[targetrich]

Can anyone help me in making my next step up the AV/HiFi ladder. At the moment I've got a Tag AV32R processor going into Smartpower amps, which power Proac D15 and some old KEF egg surrounds.

Let me tell you what I've been thinking - replace the smartpowers with a Naim NAP 250 mark 2. This will be for my hifi (in particular, my Linn record player). Use the Smarts to power the surrounds and centre. Upgrade the surrounds and centre with the relevant Proac speakers.

Then either upgrade the Tag to a dual processor, or buy an AV2.

Also, I'm using QED silver aniversary bi-wired cable. Time for an upgrade?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Richard Torble]

If you like the Naim sound (and I love it), then the AV2 is the way to go. Although, the stereo preamp performance is only as good as a 112x, which is still pretty damn good mind

The purchase of an AV2 would also allow you to look at purchasing a better dedicated Naim preamp in the future, say a 282, and using it's unity gain feature to allow the two to work together.

The DD/DTS performance is marvellous as well, it still maintains all of the Naim characteristics.

[Kenny Glasgow]

I've being using TAG processors for around 6 years and they are as good as it gets

However.....if you have go with the Naim power amps then I would go for the AV2 rather than upgrade your TAG, if there isn't much in price difference.

The NAIM sounds superb any time I've had (brief) listens to it with both music and movies

[recruit]

I heard the Naim processor some years back now at one of the Hi Fi shows and they were playing Star Wars 2 Attack of the Clones and the performance it gave was pretty darn good, a very dynamic presentation.
The only problem is that it is quite limited as a processor but i suppose what it does do, it does very well

[Ed Selley]

My Father is an AV2 user and I have a high regard for the unit. I would say however (as others have already) that like a number of the more expensive Naim items, it is at its happiest working with other bits of Naim gear, I suspect that its idiosyncracies might come to the fore if mixed and matched beyond not using Naim speakers. That said, I don't honestly know anyone who isn't using one with Naim amps and often with the DVD player as well.
ToF

[Henry]

Just to throw something else into the mix, I wondered how an Arcam AVR300 would compare to the Naim AV2 with appropriate Naim Power Amps?

I've been buying Naim hi-fi gear and really really like the sound but have Arcam in the lounge for movies. I'd be tempted to consolidate everything and have wondered as to whether it'd be a sideways step on the movies or an upgrade!

[Dellboy]

I have the FMJ 27A playing through my AV2, 175 and 135's and MK speakers and subs. The AV2 loves DTS!!!!!!

Hopefully upgrading to DVD5 in the near future.

As somebody has already mentioned if you like what a Naim system does you'll love the AV2.

[targetrich]

Would the fact that I'm using a Tag DVD32R change anybodys opinion about changing to a AV2? I've bought the NAP250.2 now so I'm going to put my Cyrus Smartpowers on Ebay. I also hope to buy Nordorst Red Dawn speaker cable to replace the QED Silver Anniversary.

I have to say I like the idea of using the AV2 with a separate preamp alot, but it's a very expensive proposition. I wonder if Naim intend the upgrade the AV2 in the near future?

So my shopping list grows. On that subject, anyone have any suggestions about interconnects?

[Kenny Glasgow]

You're stuck in the middle here aren't you

What version of the AV32R do you have?

[targetrich]

the bog standard one without any upgrades. I was thinking about the dp upgrade which would cost about £2000. The BP192 upgrade is more affordable, but it would only get me part of the way to where I want to go, I think.

[Kenny Glasgow]

Pity you weren't on here a few months ago as IAG were getting rid of the stock badged TMA

You could have picked-up a bp 192 for £800 and a DP for betwenn £1600-£2000 brand new boxed

If you upgrade your AV32R check with IAG's helpdesk as you could be without it for several weeks (or months).

The DP is hard to beat and comes with the room correction software that makes a HUGE difference

Check out the TAG forum on here for more views

If you go for the Naim I don't think you will be dissapointed and you could eventually go for their DVD player if you are looking for a one make system

[Thunder]

The fact that the DP has TMREQ means that there is simply no contest Quality room EQ is still a totally underestimated feature for AV processors in my opinion Add to this that it will talk to your DVD32R to synchronize all features is an added bonus

[targetrich]

could i pick up a DP for £1600 - £2000 brand new and boxed!!?? Where? Then I could sell my processor on ebay to help make up the difference. I'm stuck between the Tag equiptment I love, and the Naim sound I remember so fondly from my 32.5/110. I think for now I'll try and get a DP and put it into Naim power amps.

The music side of things is more important to me than the AV side, particularly coming from my LP12 (which makes me either a fossil or a traditionalist, or maybe both). That being said, I also need the Proac CC1 centre speaker which is another five hundred odd quid....

Does anyone know the lottery numbers for this weekend?

[targetrich]

I've just re-read your reply Kenny. Damn it! I'll keep an eye on ebay....

