Need advice - Speaker for Naim Nap 300

Thangpm welcome your explanation is fine - it really depends on your listening area.

I have recently moved from Dynaudio Contour 1,8s (excellent if not quite right for my room - not really enough room behind) to Kudos S20s.  It would be easy for me to over exaggerate but with my system (see my profile) I can only say they are sublime, effortless presentation, beautiful treble, detail in the middle.  A quick search will bring up my thread.  If the S20 was right for your room I think they would be excellent with your 252/300.

But as ever demonstration and listening is essential.

Good luck.

Lindsay

You don't seem to have ATC on your list, surprisingly as you are used to ATC and mention their midrange. The larger ATCs with their 3inch dome midrange unit will give probably the best midrange you will hear from a speaker anywhere - it really is superb (though no doubt others will suggest other ones about which they think the same ). The SCM 40 is in the same ballpark cost as some of the speakers you mention, though I don't know availability wherever you are. Maybe others on here with direct exoerience could elaborate as to differences and similarities between SCM40 and SCM20, which may help confirm whether or not they might be suitable.

Hearing is always best, ideally in your system at home, or failing that somewhere else but with your amp and and speakers you are familiar with for reference (taking your own if demonstrator doesn't have), so at least initially hear what you can.  IF that can't include the bigger ATCs yet from everything you find out the character of the different ATCs is sufficiently similar to give real confidence that they will suit better than what you have been able to hear, then maybe, just maybe, they could be worth the risk of buying unheard.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Thangpm welcome your explanation is fine - it really depends on your listening area.

I have recently moved from Dynaudio Contour 1,8s (excellent if not quite right for my room - not really enough room behind) to Kudos S20s.  It would be easy for me to over exaggerate but with my system (see my profile) I can only say they are sublime, effortless presentation, beautiful treble, detail in the middle.  A quick search will bring up my thread.  If the S20 was right for your room I think they would be excellent with your 252/300.

But as ever demonstration and listening is essential.

Good luck.

Lindsay

I have once time to heard Kudos S20s in the dealer, but they use Norma integrated amp to drive S20 pair with cheap DAC, music is lifeless. What I learn from the forum that Kudos is pretty match with Naim amp, and music is very lively, I will try to have demo in my room.

As you have a NAP 300 then you can use just about anything and the amp will drive it fine.  It's entirely about your room and your tastes.

Demo anything you can at dealer's sites, then make a shortlist to demo at home:  Cajole the dealers, twist their arms etc.; basically use anything within the bounds of legality to persuade them to allow you a home demo.  With this level of equipment getting the room / speaker interaction just right is vital.

+1 Huge post.

Before you get a ton of comments here, it's best to list the brands which are available in your region. Home demo is vital, so there's no use in chasing brands you cannot find in your region anyway. 

Also, price and budget is going to be important too. Prices of equipment do vary a lot between countries. And especially UK brands nowadays...

Sopra 2 ? They are everywhere

easy ! Focal Sopra 2 or Focal Sopra 3.

I agree with Huge. Your amp will most likely drive any speaker in the pricerange of your mentioned speaker, so it will be down to your taste and room. Adding to the speakers on your list, in your position I  would try to hear e.g. Dynaudios new Countour range and Neats offerings before making a final desicion.

Emre posted:

Sopra 2 ? They are everywhere

analogmusic posted:

easy ! Focal Sopra 2 or Focal Sopra 3.

From examples quoted I had the impression the OP was looking at rather lower cost than those, though admittedly  He/she hasn't actually stated a budget limit.

ThangPN posted:

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Thangpm welcome your explanation is fine - it really depends on your listening area.

I have recently moved from Dynaudio Contour 1,8s (excellent if not quite right for my room - not really enough room behind) to Kudos S20s.  It would be easy for me to over exaggerate but with my system (see my profile) I can only say they are sublime, effortless presentation, beautiful treble, detail in the middle.  A quick search will bring up my thread.  If the S20 was right for your room I think they would be excellent with your 252/300.

But as ever demonstration and listening is essential.

Good luck.

Lindsay

I have once time to heard Kudos S20s in the dealer, but they use Norma integrated amp to drive S20 pair with cheap DAC, music is lifeless. What I learn from the forum that Kudos is pretty match with Naim amp, and music is very lively, I will try to have demo in my room.

They are a very good match but as the guys have said your amps will just about drive anything so it's what works best in your room and is within your budget.   

Why do you want to change?

Unless you really don't like the sound - and if you've been happy enough for 5 years I doubt that is the case -  then I'd be looking at getting my front end to top spec. I've always been a source first guy.

A lot of wise things have been said..... so let's combine it with some additional suggestions..

1. The NAP300 should be able to drive quite a number of speakers - so no big limitations here.

2. The limitation is very often what you can hear and what is in relative proximity unless you dare to choose for it based on a showroom demo

3. Your room dimension could pose some acoustic challenges, so test the effects at home before you take the final decision...

4. You have lived with a certain sound signature you liked for five years, it might be good to stay in that sing nature and trade up - referring to your ATC

5. A lot of people look for totally new speakers. Very often not so long pre-loved or demo models with difficult to sell finishes can be attained which are considerably cheaper, giving you the option to have a much better option for the money.

6. Good combinations are: the things you already mentioned Kudos and ATC but in addition Kef reference, Verity Audio, Wilson Benesch....so many options...

hello, just throw an eye on focal utopia, diablo, scala..

Adi Stefan posted:

hello, just throw an eye on focal utopia, diablo, scala..

