Hi lads!

Due to the arrival of the 500 late last year, the 250 got moved from DBLs in the front to the IBLs in the back. Now the NAPV 175 has only to feed the Axent.

The next upgrade is obviously to change the 3 channel 175 to a 145 mono for the center. At the moment, there are no NAPV 145 around here, neither to demo, nor to buy. But I have found a one year old 250 for less than a new 145.

I know that in the olive days, some had used 2x 250 as pseudo 135 monos replacement. So this should work - or would it put a "wrong load" to the amp somehow...

Do I need a special cable to use only 1 channel of the 250 for center duties? Is it a big difference in sound quality to a "proper" 145?

Happy listening
Adrian

I can't truly tell you if there's any problems with the "load" but I'm confident there is no problem. Beyond that I can share my experience of using a 250 "in mono mode".
Before I got DBLs I was running active SBLs with 2x135 and 2x250. (My old postings about the results are on the old forum.) I ran the 250s in mono but tried it in two different ways. There was no special cabling for this.
One way I set the 250 involved no changes but I only had signal going to one channel and only had one NACA5 cable from the amp output. The result was definitely better than requiring both channels of the 250 in use. Even with the improvement there was a clear difference compared to the 135s. Not ideal but not bad.
The other way I set the 250 involved internally disconnecting one channel. The result was definitely better than the other "mono" use of the 250 and was nearly as good as the 135. The 135s were still better but it was very close.
I'm sure that you would get the best performance out of a 145 and using a cable that is only intended to carry one signal. In the interim - my experience suggests you could definitely enjoy a "mono" 250 with normal cables.
Enjoy!
Mark

adrian

the 145 would work wonders on your axcent believe me ( i had it , before i got shot of the axcent)

neil

Is it possible to Bi-amp these speakers ?

Just a thought - pre n-Vi, I used a 90.3 with a custom lead made by Chord to power the centre channel. Seemed a waste just to use one channel so i took out the terminal links on the speaker and used the left channel for the treble and the right for the bass and got the custom cable made up to connect the L&R inputs together. Worked well.

James

I changed from a 250 olive to a 145 on my Axess a few years ago. The upgrade was obvious, my wife has noticed the change instantly and it was when watching the news at the TV. The voices were more real, fuller, richer. And it was with the Axess, the difference should be even bigger with the Axent.
An other thing is the 3 front channel merge better with 300/SL2 and 145/Axess than with the olive 250.
But that's optimization, the olive 250 did very well indeed...If you want the best go with a 145, if you want better than a 175, the olive 250 will be a lot better.
If you order a 145, you should have it in 4 to 6 weeks (summer break, Supernait monopolizing the factory...) unless Naim told there is a delay.

2 x 145 versus 300. Manu, can you comment on the performance issue (i.e., power, clarity, dynamics...)

300, no questions.