Blackforest
Member
I am in a bit of a dilemma due to several upgrades I made.
System as of now is Naim 202/200DR/AudionoteJ (with original Naca 5), a Heed Quasar, DV20X2L (new) which sits on an Ortofon 12" on a Raven One.
Some months before amp was a NAP140 instead (sold the original NAP200 due to trafo hum) and a "lowly" Shelter 301. I know these speakers scream
"tubes" but I am not ready to give up on the Naims yet.
With my new setup have way too much bass (gain too) – my speakers are quite sensitive @93db. The new cart has quite a lot of bass – that I know.
I have switched out the phono stage (DV P75 3, EAR Phonobox, Lab12 Melto 2 (!)) but the Quasar wasn't the problem. Going from the nice little 140 to
the 200DR has given me more finesse with the 202, bigger stage resolution and (I also suspect) more oomph.
I then switched the Naca 5 to Audioquest Rocket 33 (Bi Wiring) and that was a HUGE difference – if being critical I'd say there's still a bit of a bass bloom
and it does sound too polished / cd-like if you know what I mean. But: a LOT better. Mediocre pressings or pressings with too much bass (the new Abbey Road
50th A. for example) sounded way better and more transparent in the lower mids. (I also demmed some very expensive Transparent cable as well as Nordost
Purple Flare – they were both complete rubbish in a Naim system).
So what do you think: shall I demo more cables like Tellurium or Chord? Another higher or lower version of the Audioquests?
Shall I address the old grey interconnect between the pre and power amp?
Will the old NAP200 have less oomph?
Appreciate your thoughts on this,
Christian
System as of now is Naim 202/200DR/AudionoteJ (with original Naca 5), a Heed Quasar, DV20X2L (new) which sits on an Ortofon 12" on a Raven One.
Some months before amp was a NAP140 instead (sold the original NAP200 due to trafo hum) and a "lowly" Shelter 301. I know these speakers scream
"tubes" but I am not ready to give up on the Naims yet.
With my new setup have way too much bass (gain too) – my speakers are quite sensitive @93db. The new cart has quite a lot of bass – that I know.
I have switched out the phono stage (DV P75 3, EAR Phonobox, Lab12 Melto 2 (!)) but the Quasar wasn't the problem. Going from the nice little 140 to
the 200DR has given me more finesse with the 202, bigger stage resolution and (I also suspect) more oomph.
I then switched the Naca 5 to Audioquest Rocket 33 (Bi Wiring) and that was a HUGE difference – if being critical I'd say there's still a bit of a bass bloom
and it does sound too polished / cd-like if you know what I mean. But: a LOT better. Mediocre pressings or pressings with too much bass (the new Abbey Road
50th A. for example) sounded way better and more transparent in the lower mids. (I also demmed some very expensive Transparent cable as well as Nordost
Purple Flare – they were both complete rubbish in a Naim system).
So what do you think: shall I demo more cables like Tellurium or Chord? Another higher or lower version of the Audioquests?
Shall I address the old grey interconnect between the pre and power amp?
Will the old NAP200 have less oomph?
Appreciate your thoughts on this,
Christian