This also went through my head, but I personally don't like the Focal sound signature so much. Perhaps I do like the expensive headphones, but the speakers are not on my list...

Dear All,

Thanks for your advice so far. Sorry for my late response as I am living in Asia Region, where has 7 hour sooner than yours.

Talking about reason I want to change new speaker. In the past, I placed the speakers firing across the room, close hearing position, stand mount speaker is easy to create music atmosphere around me, but lack of music stage (deep & wide), and some record attacking me, and I got the feel of high shape. Recently, I put the speaker along side the walls, stage is a lot better, music is more melody, and easy to listening. But as I described above, my room is very long (10 meter depth), ATC stand mount is struggling to fill the room, I seldom have the goose bumps feeling. That's why, I'm starting to looking for floor standing speaker.

Regarding floor standing speaker, my budget is limit under 4K GBP, and I got good offering for Audio physic Virgo 25plus, Audiovector SR3 AA, and Kudos S20s. In my country, we have almost popular brands from UK and Europe. But after listening several bands in dealer room like ProAc, Linn, Isophon, Vienna Acoustic, Neat, Focal Sopra & Utopia.... I found they are is not my taste. I need a pair that fast, precise, with bass adequate for rock & classic music. I have demo Magico S1 in my room and found the right one, but it is around 10K in my country, and over my budget. Today, I will contact to a shop to borrow ATC SCM40, and used Naim S-400. Demo in the room is vital. I will follow your suggestion.

Thanks,

That sounds better than I thought -when you talked about a dealer1500km away anc didn't mention ATC I feared you were somewhere with poor choice and maybe no opportunity to audition at home. 

Usually across a rectangular room is easier to get to sound right than down the length, so you as you have found you have a bit of a challenge.

is there availability of secondhand/prelived speakers where you live? If so that opens the possibility of what we're more expensive speakers -I personally prefer to do that, because it helps me get better than I could otherwise afford.

Good luck with it! Do report back if the ARCs don't do what you want, describing what you feel is still lacking.

I have the AP Virgo25 plus - they are quite revealing and clearly differentiate between sources and amplification. With NAP250 DR very good when I had one for home demo about two months ago. Haven't heard them with NAP300 but cannot be worse than the 250:-) I have heard the AP Avantera plus (next model up the AP hierarchy) with NAP 300 and it was fantastic.

I would recommend the Kudos C30, all the benefit of the C20s but with additional bass for a larger room (they are also not made any more and hence cheap on the second hand market). I really struggled with the over dominant bass from the C30s with a Supernait or the 250, but with the neutrality of the 300 they really sing (I think Kudos used the 252/300 combination to voice their sound). Of course you could wait for the 707...

Hi, I have the 300/252 combination and recently upgraded my speakers to the Sopra 2's. Not disappointed at all and they are very well matched for my system. Sublime sound and will drive well when the music requires it. By the way, the speakers look great .. finally I did have them on loan for a few weeks which IS required if it can be arranged. Otherwise, rest assured.

Another vote for Sopra 2 from a 252 / 300 DR owner.

ThangPN posted:

Hi,  after 5 years living with stand mount speaker, Harbeth M30 & ATC SCM20SL, I want to change for floor standing speakers. At the moment, I receive good offers from dealer for Audiovector SR3 AA, Kudos Super 20, Audio Physic Virgo 25 plus. My system is Naim Nap 300, Nac 252, Bricasti M1 Dac, Linn Lp12 Akurate level. I have a chance to demo Audiov

ector SR3 AA and impressed on its wide range of sound frequency, very detail, and air

motion, but I feel lack mid range focus likes ATC & Harbeth. The other speakers is from

Hi,

can you explain  what you mean by lacking mid range focus? There are I think 2 settings on the back of the speakers where you can tweak the midrange response, aded for people that lives in acoustically difficult rooms. Cables are another option, but I would advice against using cables as an expensive tone control.

 

Claus

ThangPN posted:

Today, I will contact to a shop to borrow ATC SCM40, and used Naim S-400. Demo in the room is vital. I will follow your suggestion.

I would be very much interested in your findings.

Hi,

I found some information about the switch I tried to describe. However I do not think it would solve your problem with the sr 3AA.

http://phpbb3.audiovector.com/...c.php?f=1&t=7527

Hmm, OP stated that he didn't like Focal Sopra's, and got two recommendations for Focal Sopra2's. Nice reading...

And be careful with AudioPhysics; the recommended placement might not work in your room. 

Anyway, when Magico is too expensive, you could try, if available, Wilson Benesch. A used Square 3 should be available within your budget. However, I would advice you to save up for the Magico's, or similar. Your equipenent deserves it. Especially your DAC. 

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

Hi,

can you explain  what you mean by lacking mid range focus? There are I think 2 settings on the back of the speakers where you can tweak the midrange response, aded for people that lives in acoustically difficult rooms. Cables are another option, but I would advice against using cables as an expensive tone control.

 

Claus

Hi Claus,

I don't know the tweak toggle when having demo in my room, I will come to my dealer to make the test this function.

I have very long time familiar with England speaker sound, which I define as very rich, gorgeous, and appeared mid range, those are Linn, ProAc, Harbeth, & ATC. I find Audiovector midrange a little bit soft compared ATC & Harbeth voice. My ear probably needs to adapt to new voice from Denmark if I want to change to Audiovector. At least, this is the speaker that I have a chance to demo in my room and it get on well with my room. I'm really impressed by Audiovector' modern performance, fast, dynamic, detail.