NAC 282 - First Impressions

Excellent, congrats on your new 282 but give it a few months to run in.

Can't see any equipment mentioned in your profile? What are the speakers that may be outclassed?

Timmo1341 posted:

Can't see any equipment mentioned in your profile? What are the speakers that may be outclassed?

Yeah this would help along with your source and power amp, cables and room etc. :-) 

stuart posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

Can't see any equipment mentioned in your profile? What are the speakers that may be outclassed?

Yeah this would help along with your source and power amp, cables and room etc. :-) 

 

OK, it's a pair of PMC DB1+ being fed by the following:

• CDX2 + XPS2
• HiLine
• 282 + HiCap + NAPSC
• 200
• NAC A5

The DB1+ are certainly sounding way better than before but just not all that 3 dimensional. Loads of PRaT and dynamic range in evidence though, a really solid articulate presentation.

Based on price, the speakers are probably now the poor relation in my system despite sounding really rather good.

Meanwhile the 282 is now letting through stuff I simply never thought existed on the recordings so the speakers are far from complete duds for sure.

Jez R Oakley posted:

stuart posted:

Timmo1341 posted:

Can't see any equipment mentioned in your profile? What are the speakers that may be outclassed?

Yeah this would help along with your source and power amp, cables and room etc. :-) 

 

OK, it's a pair of PMC DB1+ being fed by the following:

• CDX2 + XPS2
• HiLine
• 282 + HiCap + NAPSC
• 200
• NAC A5

 

The DB1+ are certainly sounding way better than before but just not all that 3 dimensional. Loads of PRaT and dynamic range in evidence though, a really solid articulate presentation.

Based on price, the speakers are probably now the poor relation in my system despite sounding really rather good.

Meanwhile the 282 is now letting through stuff I simply never thought existed on the recordings so the speakers are far from complete duds for sure.

all is clear now: your speakers are far away of the level of the rest of your equipment. Sorry, but you must upgrade these speakers to be able to hear all of what your very good system can offer.  

Try some little floorstanders in the 3000/5000 pounds range Pmc, Proac, living voice, totem, bw if you like...

Keler Pierre posted:

all is clear now: your speakers are far away of the level of the rest of your equipment. Sorry, but you must upgrade these speakers to be able to hear all of what your very good system can offer.  

 

That sounds a little like the Hi Fi police.

Jez R Oakley posted:

 

 

OK, it's a pair of PMC DB1+ being fed by the following:

Based on price, the speakers are probably now the poor relation in my system

Hi, I've never heard your (new) system but I have heard what PMCs sound like thru mine. I still own my DB1is and they are not as clean in the midrange or as fast in the bass as my 20.21s. But (here's the thing) the most cost-effective upgrade was going to the 20.22s. The step change in ability, the ease, the size, the detail (for what was then an extra£500) is simply unbeatable. It's the best £500 you will spend. And this is all on the end of a SuperUniti! I've not heard the new twentyfive series but if you are liking the DB1+, the newer ranges really do deliver. I would audition Totem, ATC and Proac too if I were larking around (I'm not, I'm happy, no itch for 3 years now).

Haim Ronen posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

all is clear now: your speakers are far away of the level of the rest of your equipment. Sorry, but you must upgrade these speakers to be able to hear all of what your very good system can offer.  

 

That sounds a little like the Hi Fi police.

perhaps, but english is not my spoken language....and also jez oakley was thinking in the same way... but maybe i was a little too much abrupt....

It sounds like a really nice system, with the investment where it counts. I'm not convinced that expensive speakers on a 200 is ideal and if going in that direction a 250DR might come into play. I've never owned a 282 but I remember very well the huge improvement an 82 made over a 102. 

Hmm, a bit complicated.

If you like the overall sound of the DB1s, I'd stick with them for the moment and change the 200 for a 250DR first.  The reason for making this change first is that later, when you come to change your speakers, the 250 will give you a much wider choice as it can successfully drive much more difficult loads than the 200 can.  As speakers can be such a personal choice, this can make all the difference.

With the 200 you may have to chose between a speaker where you like the style of the sound, but technically it's not so good (slightly soft bass or less detailed etc) vs. a speaker that doesn't quite have the balance you want (a bit bass light, sharp at HF etc).  With the 250DR you may be a speaker that is too much (to difficult) for the 200, but is exactly right for you and excels with the 250DR.

I'd stick with what you have, which is an extremely good system & enjoy the music it makes.

NFG posted:

I'd stick with what you have, which is an extremely good system & enjoy the music it makes.

Good advice. The DB1s will not embarrass the rest of the system so don't rush to change. Enjoy your new 282 

james n posted:

NFG posted:

I'd stick with what you have, which is an extremely good system & enjoy the music it makes.

Good advice. The DB1s will not embarrass the rest of the system so don't rush to change. Enjoy your new 282 

Quite right, they're certainly allowing me to enjoy the 282. I might just invest in some more music before my next upgrade outlay!

Yes keep hold of the dinky box,  will be a coveted classic for sure in the future.

