Does Anyone Own Two Systems Based On Naim Amplification

I run 500/552 & 300/52. Does that count? I used to have a 252.

kuma posted:

I run 500/552 & 300/52. Does that count? I used to have a 252.

Thanks for that. It's good to know that there are folks who use larger Naim amps in separate systems.

52/135s/Kans

552/500s active/SL2s

why do you ask? just curious?

enjoy

ken

A matter of interest.

I am particularly curious if there's anyone who has both 252 and 282 (or 552 and 252) since there were few comments that suggested "once you listen to 252 there is no way you can live with the 282", something along those lines.

i run 552 + 500 in the main system 95% of all listening.  the 552 was a magical leap form the 252 - as it should be £££.  I liked the 252 a lot but missed some of the raw excitement i got form the 282 it replaced. my 252 + 300 system is in another room and is massively under utilized - should probably be sold - but i probably wont part with it 

ryder. posted:

A matter of interest.

I am particularly curious if there's anyone who has both 252 and 282 (or 552 and 252) since there were few comments that suggested "once you listen to 252 there is no way you can live with the 282", something along those lines.

That sort of comment is just silly. I'm perfectly happy listening to the Qb in the kitchen. 

I've heard 252/300, and more than happy to continue with my 282.

I regularly listen to my friends 552/500 system, and don't feel any urgent need to upgrade my 282/HCDR/250DR, not until I win a lottery.

I would sell the QBD76, and buy a Hugo 2 though. Much better.

500 series system into Kudos T88 Titans and (newish) Nait level electronics into Quad ESL 57's.

John.

ryder. posted:

I am particularly curious if there's anyone who has both 252 and 282 (or 552 and 252) since there were few comments that suggested "once you listen to 252 there is no way you can live with the 282", something along those lines.

ryder,

It's been a while since I demo'd 252, 282 back to back but I see why those 2 pres get a polarised opinion. 252 is more grown up and further lower the noise floor from a 282, so you get more details. At that time, I also borrowed Linn Klimax and recall it was on par in terms of resolution and generally how it carried on a tune. They were both good, i thought, but they did not offer anything different from other solid state preamps I have auditioned prior. (FYI: I've used a SC with 282 mostly as I thought just a NAPSC alone wouldn't be a fair comparison )

A 252 is more organic, the image moves up closer to a listener ( they are here rather than they are there perspective) gave me a *breathing* presence which I liked. OTOH, tho, it can sound less exciting ( I reckon due to a longer note decays over 282 ) and too laid back for some which I certainly understood.

I could easily live with a 282/SC in my office system but my recapped 52 can give me that similar level of *fun* for a lot less.

Hungryhalibut posted:

ryder. posted:

A matter of interest.

I am particularly curious if there's anyone who has both 252 and 282 (or 552 and 252) since there were few comments that suggested "once you listen to 252 there is no way you can live with the 282", something along those lines.

That sort of comment is just silly. I'm perfectly happy listening to the Qb in the kitchen. 

Fully agree with you HH. I have 4 Naim kits:  Music room, wife's atelier, sitting room and office; 252/250, UQ2, V1/200 and Qb respectively.  I enjoy all of them. For "serious" listening I prefer the music room.

kuma posted:

ryder,

It's been a while since I demo'd 252, 282 back to back but I see why those 2 pres get a polarised opinion. 252 is more grown up and further lower the noise floor from a 282, so you get more details. At that time, I also borrowed Linn Klimax and recall it was on par in terms of resolution and generally how it carried on a tune. They were both good, i thought, but they did not offer anything different from other solid state preamps I have auditioned prior. (FYI: I've used a SC with 282 mostly as I thought just a NAPSC alone wouldn't be a fair comparison )

A 252 is more organic, the image moves up closer to a listener ( they are here rather than they are there perspective) gave me a *breathing* presence which I liked. OTOH, tho, it can sound less exciting ( I reckon due to a longer note decays over 282 ) and too laid back for some which I certainly understood.

I could easily live with a 282/SC in my office system but my recapped 52 can give me that similar level of *fun* for a lot less.

Kuma, thanks for the post. Interesting remarks on the close-up image and longer decays of the 252 over the 282. I presume the "other" solid-state preamps other than the Linn Klimax that you auditioned must be high quality gear being able to match the performance of the 252. 

Although I don't have the Supercap with the 282, the 282/HCDR sounds "high quality". The SCDR is quite a considerable outlay, and in my mind more suited to the 252 than the 282 (higher gains with the 252, lower gains with the 282).

analogmusic posted:

I've heard 252/300, and more than happy to continue with my 282.

I regularly listen to my friends 552/500 system, and don't feel any urgent need to upgrade my 282/HCDR/250DR, not until I win a lottery.

