There’s no such thing as all else equal. The amp highly depends on the speakers it drives as well as the rest of your gears (your preamp, front end source components, cables, etc). What are your speakers and the rest of your setup gears? Your preamp, front end source components? It's all about system synergy and all. It's very important that your speakers have great synergy with your electronics and cables in order to achieve great end results.
In general, the Naim NAP 500DR is superior to the Mac MC611, better musicality, musical rhythm, rhythmic drive, more refined overall. The Naim NAP 500DR comes in two box configuration with Naim 500 power supply unit. The NAP 500DR is a dual monoblock amp with each channel independent from each other and can be bridged. The amp is stable all the way down to 2 ohms.
The Mac MC611 is pretty solid monoblock amps with lots of power (600 watts @ 8, 6, 4, 2 ohms). Again it really depends on what speakers you have and the rest of your setup gears. The Naim NAP 500DR retails for $22k whereas the Mac MC611 retail for $14k/pair. If you have $22k to spend, go with the Naim NAP 500DR. But again, it’s hard to make recommendations not knowing what your speakers are and the rest of your equipments eg your preamp and front end source components.
I'm upgrading entire system. Speakers: I'm leaning towards Focal Sopra 3, Scala V2 or EgglestonWorks Vigniti. I've ruled out Wilson and Sonus, and haven't listened to KEF.
Preamp: will surely be same brand as power. If McIntosh, then C2600 with the MC611. I like the C2600 b/c of DAC/Phono/Headphone stages. If I decide on Naim power, then will pair it with Naim preamp.
Sources are vinyl and streaming. I have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon turntable that will get upgraded down the road. I haven't picked a streamer yet.
Cables - will be buying these. I have a pair of TaraLabs speaker cables, but willing to upgrade. Would prefer to run XLR between preamp and amp.
Power conditioner - need one.
Guessing you'll ask what my budget is. I don't really have one, but am willing to dump $75k+/-.
I've joined Audiogon and am posting here because I've gotten lost reading reviews, and am ready to invest in a great system. I listen to hard rock, rock, jazz and a lot of electronic. 45 years old, and I have a dedicated listening room that I just finished renovating. Here's the room:
https://imgur.com/gallery/Upznc5D
Nice room Jered and exciting times for you picking a system. If it was me I would decide on speakers/amps first and work your way up. Once that combo is picked for synergy there are tons of great preamps to choose from and do not have to be the same brand.
in my experience preamps have the most effect on the sound, keeping in mind of course that every link in a system is crucial.
At this point, $75k for the major pieces of equipment seems reasonable based on my interests and what I've discovered over the last couple months. This would include speakers, amp, preamp, DAC, streamer. This is a loose budget and can be flexible. Last weekend I flew to NYC and visited 4 stores, and listened to a good bit of equipment. It's so damn subjective and not an easy process. I feel I have a good room, and am ready to pick equipment and start the install, and then room treatments. I'm trying to not get impatient.
Well jeredh just to let you know that the Naim 500DR power amp alone is $22k, and if you go with the Focal Sopra 3, which retail for $19k/pair. The power amp and speakers will cost you $41k.
I highly recommend that you partner the Naim gears with Focal Sopra 3 speakers. The Focal Sopra 3 were actually voiced with Naim 500 DR amp + Naim NAC 552 preamp since the merger of the two companies. They will sound great together and have great synergy. System synergy is very important in high end audio or hifi. Fyi, Focal acquired Naim couple yrs ago.
Naim also makes great analog linestage preamp (500 series) to go with the Naim 500DR power amp. The Naim NAC 552 linestage preamp will run you another $22,400 including its partnering external power supply unit. Now so far you are at $63,400.
And for digital front end the ideal partner for Naim 500 series gears would be the ND 555 streamer/DAC and I suggest you add the 555 PS DR power supply unit to the ND 555 to significantly improve sound quality of the ND 555. The ND 555 streamer/DAC costs another $19k plus the 555 PS DR power supply unit for another $9k to $10k.
So, the total costs will far exceed your $75k budget. These do not include cables. But you will be more than satisfied with the overall performance with these Focal Sopra 3/Naim 500 series gears combo. The Focal Sopra will have great synergy with these Naim 500 series gears. They will sound spectacular together.
It will cost you much less if you go with McIntosh MC611 amps and the C2600 preamp/DAC since the MC611 monoblock amps retail for $14k/pair and the C2600 is around $7k. That’s it. For electronics alone they will run you for only $21k plus speakers but the overall musicality and sound quality won’t be as good as the Naim 500 series separates (NAP 500DR amp w/ it’s external PSU, NAC 552 analog preamp w/ its external PSU, ND 555 + 555 PS DR PSU). Not even close imo. And the Focal Sopra 3 will sound better paired with the Naim 500 series gears.
Btw, as far as speaker choices, you shouldn't ruled out Wilson Audio and Sonus Faber. They both make fantastic sounding speakers. I personally prefer them over the Focal. But again when it comes to speakers choices it all comes down to personal taste and preference as well as your own musical tastes.
Thanks caphill - this is good information and certainly pushes the needle towards Naim. Pricing is a slap in the face. Console space is another consideration, and the number of Naim components is something I need to address if I go with this choice.
