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Naim NAP 250

I know that the Naim Nap250 has been in production for a long time. I'm wondering if dependig on when the amp was made if there is a difference in sound? Are some years or versions better than others? Or are they all about the same. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for or any questions I should be asking when considering purchasing an older amp? I would also like to know if the Nap 250 can be used with non Naim preamps. I would be a Linn Majik as a pre until I could afford a Naim pre. Thanks.
mattman
mikedimitrov's avatar
mikedimitrov
161 posts
 
Ye they sound little diffrently everytime.Go to Naim forum,there is alot of discussion about Naim 250.And yes it could be used with another preamps.
scottv60e6
1 posts
 
I have an old fabricated-case NAP250 (smooth panels screwed to frame - external transistors, 5-way binding posts)circa late 70's.
In the last 20 odd years its been through two lightning strikes that caused serious rebuilding.
The first was around 10 years in age and it was like getting a new amplifier. Cleaner, clearer, more subtle than with the aging power-supply/caps. Second was about five years after the first and didn't result in as much change.
So they at least sound different as they age.

I've never had an opportunity to drop a newer model NAP250 in my crude setup to really know what the differences are. I have heard the newer models in showrooms but didn't hear anything that couldn't be ascribed to the different setup.
From description I've read I would think the newer model is a bit better in bass - I went active with a Celestion System 6000, partly because the weakness of the bass in my unit.
Removing the lower freq from the NAP250 (sent to Bryston 4B-NRB) really helped the "air" and subtlety of the upper end - has nowhere near as much work to do.
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