Hello everyone,

Well I suppose I'm asking another question again that's been asked lots but if you can comment it would be appreciated.
Assuming that you were to buy everything 2nd hand, then what is more cost effective/nicer sound?
2 x NAP 90/IXO OR 1 x NAP180
2 x NAP 90/SNAXO/flat cap OR 1 x NAP 180

What would be the comparison in sound and what would be value for money. If I was to go active, then the next time I updated power amps I would be forced to get two 180's instead of one 250 otherwise i would have and unused snaxo and flatcap. Does anyone have any ideas or comments about this? Also, one unrelated point was, when purchasing 2nd hand, how do you know that the component youre listening to is 100% not 75% ? Is it really obvious for example if a power amp is not performing at it's best?
Hope you guys (and girls) might be able to help.

Thanks in advance,

Moscow

What's the rest of your setup fella ?

Many will advise a single 250 is better than any IXO/SNAXO 2-4 90/140 combo, but it's a matter of preference...

To Quote Per Otto (a mesage from the old forum thread):

quote:

---

Well, from my very personel point of view 140's activ sounds very lifelike and more 'direct'and 'airy' in the high frequences with a fine prescision in deeper frequencies. The 250 also demonstrates a gread deep (sometimes deeper) sound but not as exactly as the active 140's do. BUT don't compare only parts of music !

This "lifelike"- impression increased when we changed the IXO to a Snaxo (hicap). The interaction inside the music that what i call 'lifelike' had much improved . IXO or Naxo plays a much more important roll than the question of amp's. (Please don't compare 90 to 250!) I think going active is a very good way to go regarding your input is of good quality. Well ......my very personel point of view.

---

That about sums it up for me, get a good source/pre & supports and enjoy active (not sure with 90s though), if you go for the SNAXO 2-4 option then it's really an investment for later, whereas the IXO would have to be upgraded.

naheed...

[This message was edited by Naheed on FRIDAY 29 December 2000 at 10:35.]

Hi Naheed,

Well the rest of my system is VERY odd as i am updating it slowly slowly, I only recently bought the naim 90/92. Anyway, the rest of the system is Nakamichi CD player, QED Digit DAC, Mission 760iSE speakers!! As soon as I can raise some more money i would like to get a pair of Intro loudpeakers and CD3. I've heard the Intro2 with 90/92/cd5 and it was fabulous.

Moscow

One thing I forgot to ask was, Is biamping the same as going active?

thanks in advance,

Imran

For details on biamping check out this thread Biamping

Going active with what you have may not be a good idea, but consider it seriously within your upgrade path.

Plan your upgrade path well Imran, agood source really does matter.

PS. I have have spare pair of Intro's - if your interested

naheed...

Helloo there,

Yup, i definately do need to concentrate on getting a good source. I might have to wait a while however, due to the money gods not looking my way at the moment. Anyway about your Intros...
I`ll mail you about it, thanks for telling me about them!

Moscow.

Personally, I would go with a cd3.5 first. My current system is 2x90, IXO, 92R, 2xFlatcap, cd3.5, credos and I absolutely love it! I actually had 2x180s in my system for about two weeks and greatly preferred THE TWO 90s! The 180s definitely sounded more powerful but also more raw with an audible pick-up in noise. The benefits of going active are unbelievable but you should certainly yourself a naim player first. Also, I prefer the ixo to the snaxo because the ixo has trim pots on the OUTSIDE where naim SHOULD put them on all of their crossovers and the snaxo doesn't. This is a very handy feature and I fiddle with the settings quite a bit, especially after encountering an over engineered cd. I can't urge you enough to try to listen to a pair of intros (not intro 2s) as I feel they are better. There is no comparison between the $14 (US) vifa tweeter in the intro2 and the $56 scanspeak unit used in the intro1 and the credo.
intro1s sound amazingly good when driven passively. Get a 3.5 and a couple of flatcaps and you will be very happy for a while. I also have a pair of intros. E-mail if interested.