How long is a piece of string?

I very much doubt Naim will deviate away much from their standard amplification approach with only power consumption requirements possibly driving changes in power supply design. I'd not be too concerned though as of all the components you list, digital devices are far more likely to be superceded as new formats / services come out rather than the amplifiers...

Personally I'd not be too worried. You're buying a system to enjoy listening to music on, not have the latest and greatest. An NDX2 plus any of the above amps would make a fine setup you should be able to enjoy for a long time to come.

Audition, find what combination you like, buy it and then just enjoy it. Life's too short

James

Other than tweaking the input sensitive to something more suitable for high output digital sources, I'm not sure what there is to change. The question you posed has been re-asked and answered by year after year of no new amps pretty regularly every year. Search will show you threads that already tell you all there is to know on this.

The dealer might know something but as Naim impose embargoes on this info and even then generally only tell dealers a few days in advance of the public announcement, I would not put much stock in the rumour. 

As to the amps, well, the model number NAP250 carries a lot of iconic connotations but a current 250 has about as much in common with a 1975 era 250 as a banana to an orange. The oldest pedigree there is the 282 which is probably one of the preamps that is the most similar to it predecessor from the 80's. Even so, assuming you want the benefit of the NDX2 you will be using its analogue output and if so, a purely analogue preamp is still in your future as the best course of action.

Of course will replace everything one day and the current range of preamps is the longest lived in their history but as analogue devices, technology is not moving as fast there - which is in fact a good thing. You can have a top class analogue amplification chain than is current for a long period of time or an equally expensive top class digital device that ages much faster.

I don't think anyone could tell you whether to spend now or hang on. Absolutely, Naim could release a new range tomorrow. Or it could be 2030. A 282 will, however, be as good before and after it's replacement model. It's only in the fickle realm of the forum does a new model render that which came before as "sounding broken".

I agree with James, if the Statement is the pinnacle of their amplification design, we have already benefited from DR in the range.

On thinking about this, there might be some merit in further developing the App controlled preamp seen in the new Uniti range up to a “Classic” sound quality.

Interesting discussion ... in the end Naim needs to comply with the regulations ...

Naim have already introduced SMPSs into the Statement and new Uniti range in order to comply with regulations on energy consumption in standby mode. These are just little power suplies that are used to wake up the main PSU. It will be interesting to see where Naim go in their main power amp and PSU range, as any new models will have to comply with whatever new regulations apply at the time. 

feeling_zen posted:

Other than tweaking the input sensitive to something more suitable for high output digital sources, I'm not sure what there is to change. The question you posed has been re-asked and answered by year after year of no new amps pretty regularly every year. Search will show you threads that already tell you all there is to know on this.

The dealer might know something but as Naim impose embargoes on this info and even then generally only tell dealers a few days in advance of the public announcement, I would not put much stock in the rumour. 

As to the amps, well, the model number NAP250 carries a lot of iconic connotations but a current 250 has about as much in common with a 1975 era 250 as a banana to an orange. The oldest pedigree there is the 282 which is probably one of the preamps that is the most similar to it predecessor from the 80's. Even so, assuming you want the benefit of the NDX2 you will be using its analogue output and if so, a purely analogue preamp is still in your future as the best course of action.

Of course will replace everything one day and the current range of preamps is the longest lived in their history but as analogue devices, technology is not moving as fast there - which is in fact a good thing. You can have a top class analogue amplification chain than is current for a long period of time or an equally expensive top class digital device that ages much faster.

I don't think anyone could tell you whether to spend now or hang on. Absolutely, Naim could release a new range tomorrow. Or it could be 2030. A 282 will, however, be as good before and after it's replacement model. It's only in the fickle realm of the forum does a new model render that which came before as "sounding broken".

Superbly put, thank you feeling_zen????

james n posted:

I very much doubt Naim will deviate away much from their standard amplification approach with only power consumption requirements possibly driving changes in power supply design. I'd not be too concerned though as of all the components you list, digital devices are far more likely to be superceded as new formats / services come out rather than the amplifiers...

Personally I'd not be too worried. You're buying a system to enjoy listening to music on, not have the latest and greatest. An NDX2 plus any of the above amps would make a fine setup you should be able to enjoy for a long time to come.

Audition, find what combination you like, buy it and then just enjoy it. Life's too short

James

Agreed, Far too short.

ChrisSU posted:

It will be interesting to see where Naim go in their main power amp and PSU range, as any new models will have to comply with whatever new regulations apply at the time. 

Thanks ChrisSU...I've no idea, but perhaps that's what the dealer was suggesting...

With Roy George retiring who knows where the Naim sound is going next, we can only hope for the best.

If the unitis and 272 are anything to go by you can probably say goodbye to the powered AUX input on any new preamp models.

The dealers would love a new series so they don't have the secondhand market undermining new sales.

When I first quickly read your message, I thought you said, "Boy George"!

Yes, I'm sure they'd love it.

Luckily Roy or “Boy George” as he is probably now called at Naim calls in a few days a week to “voice” products.

Meerkat posted:

Has anyone else heard a possible re think on amplification? I'd be gutted if I spent 8.5K on amps to go with the NDX 2, only to discover, something much, much better comes out in a year or two.

