My SN2 review

Drewy posted:

If people don't like what's written why not just ignore it?

if it's ignored or not replied to the thread will just slide down the page and disappear. 

It's only an Internet forum discussing black boxes and how to spend money after all. 

Which would be sensible, but would forums be boring if we always did that?

I only dropped by to see if anyone was having connection problems with the wretched Naim iPad app. My Linn Majik DS works fine on my network.

I have an NDX + SN2 + PMC FB1 + NACA5 cable + Graham Slee Solo headphone amp + Sennheiser HD800 headphones. At some point I will be able to improve on my speakers, although, currently, I'm very happy with them.

They are all I can afford (or, indeed, want to afford). I consider myself very lucky to have this little lot, and gain great pleasure from listening to a wide range of music.

Oh! I'm connected again. Back to the listening.

Ardbeg10y posted:

Mark J posted:

I have the choice of arguing with you about amplifiers or spending the weekend in bed with a hot girl ...

I will depart now and you can hate all you like that I don't love the tin box that you do. 

We all look forward to your review.

Mark has kindly emailed me with his review, and given me permission to post it:

"Tidy, crisp bird.  Must say I expected a lot more considering the hyperbole on the website on which I found her advertisement. Overall, disappointed.  Too small and uncultured to quality as a great "companion."

"Lots of girls I've met from that website have lower noise, better specs etc. "

"This one is ok at best. Unless you've heard a really good Naim amp...Next time I'll just spend the weekend with the chaps on the Naim Forum."

Dear all,

I have to use an old saying that seems applicable on this instance: a not so smart guy throws a rock in the water and tens of smart guys are struggling to get it out. Leave the damn think on the bottom of the pond !

I've just stepped up from XS2+FlaCap Xs to a SN2. Smallish system, ND5 XS and Piega premium 1.2, for a smallish room 3x4 m. The jump I'm contemplating in sound quality is quite high, is like an upgrade in speakers in the same time. I thought that the small stand floors speakers were driven to their best , being a little limited in scale and bass due to their small form . Not true, using SN2 the sound became bigger, bass powerful and tuneful, with no boom.  In fact I needed to move  the speakers in front by an inch, as they were put quite close to the back wall, in need of little bass help in combination with XS2 amplifier.

More detail, better dynamics even at lower levels...SN2 is doing a great job. Comparing it against combos 2,5 time more expensive is not fair , useful or relevant.

Regards,

Bogdan.

My SN2 review.

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

My SN2 review.

In other words, "You like it."

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

My SN2 review.

I very much recognize your review. One thing I could not find in your review is 'Dynamics'. Have you compared Dynamics between SN1 and SN2?

I'm hooked because of the Dynamics on my SN1 and am a bit hesitant to move on - so question just out of interest ...

A bit silly: when I demoed the SN2, I did not check this. Was impressed by the SN2's lower noise floor / transparency - likely to be caused by the DR tech, but forgot Dynamics. Whisperingly soft to fortissimo! = what I like.

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

My SN2 review.

It's easy to agree with Jan-Erik, great review! 

Ardbeg10yo:

I come from SN1 + HC2/HCDR and now use SN2 + HCDR. Dynamics was one area where there was the clearest improvement IMO. There's not a single area where SN1 was better to SN2. SN1 sounds softer with lesser dynamics, less clarity and overall flatter sound. SN2 is livelier, clearer and more dynamic sounding amplifier. It did come as a shock first though. I bought mine as new right after it was released. The amp sounded little bit harsh first but this went away with burn in. Only after that I could really appreciate the amp. The difference is huge compared to SN1. Anyway, SN2 is very capable integrated. Even after hearing many higher end Naim setups, I'm never disappointed when I come home and push play. 

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

My SN2 review.

Yes, that's a review.  Good point, well made.

Thanks gents. And to Patu for having the answer.

Mark J posted:

I have the choice of arguing with you about amplifiers or spending the weekend in bed with a hot girl ...

i wonder what was in the un-moderated post.

speaking only for myself: spending the entire weekend in bed with any partner would be boring. and since my wife's out of town protesting Trump, i'm happy to argue about amps!

on HiFi, i find myself agreeing with Mark J. my time with Naim has included a Nait 5, Supernait 1, and my current 282/250. had i to do it all over again, i'd skip the middle step. caveat -- my speakers are easy to drive, so perhaps Naim's own marketing makes sense: they say, IIRC, that the Supernait is for those with hungry speakers or big rooms. (ooh, er...)

so, what do i like better about the 282/250? dramatically more fleshed-out and enjoyable low-volume listening, for one thing. sounded like i'd changed speakers. also, instruments/sounds routinely "seem real" to the point that my hunter-gatherer instincts are triggered and i look at the speakers as if something's there. (yes, i live indoors.) altogether meatier, beatier, bigger, and bouncier!

Hate to break it to ya, but the OP doesn't care much for the 250 amp either!

One other thing, the SN1 and SN2 are two different animals.

joe9407

i wonder what was in the un-moderated post.

speaking only for myself: spending the entire weekend in bed with any partner would be boring. and since my wife's out of town protesting Trump, i'm happy to argue about amps!

on HiFi, i find myself agreeing with Mark J. my time with Naim has included a Nait 5, Supernait 1, and my current 282/250. had i to do it all over again, i'd skip the middle step. caveat -- my speakers are easy to drive, so perhaps Naim's own marketing makes sense: they say, IIRC, that the Supernait is for those with hungry speakers or big rooms. (ooh, er...)

so, what do i like better about the 282/250? dramatically more fleshed-out and enjoyable low-volume listening, for one thing. sounded like i'd changed speakers. also, instruments/sounds routinely "seem real" to the point that my hunter-gatherer instincts are triggered and i look at the speakers as if something's there. (yes, i live indoors.) altogether meatier, beatier, bigger, and bouncier!

The NAC 282, Hicap DR and NAP 250 DR are certainly good amps. They sound excellent in my system and have qualified as the final last-stop amps for me. Feed them with a good source and music sounds spooky real and enjoyable. Better sound can be had elsewhere but you would have to spend considerably more money. The 282/250 is a nice place to be. 

I am now just fiddling around with the cables before I call it quits, for real this time (I have been saying this for the past 20 years)