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X250.5 compared to Naim Nait5i

Hi guys,

I am new to higher end audio. At present I have a Naim Nait 5i, Cambridge Azur 840 c (CD player) and Dali Ikon 7 speakers. Will running a Pass X 250x along with a Parasound JC2 with these speakers make a big difference to the sound?
I also plan to get a pair of Magnepan 1.6s and I am guessing those with the above equipment would be a big improvement.......what do you think?

I have nothing to compare all this with since my last system cost a total of about $500 - Cambridge Soundworks...(I know) but I am amazed with the sound I have now, however, the high notes on the Ikon 7s tend to be irritating and shrill, almost like having a referee blow his whistle in my ear (is this what you guys mean when you say the highs are a bit "forward"?). I have tried laying carpet in front of the speakers (I have hard floors) and it helps a bit. My dealer told me to hang a piece of tissue over the tweeter but I think there has to be a better fix than that.
Any info regarding the above would be greatly appreciated.
Fantastic site and forum by the way.
Thanks a lot
thomastrouble
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 
Thanks Vandermeulen. I will be using Kimber 8TC speaker cable and Wire World interconnects (XLR).
What has the bigger effect on the music - the preamp or the amp, assuming the amp is matched well for the speakers?
vandermeulen
191 posts
 
Thats a tricky one. If you were asking about phone pre's, I would say DEFINITELY the pre in that case. But either one can project an obvious difference in the system. I would slightly lean more towards the amps in this case.
thomastrouble OP
239 posts
 
To DBarger - Looks like your comment that re. moving up to separates will make me appreciate the Naim Nait5i seems to be right on target.
I wanted to hook the Pass X250.5 up to the Maggie 1.6s today but couldn't as I need adapters for them so my cables will fit. I previously had been using the Nait with a pair of Dali Ikon 7s, then until the Pass arrived I was running the Maggies off the Nait - surprisingly good for 50watts!
Anyway, I hooked the Pass up with a Parasound Jc2 through the Ikons and to be honest I think the Nait sounds almost,if not, as good! I am sure I will notice a great difference when this gear is running the Maggies on Monday, but in this set-up the amp and pre-amp don't really stand out against the Nait.....would you or anybody else agree on this. or am I missing something?

One possibility is, I have been listening to the Maggies non-stop for a week or two and might be getting spoiled when switching back to the Dalis.
dbarger
215 posts
 
I am actually going through something similar myself. I have a Naim XS which I enjoy greatly. I also have ARC Ref3/Ref110 gear. When I put in the ARC gear, while it is obviously more detailed, open, and transparent, I just don't get as involved in the music as with the little Naim. With the Naim, at the end of a song, I could tell just how the piece flowed, what little musical nuances there were, whereas with the ARC gear at the end I really couldn't tell you much musically speaking, just details about the details. I am actually selling the XS (probably a mistake) to move up the Naim chain to see if I can get it all at a higher price. A bit frustrating for me. Once you "get it" about the Naim experience, and find it suits you, nothing else will quite do as well...
casouza
239 posts
 
I believe that the Dali speakers are the limiting link in your system right now.
By the way your hearing is in good shape, Stereophile measured a 5 db peak in the treble, which sounds exactly as you described, bright and shrill.
Two speaker drivers operating in paralell will have a theoretical max 6 db gain in loudness.
A treble range lifted 5db above the midrange is the direct result of those redundant tweeters.
I do not understand why Dali insists on running two tweeters at mostly overlappping frequencies. My guess is that they do it as a marketing gimmick.
The speakers sound pretty impressive in the showroom, all that clarity...but later on, listening fatigue sets in.
I believe you will be much happier with the Maggies.
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