To avoid feeling gutted, you might consider going cheap and cheerful with a Nait or some olive kit, for now, then when new products are available, choose between buying the 282 etc. at a steep discount, ex-dem or used, or the newly-arrived shiny thing, whatever it turns out to be.

I find Naim kit holds its value pretty well, if you give up buying  new; and if you can wait for the next big recession, the inventory of attractive used pieces will surge.  Buying new is OK too, but is better for the buy-and-hold items.

Some need not worry about the high cost of frequent trading of items bought at retail; alas, I am not so fortunate.

Best,

Nick

I would be very surprised if new amps were imminent. 

I wouldn't be surprised if when new amps arrive the consensus is the new regulations that they have to conform to have actually have a deleterious effect on SQ.  

the fact that the NDX2 looks like the current amps rather than the statement is another indication of no imminent change I feel. 

.sjb

Sloop John B posted:

I would be very surprised if new amps were imminent. 

I wouldn't be surprised if when new amps arrive the consensus is the new regulations that they have to conform to have actually have a deleterious effect on SQ.  

the fact that the NDX2 looks like the current amps rather than the statement is another indication of no imminent change I feel. 

.sjb

Good point SJB????

NickSeattle posted:

Meerkat posted:

Has anyone else heard a possible re think on amplification? I'd be gutted if I spent 8.5K on amps to go with the NDX 2, only to discover, something much, much better comes out in a year or two.

To avoid feeling gutted, you might consider going cheap and cheerful with a Nait or some olive kit, for now, then when new products are available, choose between buying the 282 etc. at a steep discount, ex-dem or used, or the newly-arrived shiny thing, whatever it turns out to be.

I find Naim kit holds its value pretty well, if you give up buying  new; and if you can wait for the next big recession, the inventory of attractive used pieces will surge.  Buying new is OK too, but is better for the buy-and-hold items.

Some need not worry about the high cost of frequent trading of items bought at retail; alas, I am not so fortunate.

Best,

Nick

Thanks Nick.????

I was faced with a similar decision buying a new 552. I had similar concerns and my dealer hinted that there was something new in pipeline but it would be much much more expensive. This was months before the official Statement announcement. It may be prudent to wait a few months before parting with a large sum of dough.

Trying to guess the future product range of any manufacturer is almost impossible. As Naim have a brand new product in their 500 line up, the ND555, then IMO there should be no change at this level for some time, however long that  may be.

Looking into the crystal ball then there could be a product range to slot in between the 500 series and Statement? Still what's wrong with the 500 Series?

We all buy at a comfortable (?) price point or sit on our money. If you buy and you enjoy your purchase, or its much more than that, then its a result in by book. Plus used Naim always has a good S/H value.

Douglas.

Wait a few month's, then another few months, oh, and then another few more months. Maybe a couple of years. Today's new technology is always tomorrow's old outdated so the salesmen will tell you. That's a load of rubbish sales talk. Let your ears be the judge. Many a good tune played on an old fiddle and a well maintained Naim system no matter the age. Also consider that you can't take it with you (money), enjoy it in this life if you can spare and justify the expense. Rich 

Just to steer things back on topic, I think SN2 would be your best option. Both boxes accepting upgrades, should the acute need strike you later on. 

Do it! You know you want to.

The only really different amplifier topology that is being used in high quality amplifiers is Class D when used with a high chopper frequency.  There is no evidence at all that Naim is moving in that direction, even the new Unitis are using Naim's traditional Class A/B topology.

In fact as Naim's higher amps (250 up) are all regulated designs, Class D looses it's raison d'etre as the regulator would still be a linear design!

I don't think there's going to be a radical departure, just incremental improvements - nothing to worry about.  Yes there may be inclusion of 'standby' power supplies (small SMPS that turn themselves off during operation as with the new Uniti series), but this is for regulatory reasons rather than for SQ benefit.

Listen to each of the options you've identified, they're all good choices with differences in the way they 'present' the music (and don't forget to factor in listening to the effect of a HiCap!).

About 10^-35m.

http://superstringtheory.com/basics/basic4.html

Mr Meerkat,

Is your concern based on aesthetics, or an engineering upgrade and thereby shift in sound quality?  

If the former fear not as your NDX2 will be in the classic style so you can buy your purchase your 282 without worry - but you know that.  On the latter I may be wrong but I’m not sure what can change. The volume control is the obvious component but I don’t know how big a change this involves in the rest of the design.  Over and above of course the DR changes are not that long ago and represent a step-change in the performance of the the higher end power amps and PSUs.   

I did question whether some product rationalisation might be the order of the day as seemingly there is not to be a NDS-2.  I speculate that such is the sonic capability of the SN2 that there is no longer any requirement for a NAC 202,  and perhaps not the NAC 252.   But this is all supposition on my part and I have had absolutely no dialogue with either any Naim dealers or Naim themselves on the subject. And particularly in the case of the 252 it is clearly held in very high regard.

Regards,

Lindsay 

Rich 1 posted: Many a good tune played on an old fiddle and a well maintained Naim system no matter the age. Also consider that you can't take it with you (money), enjoy it in this life if you can spare and justify the expense. Rich 

 

Totally agree Rich????