Well only for ½ an hour!!

My system is now CDS3/NAT5>NAC552>SNAXO/SC2>3x250.2>NBLs

The 552 is still running in and I think the NBLs are still loosening up but the whole thing is sounding great and I’m very happy with it. I don’t anticipate any more changes in the next few years (unless Naim bring out a split rail SNAXO)

I decided a while ago I would start to build up a workshop system and maybe have a bit of fun modding. All I had acquired up to now was a bog standard NAC42, purchased from ebay with no case sleeve for £36, which as far as I know has never been serviced.

Today I picked up a NAP140, which has recently been back to Naim for a service.
I whipped the cover off to have a quick look and interestingly, despite the fact that the serial number label clearly shows NAP140, the amp boards and the case all have hand written ‘110’ stickers on them. It has clearly had new main caps and the tants all look clean / new. A bracket holding a transistor or regulator appears to have been retrofitted at the rear of the PSU board, all work looks professionally done.

Were some / all 140s modded 110s?

Anyway, just for fun I put the passive x-overs back on the NBLs and wired up the 42 and 140. So CDS3>NAC42>NAP140>NBLs, No *caps, no case on the 42, amp and pre stacked on top of each other on the floor and stone cold.

Well you know what I’m going to say, it didn’t sound too bad. OK obviously not as good as 552 and 250s but not that bad at all.

After listening to a few CDs I put things back to normal and that when I really noticed the difference, but I have to say that if circumstances changed and I had to retreat then I could live with the 42 / 140 no problem.

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Hi Graham,
I've still got a Nap 110 that I prefer to my Nap250 in some ways.

Naim used to upgrade the 110 to 140 spec for around £150.

Paul.

Would they replace the serial number plate with one that read 'NAP140' after an upgrade ?

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

"Would they replace the serial number plate with one that read 'NAP140' after an upgrade"

Because it's upgraded to a 140..

Graham

yes they would change the serial number to one applicable to a 140!


Regards


NB

I wouldn't have thought the serial number would change as well.....how would this work?

Surely the original S/N would be used,with just the model number changed.

Paul.

No i'm not sugesting the serial number has changed, there is just a new plate with NAP140

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Graham,

Have you heard a passive 500 on your NBLs? I think that would be better match to your 552. I don't think active 250s can resolve what your 552 is doing.

Chris Bell

I'm afraid I'm a die hard active adict !

I have listened to a 300 passive in my curent system and its not a patch on the 3 x 250.2 active set up.

The only way I would have a 500 is if I could find the room (and the money) for 3 of them!

What I would really like is for Naim to build me a true split rail Snaxo. I feel that if there is any 'bottle neck' in my system it is in the Snaxo not the amps.

But of course thats just my view !

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Graham,

I've sent you a PT
JM

"Well you know what I’m going to say, it didn’t sound too bad. OK obviously not as good as 552 and 250s but not that bad at all."

Yeah, and that's before you've started modifying the 42

Ahh... my day is made, another inveterate tinkerer is born.

Mr Tibbs

Mr Tibbs,

I’ve been thinking about this tinkering / modding debate and I think I have proved beyond doubt that modding is a good thing.

My logic goes like this:

I have been tinkering / modding / looking inside all things electronic since the age of 10. Had I not have done this (and in the absence of any seriously high level education) it is unlikely that I would have ended up starting my own company(s).

My business has provided me with the funds to acquire such things as a CDS3 and NAC552.

Therefore by modding / tinkering you end up with better sounding kit one way or the other!! Case proven.

(On the other hand, had I have paid more attention at school instead of tinkering, I may have become a lawyer or dentist and have found enough spare change in my trouser turn-ups to buy a spare 552 to pull apart and mod)

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Graham,

The only thing the 300 and 500 have in common is they are manufactured by the same company. Otherwise they are completely different sounding. The 500 is miles better, and makes the all other amps sound broken.

I used to have NBLs active with a six pack, supercapped Snaxo, black burndys, the works. A demo of the 500 passive was earth shattering...it was better in every way.

I recently compared my 500 to a 300 with those big JM Lab beryllium monsters... it confirmed the 500 is in a league of its own. (The 500 also put a giant Mark Levinson amp to shame)

I would encourage you to borrow a 500 from your dealer. The 500 in combination with the 552 is devastating.

Chris Bell

Graham,

I now have managed to get myself up to CDS3/552/500 into NBLs and like Chris says the 553/500 combi is very impressive.

Previously I had a 52 to in there and put in the 552, my mate and me were within seconds giggling like kids, while Peter from Cymbiosis was making the odd comment about the 552 being "absolutely bonkers", it was really one of those moments. As Chris and you know it is one awesome product.

I know what you mean about "active", I have lived with active 135s into SBLs and there is definately something about active, the directness of the sound I think, whether the passive 500 is better than active 250.2 is an interesting one. But I can definately recommend the 552/500.

Cheers
Roger

OK OK I'll listen to a 500 soon!

I really am an active addict though, can’t really explain it, maybe its something to do with the thought that each of the drivers are hanging right off the output transistors in the amplifiers, you can’t get more direct than that (can you?)

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Graham,

Be prepared to become a NAP500 addict.

Chris Bell

Graham,

Do you get the impression we are ganging up on you ?

Roger

Graham - Keep us informed if you try a 500

Roger / Chris - I think the 500 vs active 250-2s with new SNAXO2-4 and Supercap should be a diffucult one to call, as both are reported to trounce a 300.

I suspect the question which is best will probably end up (as with the 135 vs active 250 debate of old) with a horses for courses outcome

Anyone care to compaer active 300s with 500?

Bunch of bullies!!

I’m running my snaxo 362 from a SC2 and this did make a significant improvement over a HC2, however, for some reason I still think the snaxo may be a slight bottleneck my system. Unless Naim build me a split rail snaxo then I’ll never know (hint hint)

I have tried running the system with a passive 250.2 and also a passive 300, I didn’t like the results, the NBLs seemed to have a huge gap between the bass and mids.
The mid range seemed ‘recessed’ or ‘set back in the mix’ when run passive. Three 250.2s just made the whole picture come together. Maybe this is more of a comment on the NBLs passive x-overs than the amps.

I will try a 500 when I get the opportunity but I am so biased towards active operation that I will probably not make the most subjective reviewer but I’ll try to keep an open mind. Even my dealer said I wouldn’t make the change to a passive 500 the last time we talked. (Maybe he thought I might run to three of them ).

Graham.

Not a lad any longer and not from London!

Chris Bell is right.

The 52 - later 52s that is, are an acceptable combination with the 500. But not even the superior 252 is capable of the 552's dynamism.

If you have a 500 and a lesser preamp than the 552, you basically won't know what your 500 is capable of.

Vik