New Classic NAP 250 with the NSC 222

The Naim Audio NAP 250 is the Porsche 911 of the HiFi world. As it is always evolving and a performance benchmark, the NAP 250 is the one to reference in terms of amplification. First seen in 1975, this Naim Audio New Classic NAP 250 is now in its 6th generation, always tipping its hat to Naim’s founder, Julian Vereker, who understood the benefits of using thick plates of aluminium to wrap electronic components up and allow them to do their thing, without undue radio frequency, or other, influence.

Design

The Naim Audio New Classic NAP 250 is a power amplifier only with a claimed 100 watts of A/B class power per channel into 8 Ohms. It claims 29dB of gain benefiting from elements of Naim’s flagship Statement technology (like the soft start). The new 250 retains the proprietary NA009 power

The 7-speed fan to the rear is seemingly inaudible

transistor DR technology for a ‘stable, fluid power supply and exceptional performance’.

The New Classic NAP 250 now has a balanced topography with balanced XLR inputs (these cables are provided). The new NAP 250 has an intelligent heat sink and a fan system that removes heat from the circuit board with 7-speed settings. This fan has several functions, not least ensuring your party keeps going at a high load, and it also helps prolong the lifespan of the internal electronics.

Of interest is the new eddy current slot between the two speaker outputs. The current between these outputs can induce a current in the metal between them, which can act as a brake on the power output. As shown in the picture, Naim has sought to reduce this effect by introducing a slot between the positive and negative terminals. This learning has trickled down from the two hundred thousand pounds Statement to the New Classic.

Quality

New eddy current slot

The premium black aluminium alloy casing is gorgeous. The power amplifier has just the power button on the front. At the rear of the 250, there is an optical auto-on cable provided, so when you power on the preamplifier, the power amplifier softly starts. This optical solution obviates any stray electrical noise in the system.

The New Classic NAP 250 is fairly ‘standard’ 432mm 91.5mm x 317mm (W x H x D). It weighs a satisfying 16.8kg. In standby, the 250 consumes < 0.5W. The New Classic NAP 250 retails for £6,200. The full specification is here.

Performance

Review Equipment

I’m listening to the New Classic NAP 250 with the matching NSC 222, the associated NPX 300 power supply, and the new pair of Burndy cables.

The 250 normally drives the Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers, but I also have the Audiovector QR3 SEs and the Focal Aria Evo X No.2s here. I have Atlas Mavros loudspeaker cables with Grun and Atlas 2.5em power cables in place of the Naim-supplied Power-Line Lite leads.

As well as the 222 on the streaming side I have a sparkling new release Rekkord F400 automatic turntable that is a worthy partner to the MM stage in the 222.

Physically

It is all looking rather pleasant indeed, so much so that HF&MS has finally ordered a proper HiFi Rack from Solidsteel, having been crazily impressed with their stands with the exceptional Serhan Swift Mu2 MkII loudspeakers.

The new Naim Focal App, which controls the NSC 222, is now excellent. In the settings, you can adjust the white illuminated logo to your taste and ambient lighting, thereby adjusting the 250 illuminated logo.

I like the soft start-up, which is very prompt. I’m used to having my old Classic Naim kit on permanently; I don’t think I turned off my 250 or 272 for seven years or so. I’ve never heard the fan, and I’m using the NAP 250 for much of the day.

Naim uses big linear power supplies with toroidal transformers

I am getting a degree of hum in the NAP 250, indeed the NPX 300 has also developed a hum in the last week. This hum is inaudible from my listening position, however.  Naim says it uses oversized linear power supplies with toroidal transformers made of a more expensive iron core that is as efficient as they can get it. These magnetically grain-orientated iron cores exhibit a degree of hum over a switch-mode power supply.  I have inserted a new Powergrip to clean up the current delivery using their dedicated power amplifier high current outputs.  This has reduced the hum to the point where I need to be close to the unit to hear any physical noise.

Kudos Titan 505

… a genuine emotional response

What are we listening for from an amplifier? Well, it is the usual: clarity, space and dynamic response (Naim traditionally has had a reserve of power held back for those bursts of power in the 250s). The other element we need from a classic Naim power amplifier is the mythical PRaT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing, otherwise known to me as an engaged and emotional response).

But first, let’s play some music. My Playlist has been carefully curated with the first dozen or so tracks to explore my perception of PRaT. I accidentally, or divinely, cue up Trevor Horn/Lady Blackbird’s cover of Slave to the Rhythm (Qobuz 24-bit, 192kHz). The Titans access the bass here nicely with perfect control; there is just enough bass response here to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The depth and clarity in the vocals are exceptional in my experience. This I take as a genuine emotional response. Good start.