[booktrunk]

If the music is most important can't you just stick with your tag and get a Naim pre-amp and plumb the Front L&R inputs into that?

Most of the naim pre-amps have a processor function to make this sort of thing easy to do?

[Mr_Sukebe]

I've dem'd an AV2, but as a stereo pre-amp, and was far from impressed. IMO it was not even as good as a 112, and I'd only put it on par with a Nait 5.
As you'll be using your system with music, the AV2 would be a massive bottleneck before hitting your 250/speaker combo.

I'd suggest that you go for a much better dedicated stereo pre-amp (e.g a 282) and then see what funds you have available for a processor.

[bushy30]

Go ring Sevenoaks Brighton Branch ! they may have a DP boxed new, certainly got some other TAG bits, and of course then not only do you get TMREQ, but you get TAGcommunication bus too ! WeeeeeeeHeeeeeeeey !

Bushy

[slingshot]

"The music side of things is more important to me than the AV side, particularly coming from my LP12 (which makes me either a fossil or a traditionalist, or maybe both). That being said, I also need the Proac CC1 centre speaker which is another five hundred odd quid...."

I don't think an LP12 and TAG works very well, I'm running my LP12 (ittok, valahalla) into the analog input of my AV32R SP bp192, and while using the bypass is a definate improvement over the digital inputs, I'd be surprised the AV2 doesn't improve it considerably.

[bushy30]

Hmmm Targetrich ? Slingshot? Split personality? LOL

Yep I can see your problem, I had that problem too, however I solved my problem using a TAG PA10 (which I had before the AV32DP) as the preamp and take the preamp outputs into the AV32DP -- easy, sounds great, and the turntable is an Ariston RD80SL with Linn Basik, so should be roughly comparable !

Cheers

Bushy

[alexs2]

Have to say I've never been a great fan of using AV processors as stereo preamps,but I've been very pleasantly surprised by using an AV32R/DP,as an upgrade from my previous SP version.

Much improved in all respects,but the real clincher was the TMREQ,which has removed all of the unpleasant room modes and just made listening a pleasure again,even when compared to using the bypass facility.

The only other solution I've found in my room was to cut the bass back quite severely,by using my Quad ESL's without a sub.

I think that the AV32R DP is still able to match or exceed the performance of the vast majority of similarly priced gear,and it's ease of use by comparison with the Naim shouldnt be ignored either,notwithstanding the TMREQ.

[targetrich]

well that's alot to think about for now, many thanks to all the contributors. I'll ring Brighton Sevenoaks tomorrow, fingers crossed! That is to say, I think I'll try and get a DP...I think I will...

I pick up my new NAP 250.2 tomorrow, and will spend tomorrow night trying to figure out how to plug it into my system. Anyone want a couple of Smartpowers?? By the way, I also reckon I'm going to swap my Cyrus Q-powers which do the surround sound to maybe NAP 150's. Then it's a Proac CC1, then it's new speaker cable, then new interconnects,..then, having lost my sanity, you'll be able to find me gibbering to myself in a corner.

I'm not sure how I could get a NAP282 to work in conjunction with the AR32R...

[recruit]

targetrich - what colours are the smartpowers?

[targetrich]

black as a ravens wing at midnight. One bought from Sevenoaks in 2002 or 3, the other from Music Matters about 6 months ago.

[alexs2]

recruit and targetrich.....if those items are for sale....you know which part of the forums they should be in.

[targetrich]

sorry, I wasn't expecting the enquiry on this site. Being a rare visitor here, I didn't know you could buy and sell on this site (although I suppose I should reasonably have suspected). I'll have a look...

[General Skanky]

I also have a Naim AV2.

I think I can categorically say it's the best bit of AV kit I've ever owned. I've been through/demoed quite a bit, but not Tag.

In the simplist terms I know, the AV2 now just sits there and 'is'. I don't touch it, tweak, fiddle or anything, ever. And it sounds fantastic.

It's stereo performance is also pretty good. Mr_Sukebe isn't a fan of it as much as I am for music. I like it.

However, for me it's because I use it with active ATC speakers and an Arcam DV27a, (which would be a DVD5 if I had the cash).

Imho the whole is greter than the sum of the parts, but the AV2 is a very big part.

To be blunt, I am happy.

[General Skanky]

P.S.

I also love being a Naimee.

Very elitist don't you know.

[damenace]

I too love my av2, but I do think you seriously need a dvd5 or a similar top-notch dvdp.
The av2 is very unforgiving and if like me you partner it with a cheap dvdplayer, you will hear it's inferiority (the source's that is).

But if you partner it with a good dvdp, maybe even a dvd5, then you have a true winner there.

[Nic Rhodes]

Look under the lid of an Arcam 29 and a Naim dvd5 and it might surprize you quite how much is the same but I did tell you that

[General Skanky]

But how do they sound?