I would sell the QBD76, and buy a Hugo 2 though. Much better.

 

 

I happen to be in the same boat, with regard to happily continuing with the 282. :-)

As for the Chord, I don't think I'll see the QBD 76. However, I might consider the Hugo 2 at some point in the near future for the main or 2nd system (it depends which will sound better, the QBD 76 or the Hugo 2). Did you compare the QBD 76 and Hugo 2? One thing I don't like about the Hugo2 is it does not have a USB Type B connector.

Nagual posted:

i run 552 + 500 in the main system 95% of all listening.  the 552 was a magical leap form the 252 - as it should be £££.  I liked the 252 a lot but missed some of the raw excitement i got form the 282 it replaced. my 252 + 300 system is in another room and is massively under utilized - should probably be sold - but i probably wont part with it 

I can understand the 252/300 is massively underutilised since you have the mighty 552/500 in the main system. Somehow I always have this concern about smaller systems not getting much use since the larger system will almost always sound better. The listener will usually gravitate to the bigger system which is able to provide higher levels of enjoyment and satisfaction.

I have toyed with the idea of setting up a 3rd system but after thinking about it for a while, I suppose it makes more sense to just maintain the current configuration as the new system may just end up underutilised.

I demoed the 282 and 252 back to back when I was considering an upgrade to my 282. I already used a SupercapDR on my 282 so was able to slip the 252 in for direct comparison.

In reality when the 252 went in, the 282 never returned and was used as part exchange. Not because I didn't enjoy the 282 but simply that the 252 got me closer to the music and musicians. Kumar describes it perfectly.

As I only have room for, and can only afford, one main system, I would never run a 282 and a 252 together. I can imagine having a MuSo (or Atom) as a second system in say the kitchen. But a 252 and 282 in the same household makes no sense to me.

ryder. posted:

I presume the "other" solid-state preamps other than the Linn Klimax that you auditioned must be high quality gear being able to match the performance of the 252. 

Although I don't have the Supercap with the 282, the 282/HCDR sounds "high quality". The SCDR is quite a considerable outlay, and in my mind more suited to the 252 than the 282 (higher gains with the 252, lower gains with the 282).

Ryder,

Other solid state preamps I have auditioned were mostly the usual American suspects:  Krell, JRDG, Boulder, Bel Canto, etc... plus Brinkmann, Halcro. Note that I did not use a Naim amp for these preamp demos. ( I used a pair of SET monos  or Krell amps)

I agree. A 282/NAPSC is quite good. Altho I could hear a difference when I added a SC, I thought that improvements weren't worth the money.

My CDX2/282/Hi/250-2 and Thiel CS1.6s have moved to our flat in France. I thought lesser Naim might be a disappointment after the 552/500DR but the system is just as enjoyable as ever. 

I run 5 Naim systems in total - does that count? 2 of them are Uniti-based though...

As to 282 vs 252... Let's put it this way - I kept my SuperNait2 and sold 282 in favour of 252.

Adam Zielinski posted:

I run 5 Naim systems in total - does that count? 2 of them are Uniti-based though...

As to 282 vs 252... Let's put it this way - I kept my SuperNait2 and sold 282 in favour of 252.

Now Adam, that is just showing off. 

nigelb posted:

Adam Zielinski posted:

I run 5 Naim systems in total - does that count? 2 of them are Uniti-based though...

As to 282 vs 252... Let's put it this way - I kept my SuperNait2 and sold 282 in favour of 252.

Now Adam, that is just showing off. 

Sorry  

Adam Zielinski posted:

I run 5 Naim systems in total - does that count? 2 of them are Uniti-based though...

As to 282 vs 252... Let's put it this way - I kept my SuperNait2 and sold 282 in favour of 252.

That does count... as a huge Naim fan! You just surpassed Erich's record of having 4 Naim amplifier-based systems in total.

nigelb posted:

I demoed the 282 and 252 back to back when I was considering an upgrade to my 282. I already used a SupercapDR on my 282 so was able to slip the 252 in for direct comparison.

In reality when the 252 went in, the 282 never returned and was used as part exchange. Not because I didn't enjoy the 282 but simply that the 252 got me closer to the music and musicians. Kumar describes it perfectly.

As I only have room for, and can only afford, one main system, I would never run a 282 and a 252 together. I can imagine having a MuSo (or Atom) as a second system in say the kitchen. But a 252 and 282 in the same household makes no sense to me.

A 252 and 282 in the same household may make little sense but it can be a possibility if space and affordability are not a problem. There is already someone here who owns both 552 and 252 but the issue or concern is more about the "lesser" system being underutilised.

Guilty:

500 system.

Nait XS system.

Unitiqute. (Son's dorm room actually)

MuSo.

NDS/552/300

272/250

uq2