Eskay Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 HI What is a worthwhile upgrade from a Niam 152/155 pre power combo that does not cost the earth? I dont want to stay with Naim. Maximum budget $8K Thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pim Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 There are a lot of ex Naim owners on Devialet Chat. I've never heard Naim so I can't tell you what the difference is. I can tell you Devialet is very transparent and can sound great with a good source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOPSHELF Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 What is it that makes you feel you don't want to go up the Naim tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eggcup The Daft Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Driving what speakers, with what sources? There is no point recommending amplifiers that you can't actually use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) . Edited January 24, 2019 by rantan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 I would like to improve on the detail, sound stage and clarity. The reason for moving from Naim is the cost of upgrading with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade74 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Would you go tube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al.M Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 $8k new or used would do? Like a Supratek/Audio Research/ Conrad Johnson tube preamp and Passlabs/Krell/Holton power amp or similar would be streaks ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barn door Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 What speakers are you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JukKluk2 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) A mate of mine replaced his Naim pre/power set up (a much more advanced combo than yours) with a Perreaux 250i and has been in heaven ever since. The 250i has recently been replaced by the 255i. Not sure about current pricing but you might be able to get a deal on an as yet unsold 250i. I can also highly recommend my Arcam FMJ A49, also now discontinued, as an alternative. Perhaps one of Melbourne's Arcam dealers has one left that they are keen to move on. Edited January 24, 2019 by JukKluk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 I will be using my current CD player- Naim CDX along with a pair of Canton SL526 which I have just purchased. I am happy to buy used-better value for money, or new, but I dont want a tube system. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janjuggler Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Hi @Eskay There are several in the classifieds that may be suitable. JJ Edited January 24, 2019 by Janjuc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 what about these? in classified. it would leave me with $3k for preamp? I am assuming that these are in a different class to my Naim? Item: Mark Levinson 434 mono blocks Location: Melbourne Price: 5200 obo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eggcup The Daft Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Tne speakers are a touch insensitive (85db/w/m quoted) and I suspect the frequency response figures (33-40kHz) quoted may be +/- 6dB. You should allow for a fairly powerful amp, at least 100w/ch, and possibly allow part of your budget for a sub if you think these speakers are bass light (that's a room and personal thing, of course!). Your Naim amps aren't up to the power requirement, from what I can see. I wouldn't write off going up the Naim tree if you liked the sound with your previous speakers, whatever they were - if you're looking for a better soundstage though, I'd agree it is time to jump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deanB Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Plenty of places in Melbourne to check out Vincent Audio, Eskay. Not a brand that's on everyone's radar but I reckon you could find a pre/power combo or integrated in their range to suit your Cantons. As a suggestion, the SA-31mk preamp and SP-995 monoblocks could possibly give you what you're looking for. Are you able to pack your speakers up and take them for demos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKay Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Having been a Naim user for over 25 years and finally moving on I would recommend you contact @Snake to check out his Vitus. I met him when I was Nap 250 and was impressed with how his gear was well looked after. This would be a great amp. I have a Lavardin IT but you need efficient speakers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Having been a Naim user for over 25 years and finally moving on I would recommend you contact [mention=126795]Snake[/mention] to check out his Vitus. I met him when I was Nap 250 and was impressed with how his gear was well looked after. This would be a great amp. I have a Lavardin IT but you need efficient speakers. Having just bought one myself I can vouch for the quality of sound and value - these are impressive and powerful amps AJ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Gale Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 24/01/2019 at 8:20 PM, Pim said: There are a lot of ex Naim owners on Devialet Chat. I've never heard Naim so I can't tell you what the difference is. I can tell you Devialet is very transparent and can sound great with a good source. There's also a lot of people concerned enough about their Devailet's overheating. Also the customer support sounds a bit dodgy too. Naim, not a fan they charge bucket loads for supposed power supply upgrades which are pretty basic linear's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddyev Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Might be able to negotiate these locally made Elektras into your price range. Excellent amps. https://www.melbournehifi.com.au/collections/elektra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 24/01/2019 at 8:13 PM, Eskay said: HI What is a worthwhile upgrade from a Naim 152/155 pre power combo that does not cost the earth? I don't want to stay with Naim. Maximum budget $8K. Thoughts? As you're in Melbourne, Eskay, you might like to pay a visit to Hugh Dean ( @AKSA ) in Rosanna and Iisten to one of his current power amps: SAKSA, at 85wpc (into 8 ohms), or Maya, at 200wpc (into 8 ohms). Then you would have to find a good preamp. Many years ago (2000?) I took one of my Naim 250s over to Hugh's place as I was facing exactly your recapping issue. We compared it against his first amp - the 'AKSA 55' - which killed it, in terms of SQ. So I bought 2x 55w kits and 1x 100w kit, built them ... and then sold my 2x NAP250s and 1x NAP160. Since then, I have had 2x AKSA upgrades - each one sounding better than the previous one. Nowadays, he can supply fully built amps (if you're not a DIYer) - as well as amp modules that only require you to add the power transformer and do some wiring. The AKSA contact details are here: http://www.aksaonline.com/contact/contact.html Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irek Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Hi, In my opinion you need to upgrade your speakers before upgrading amplifier. If you are after transparency then try PMC or Focal Electra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frednork Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 I went from Devialet Expert 200 to Vitus RI-100, for me the Vitus much better. I was not unhappy with the Devialet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pim Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 On 27/01/2019 at 5:04 PM, DEANO23 said: There's also a lot of people concerned enough about their Devailet's overheating. Also the customer support sounds a bit dodgy too. Naim, not a fan they charge bucket loads for supposed power supply upgrades which are pretty basic linear's. There's one guys here on SN who might actually have an overheating problem with his Devialet. There are thousands out there who don't understand that the case is a heat sink and are wrongly concerned. (I was one of them). Devialet give a 5 year warranty and so far I've not heard of anyone needing that for overheating. So disregard the 'overheating issue'. Customer support however, that's a bit of a hit and miss thing. Eventually though, they always seem to come to the party. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Gale Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 There's one guys here on SN who might actually have an overheating problem with his Devialet. There are thousands out there who don't understand that the case is a heat sink and are wrongly concerned. (I was one of them). Devialet give a 5 year warranty and so far I've not heard of anyone needing that for overheating. So disregard the 'overheating issue'. Customer support however, that's a bit of a hit and miss thing. Eventually though, they always seem to come to the party.There was one guy who did end up getting a replacement under warranty that I'm aware of also there might be a misunderstanding but whose fault is that. Anyway we kinda hijacked his thread my apologies to the author. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Posted January 31, 2019 Author Share Posted January 31, 2019 No problem DEANO23, so many options- I am thinking that maybe I should just upgrade my power amp to the next in the Naim range- either a 200 or 250?? thanks everyone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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