I listened to Wilson Sabrina (Simaudio powered) and Sasha (McIntosh powered) and they were not for me. I feel their resin enclosures kill too much of the low end. Listened to Sonus (Audio Research power) and they lack the aggressive punch I enjoy. Yes, personal tastes vary from one to the next. I have a lot of thinking left to do, and appreciate the input!
I've heard the Wilson Sasha series 2 paired with all Audio Research Reference series gears in a very well treated room and thought they sounded fantastic together. I've also heard the Wilson Alexx, which is way better than the Sasha 2 and they should be considering the price difference between the two, paired with 2 pairs of Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 monoblock amps + D'Agostino Momentum linestage preamp + DCS Vivaldi full four stacks served as digital front end source components and they performed fantastic together. The listening room was very well treated. The Wilson Audio speakers usually pair really well with D'Agostino amps as well as Audio Research. I've never heard the Wilson paired with McIntosh gears before so can't comment.
Sonus Faber seem to pair really well with both McIntosh and Audio Research gears. I have heard various different models of Sonus Faber speakers paired with either Audio Research and McIntosh amps before and they sounded great together. They also pair well with some Soulution & CH Precision gears.
Naim 500DR with a Naim n272/555 streamer. These feed a pair of Focal Scala V2. Purchased them from another audiogon user and I am really happy. Last week I added my first phase of room treatments (Vicoustic Flexiwave). So far, so good!
This business about system synergy is distressing to me. There are amplifiers that can drive anything including a dead short and there are amplifiers that are limited to easy loads. This all depends on the speakers. If you have speakers that are an easy load and you like the sound of a fragile amplifier wonderful. Everything else just depends on what you like sonically and aesthetically. It has nothing to do with synergy. If you are trying to compensate for a deficiency in one piece with an exaggeration in another you are putting yourself farther behind the 8 ball. Sometimes you have to compromise because of financial considerations. Most of us have to do that to some degree. But compromise as little as possible. Just because a piece of equipment is cheap does not mean it is the right piece to buy. Both amps you are talking about I would not buy under any circumstance. There are many better amps to be had. Patience is a virtue.
I’ve owned system less than a year. I enjoy listening, and it’s been a fun experience thus far. It’s a big system that I’ve stuffed into a not-so-big room, and I knew going in that I had my work cut out to get things sounding good. Room is 19x17x8 with challenges, and I’m slowly working my way through them. Laid dedicated 20A circuit and new ground for the home, then replaced 4 hollow core doors along rear wall with solid core MDF, and am just getting to room treatments. After this I’ll get proper racking, spike the speakers, and then can settle in with it.
Naim powerhouse is everything I expected, and it has only gotten better with burn-in. It’s sound is so accurate, clean, and pure. I will sing Naim praise forever just based on the 500DR alone. The n272 has been interesting. It’s pairing with the 500 raises a brow for many, and I would upgrade if I stuck with the Naim for future purchases. I did add the 555 and it brought undeniable improvements to the n272.
The Scala V2s. These beasts are the sound I was wanting. Both the wife & I fell in love with Sopra 3 at demos in NYC. The kid inside me wanted this big stage, and I’ll have fun with them for years to come, but in the end, I imagine I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Wish I had access to more hi-if speakers to demo at home. Time will tell!
My counsel (unasked for, I know) is , after you've got it sorted properly, is to set it and forget it and just buy/enjoy the music. The Talmud says "the wise man is the contented man". You've certainly got a system that should be able to deliver the goods. Congratulations.
Great choice. Are you using the Naim ND 555 streamer/DAC with a 555 PS DR power supply unit? You should have gotten the NAC 552 linestage preamp with a 555 PS DR, not the n272. It will make huge difference sonically. Additionally, you might want to add a Naim Uniti Core Reference music server to connect to your Naim streamer/DAC. It will make a big difference too sonically. It will sound better than having your computer or NAS feeding your Naim streamer/DAC.
I am a big Naim fan boy myself. I personally own the Naim Statement NAC S1 linestage analog preamp and the Naim Statement NAP S1 monoblock amps driving a pair of Magico M6 speakers in one of my reference setup/system. But I'm not using a Naim digital streamer/DAC. I have a Clearaudio Statement v2 turntable with a TT-1 Statement tonearm, Statement Goldfinger cartridge, external separate class A linear PSU for the turntable & a D'Agostino Momentum phonostage pre. For digital front end source components I have a MSB Select ll DAC with its flagship Femto 33 clock and 2 mono separate powerhouses or 2 mono power supply units (one feeding power to its digital side of it and the other feeding power to its analog stage), MSB Select transport with its external separate PSU, Naim Uniti Core music server.
I also have a Naim Uniti Nova all-in-one box integrated solution (streamer/DAC/integrated amp) driving a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica l standmount speakers in my bedroom setup.
I just switched to Naim 300 DR with 300 DR PS and NAC 252 with supercap power, using Linn Klimax DSM for digital front, Sopra N3 speakers. It has added a new dimension to my listening. Very detailed, forward sounding, timing is superb. vocal is almost life like. I also have Bryston 7b3 mono block and Auris Audio Forte 150 Tube Mono block , Audio valve eclipse preamp. I personally prefer the Naim SQ.
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