Urm - interesting I think soundstage really is the paradigm shift with the 282.  But don't tinker with anything just give it time.

Huge posted:

Hmm, a bit complicated.

If you like the overall sound of the DB1s, I'd stick with them for the moment and change the 200 for a 250DR first.  The reason for making this change first is that later, when you come to change your speakers, the 250 will give you a much wider choice as it can successfully drive much more difficult loads than the 200 can.  As speakers can be such a personal choice, this can make all the difference.

With the 200 you may have to chose between a speaker where you like the style of the sound, but technically it's not so good (slightly soft bass or less detailed etc) vs. a speaker that doesn't quite have the balance you want (a bit bass light, sharp at HF etc).  With the 250DR you may be a speaker that is too much (to difficult) for the 200, but is exactly right for you and excels with the 250DR.

Good advice sort the black boxes first.

Jez R Oakley posted:

james n posted:

NFG posted:

I'd stick with what you have, which is an extremely good system & enjoy the music it makes.

Good advice. The DB1s will not embarrass the rest of the system so don't rush to change. Enjoy your new 282 

Quite right, they're certainly allowing me to enjoy the 282. I might just invest in some more music before my next upgrade outlay!

in absolute terms, there is always something to upgrade and there is never end....never.

You can easily enjoy music with your very good system, well balanced.  But i think, being honest, that a little upgrade on speakers, on second hand market perhaps, would give justice to your cdx2/xps2- 282/hicap /200. Speakers with easy load (90-92db), for perhaps 1500 pounds on second hand....But there is no urgency.   But i can be also very polite and kind like some and tell you that your system is wonderful, don't change nothing and bla bla bla...

Keler Pierre posted:

in absolute terms, there is always something to upgrade and there is never end....never.

 

Quite right. But you can also be happy with what you have got and just enjoy it. No need to be on a constant upgrade cycle. 

james n posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

in absolute terms, there is always something to upgrade and there is never end....never.

 

Quite right. But you can also be happy with what you have got and just enjoy it. No need to be on a constant upgrade cycle. 

Surely you can manage both at the same time? 

james n posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

in absolute terms, there is always something to upgrade and there is never end....never.

 

Quite right. But you can also be happy with what you have got and just enjoy it. No need to be on a constant upgrade cycle. 

yes, but i think the source and electronics of his system can't reveal their potential with these little standmount speakers. These speakers would be more in their place with a nait 5 or nait xs integrated with cd5x cd player.

But you are right, it is also possible, with no problem, to enjoy the system described. It is just a question of well balanced and logic system : you can put fiat punto wheels on a porsche 911, and quite enjoy the porsche also....

ChrisSU posted:

james n posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

in absolute terms, there is always something to upgrade and there is never end....never.

 

Quite right. But you can also be happy with what you have got and just enjoy it. No need to be on a constant upgrade cycle. 

Surely you can manage both at the same time? 

i am trying to do that...sometimes difficult or sometimes working just some time....yes, i know, i need an audiophile psychologist...

I think like some wrote the 200 can be a limit for really difficult speakers but that's no reason to buy a 250 first in your system. My 200 limits my B&W 802 until I'll free them one day. And till then I enjoy the music, the 200 does a good job. I demoed the 282/250DR at home and the real winner was the 282. It sounded great with my 200. In your situation I'd do nothing or change the speakers one day. Have fun with your new 282!

Andib posted:

I think like some wrote the 200 can be a limit for really difficult speakers but that's no reason to buy a 250 first in your system. My 200 limits my B&W 802 until I'll free them one day. And till then I enjoy the music, the 200 does a good job. I demoed the 282/250DR at home and the real winner was the 282. It sounded great with my 200. In your situation I'd do nothing or change the speakers one day. Have fun with your new 282!

That's my plan, will enjoy the system for now and possibly invest in some better speakers next year once finances permit. The PMC DB1+ aren't terrible by any means but I get the impression they're being fed far more than they can handle. Having said that, certain albums have been an absolute revelation with the 282 through them. Charlatans - Modern Nature, for one.

Andib posted:

I think like some wrote the 200 can be a limit for really difficult speakers but that's no reason to buy a 250 first in your system. My 200 limits my B&W 802 until I'll free them one day. And till then I enjoy the music, the 200 does a good job. I demoed the 282/250DR at home and the real winner was the 282. It sounded great with my 200. In your situation I'd do nothing or change the speakers one day. Have fun with your new 282!

good advise

Andib posted:

I demoed the 282/250DR at home and the real winner was the 282. 

interesting: i upgraded from an SN1/Hicap to 282/250.2 all in one fell swoop, so couldn't get a read on whether the preamp or amp contributed more to the improvements i heard. (i got a too-good-to-refuse deal on a s/h 282, then had it and the 250.2 serviced.) at any rate, i think it's really good and all the system one would ever need, to the extent that what one "needs" is relevant to the HiFi hobby.

to Jez, though: a powerful amp with small speakers can be really engaging -- if for no other reason than that standmounts are often less efficient than floorstanders -- and there are good deals on 250.2s to be had if you poke around.

just sayin'.