happier with it than when I was constantly adding boxes. 

I always think of the Bristol show, and the 'musical' difference between the wall-full of Naim in the Kudos room versus the two-box system (CDX2 and Nait XS) in the Proac room. I'll leave you to guess which sounds nicer.

I'll be banned now.

I agree, when you find the system/combination of 'boxes' that is right for you and most importantly sounds right the appetite for change diminishes if not vanishes... this happened for me when I got to owning a 252DR/250/ATC speakers with a CDX2, NAT05 and Hugo/NDX... it is just right and I am comfortable with it. Prior to this  point though I would be box swapping somewhere every 6 months or so trying to 'perfect' the sound...

I down sized a few years ago from a mix of olive & black boxes of different brands on an ugly metal rack & I'm very pleased with a room that is not dominated by a pile of electronics.     I'll probably wait a while & see what more comes out of the new range, maybe revised separates, integrateds & pre-streamers,   an additional trigger will be when/if we loose FM.    The question I keep asking myself is do I need more than one box to stream local & web & terrestrial radio ??  no  & the Nova seems to do all I really need (need to find one to have a listen)   but its all about SQ & whilst I'm not really constrained by budgets,  I'm happy to go with whatever I feel gives best sonic value for money & something that doesn't involve a pile of boxes.

greekspec2 posted:

when I find a new home for my 300DR so I can replace it with a NAP 500 I should be done

With 272? Wait for a 372 at least

I've reached the zenith with Naim. CD555/NAC552NAP300DR/SL2. 

My main source is now streaming and I'm quite depressed with the amount of equity left in my CD555, when the boat goes out I suppose its time is gone. 

Any upgrades will be with the streaming front end, currently NUC/Chord Hugo TT but currently I'm pretty sure The system will remain static for a few years, but while I can see myself with the same amplification in 10-15 years I'd imagine the streaming front end will change every 5 years or so. 

SJB. 

Seriously – I think that a good point where to stop is at a level where you feel you're just a little above what would be reasonable for your income (hence gratifying for your ego) and just below what is Objectively Too Much. In my case, having heard everything between Nait1 and full 500, I have decided that CDX2 is presently the best source, because I am not completely fond of the CDS3 and the CD555 is OTM; similarly, a 252 is expensive (and would trigger a fantasy about a better source) so I have settled for a 282; and the same for the wonderful 300, which is OTM and has served mainly to persuade me to move from 200 to 250.2. As for an XPS (DR or not), I have had I believe four of them and am not always sure I like the CDP with more than without. Streamers are of no interest to me now.

I have moved to TelluriumQ Black for the same reason: NAC A5 is not enough, Vertere is close to OTM (in spite of my having bought them once, and found them very very good) and SuperLumina is out of the question. A HiLine can be bought for a 'reasonable' sum. So, for me CDX2-HiLine-282-HCDR-250.2-TQBlack is a good point to stop at, because I think that beyond that I won't consciously move. The only open point is speakers, because much as I like the n-Sats I can hear how inadequate they are now – having owned five pairs, I can say say that no pair sounded the same as the previous or next one, and the last two pairs were similar: lean, nasal, flat and slightly shrieking at higher volumes. So, the speaker question is still to be answered; proving that in spite of SourceFirst myth, and as many believe, speakers are the most difficult thing to buy, hence the most important.

Presently, I am moderately inclined towards Harbeth Monitor 30.1s. This is also the outcome of an exclusion method: nothing below that range of cost/quality is really up to my electronics; most speakers are boring/unlistenable. I have, more or less carefully, listened to things in the €3500/5000, trying to overcome my analytical approach in favour of a more 'domestic' one, and the only two things that made me almost want to open the wallet have been said M30 and the Graham Audio LS5/9.

I think that it's rather easy to understand where to stop: it's enough to have tried a lot, spent a lot, come back to the same things over and over and discovered the level below which you don't want, and beyond which you can not. M. 

Massimo Bertola posted:

I think that it's rather easy to understand where to stop: it's enough to have tried a lot, spent a lot, come back to the same things over and over and discovered the level below which you don't want, and beyond which you can not. M. 

Perfect, Massimo. That just about sums it up. 

I feel that I've now reached the point where the system delivers music the way it should sound, and any further changes will be of a minor "tweaking" nature, e.g. my recent experiment with a Cisco ethernet switch.

The only remaining major upgrade I can think of would be to improve the performance of my ageing ears ............ if only! 

272/300DR/555DR/CD2X/TXPS with fraim/cables etc and last but least Sopra 2 i am done till a 372!  Maybe second system with my cremonas?)  or new naim super duper headphone amp, a turntable?

it never enddddsssssss!!!

Emre posted:

272/300DR/555DR/CD2X/TXPS with fraim/cables etc and last but least Sopra 2 i am done till a 372!  Maybe second system with my cremonas?)  or new naim super duper headphone amp, a turntable?

it never enddddsssssss!!!

A turntable will suffice I would see a Rega RP10 / Aphelion performing admirably in your system. 

Massimo Bertola posted:

Presently, I am moderately inclined towards Harbeth Monitor 30.1s. This is also the outcome of an exclusion method: nothing below that range of cost/quality is really up to my electronics; most speakers are boring/unlistenable. I have, more or less carefully, listened to things in the €3500/5000, trying to overcome my analytical approach in favour of a more 'domestic' one, and the only two things that made me almost want to open the wallet have been said M30 and the Graham Audio LS5/9.

Massimo,

Maybe your beloveth nSats should do what they are designed for: be speakers in a surround setup.

Did you ever try Wilson Benesch? Given my taste of music, I get often recommended to try either Harbeth or Wilson Benesch in combination with my Supernait 1.

nearly stopped,  mac pro tower, audiovana ndac/555 ps dr, 552 dr, 300 dr, PMC MB2s  superluminas except for speaker cable (tq Black) fraim.

can't afford a 500, but you never know, will eventually do the speaker cables but don't know what to do about jumpers? but extremely happy with the s/q