It’s time for a bit of raw acoustic Nirvana from their Unplugged album. Here, Lake of Fire (Qobuz 16-bit, 44.1kHz) is also genuinely emotional and suffocating; the thought of what might have been with Cobain, Grohl, and Novoselic leaves this reviewer brooding. This is a vibrant and visceral track; all is well with this New Classic amplifier.

One artist who unquestionably reached his astounding potential is Paul McCartney and Band on the Run (Qobuz 24-bit, 96kHz), where rhythm is the name of the game. Grohl’s Foo Fighter’s version of this track is epic if you can find it in full 24-bit glory. In McCartney’s version, however, the stage is immediate, rhythmic and whimsical, and there is a ton of excellent detail offered by the Titan/250 combination.

An interesting insight into the 250 comes with Bob Dylan’s Hurricane. I have found the violin sections sometimes grating, particularly in the old NAP 250, but here, there is a marked softer tone from the amplifier, hinting at a change of Naim’s overall tone. Could it be that Naim’s signature has moved towards MOON by Simaudio with a more forgiving presentation?

Finally, I’m won over, as always, by George Harrison’s gorgeous My Sweet Lord (Qobuz 24-bit, 96kHz), where the Titans’ bass control is complete. The layered guitars (there are five acoustic guitars in there) are super wide yet intimate, and the resolution on offer from each of them is clear to hear in this setup.

Audiovector QR3 SE

A brief overlap with the Audiovector QR3 SE loudspeakers offers further insight into this New Classic NAP 250 amplifier. In a direct switch from the Classic NAP 250 to the New Classic NAP 250, I had a greater bass response than the old 250 (incidentally non-DR). I feel as if I could access the lower end of the QR3 SE near the claimed 25Hz. How can this be so clear? Maybe it is the room or my familiarity with it, but the SEs sounded great with the old Classic NAP. The best example is when the bass kicks in in Moby’s original version of Why Does My Heart Fell So Bad at 1’00”. Both the 250 and the QR3 SEs are fast enough to cope with this moment, however at this point I preferred the response from the older 250.

Focal Aria Evo X No. 2

I’m just getting into the Aria Evo Xs. Like the QR3 SEs, they are smaller but more appropriate for my rooms. I hear a much softer presentation from the same Lady Blackbird track with less bass response. This conclusion is borne out in the Moby track, which has markedly less bass response. This, however, is not the 250s’ fault, as the quoted frequency range of the Evo Xs is an accessible 45Hz.

However, this said, the Evo X No. 2 are a less intense, friendlier, late-night style loudspeaker with a compelling delivery.

Slave to the Rhythm

Musical Interlude

Here’s the Musical Interlude Playlist.  It features some of my favourite tracks, from R.E.M., George Harrison, Ed Harcourt and Lana Del Rey.

Thoughts

… this 200 Series looks and sounds better than a Porsche 911…

In my dedicated listening room, I have a Moor Amps Angel 6; this is the only power amplifier I will ever need as its effortless performance at its

The Naim Audio holy trinity

price is peerless; however, with all respect to Moor, it looks like a refuse truck, and thus, it will not pass muster in the main lounge. However, this 200 Series looks and sounds better than a Porsche 911. For this lowly reviewer, £6,200 per unit is nothing like affordable, given I’ve been offered barely four figures for each of my current XPS, 272 and 250 from various retailers in exchange for this new 200 Series.

My other slight issue is that with this new 200 Series, I would necessarily need a speaker upgrade in the main living space as my 15-year-old KEF R700s are already rather challenged performance-wise. The final point to note is that I may be looking for alternative accommodation to put this kit in as I will almost certainly be turfed out by my better half!

Thus, we have the audiophile’s dilemma: how do we upgrade? Can I live with my otherwise perfectly decent Naim system? I could make a deal with the Devil to own this wonderful equipment. Unfortunately, I’m not as good a fiddle player as ‘Johnny’ in Charlie Daniels’ Devil Went Down to Georgia. Until then, I’m waiting for my lottery numbers to come up without a realistic upgrade path.

Overall

I want it, I need it; it is an Editor’s Pick!

In this setup, particularly with the Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers, the New Classic NAP 250 is extremely transparent and less angular (fatiguing) versus my own 250.  It feels like a step in the right direction for Naim Audio, and it will be tough to pack it up and give it back, as I must. I want it, I need it; it is an Editor’s Pick!

Specification

New Classic NAP 250

Full details are on the company’s site.