Having recently reviewed the New Classic NAP 250 and the NSC 222 streaming preamplifier, I’ve been left empty with that slightly inferior feeling with my own Old Naim Classic NAC-N 272 and my NAP 250 (which is not DR).

My problem is that, having priced up a trade-in with a larger retailer, I would be getting nowhere near one box of the new 200 Series with my XPS, NAC N-272, and 250. My other issue is that if I upgrade to the 200 Series, my loudspeakers will need an upgrade, a further expense I don’t have. E-bay is the Wild West for me, so I’m not going there.

Having seen at Bristol and received the Chord Cables BurndyX upgrade, I heard tangible gains in my system. My own HiFi system* is, in any case, a very lovely sound with my old and saggy KEF R700s.

Here are the upgrades I have played with to get closer to the 200 Series. They are inspired by Chord Company’s historic relationship with Naim (see the lovely history lesson below) and a few other experiences over the recent years.

BurndyX (£880, reviewed April 2024)

We concluded in the Chord Cables BurndyX review there was a;

… significant, uplift in the system’s performance

The uplift was tangible, notably when it was removed (it went back in quickly).

A BurndyT option from Chord offers further insulation improvements at a higher price point (£1,760).

SignatureX Tuned ARAY 4-pin DIN (£1,050)

SignatureX installed

Next, Chord Company suggested upgrading the 4-pin DIN lead between the preamplifier and the NAP 250. Having already seen the benefit of upgrading this lead with Vertere’s Redline upgrade, I was all for this.  The SignatureX Tuned ARAY 4-pin DIN upgrade was proposed at the system level I have here. This cable has multi-stranded silver-plated OFC conductors.  Chord Company claim it is transformed by cross-linked polyethylene (XPLE) insulation and a high-density, silver-plated braid and foil combination that offers high-frequency shielding.  The cables are terminated with Chord’s soldered ChorAlloy plated connector pins.

In sum, the spaghetti junction at the rear of any rack will always generate noise; proper shielding will prevail with the correct conductor, as it does here.

A Chord Company Bridge is available, too, if required to clean things up at the rear.

Node X (£549, June 2024)

Node X with Chord GroundARAY fitted

One of the slight problems with Naim’s older streaming products is their inability to upgrade to Qobuz. This is particularly the case with Naim’s NAC-N 272. I recently sent the 272 back to Naim for a new screen, the Tidal streaming update, and a thorough working over, but they could not help me with Qobuz.  My simple solution is the Bluesound Node X.  The Node X, as a streaming transport in this case, is excellent at this price point and with the optical output into the 272 DAC, which is, I believe, a Burr Brown 1792 chip.  The NSC 222 may have the 1791A chipset, which is one peg down, which is interesting.  Of course, DAC chip implementation is not just the chip but also its power supply, co-processing, board design, and the like.

We said in the review of the 10th Anniversary Node X that;

… if you’re looking for a streaming DAC, this should unreservedly be at the top of your audition list.

Remember, Node X uses BluOS, I’ve been saying for years;

…BluOS is the best out there…

The streaming transport input from Node X has been flawless thus far, and I would challenge anyone to find fault with it or the DAC in the 272 unless you have an ND 555.

The Node X could be a WiiM Pro Plus, an Eversolo DMP-A6, or any streamer (video), including the Cyrus Audio Stream XR (a bit over the top?) or an Auralic streaming transport, like the new Auralic S1 Aries.

EE-1 in the Node (£300, Aug 2024 effective price)

The English Electric EE-1 by Chord Company with Chord Ethernet cable to the source

Therefore, the next obvious upgrade to this system is to put the EE-1 network filter on the Node X Ethernet port.  The EE-1  is a network noise isolator that reduces low-frequency and high-frequency noise whilst maintaining the data flow quality. It works in this noisy network with kids demanding constant data flow 24/7.

Other Upgrades – GroundARAY (£550, June 2024)

I realise I have a Chord Company GroundARAY that I could also implement in this system.  The GroundARAY is designed to absorb high-frequency noise in the GroundARAY ‘stick’ using the proprietary material inside it. The GroundARAY technology effectively turns this HF noise into heat (see Node X picture above).

Other upgrades I could try on my Old Naim Classic system would be to buy a new rack, like the SolidSteel rack I purchased for HF&MS: the S5-4 (currently £1,050) with Mian Distribution.  This rack has, without a doubt, tightened up my HiFi presentation with its introduction to my listening space and would presumably do the same for my Old Naim Classic system.

Other upgrades worth mentioning include the recent introduction of the PowerGrip, an electrical clean power filtering system with six main sockets. Of course, for a lot more, you can consider upgrading your library source with a Melco Library, currently under review here at HF&MS.  Finally, a subwoofer is always going to add to your room presentation; there are many REL reviews on the site the Tzero Mk III (£449) is a good place to start.  We also have the new REL Classic 99 under review; look out for that soon.

Final Thoughts

As always, in HiFi, there is a balance between expenditure and outcome. It depends heavily on your equipment. Here, I have a Naim NAC-N 272, which I think we can agree is a good piece of equipment. However, it is a relatively modest affair compared to a new NSC 222 or some other streaming preamplifiers; it is a good ten years old, too. Indeed, the Burndy upgrade with the 4-pin DIN addition has positively improved the 272/250 outcome.  The outcome does not quite have the authority of the NSC 222, but I am happy I’ve had an advancement. I have staved off my desire to upgrade to the 200 series, saving myself a lot of money I do not have.

The introduction of the Node X has also delivered Qobuz to my ageing system, and I feel this has been an excellent introduction.  The DAC in the NAC (Cat in the Hat?) has enough fidelity in this arrangement, notwithstanding the limitations of the 272.

* the Old Naim Classic System is as follows;

Michell Gyro SE turntable, Rega tonearm and Exact cartridge with Rega Phono stage
Naim Audio XPS power supply to NAC
Naim Audio NAC-N 272
Naim Audio NAP 250 (not DR)
Atlas Eos 4.0em Modular Power Distribution Block with Atlas Eos 4.0em power cables.
Tellurium Q Ultra Black II loudspeaker cables
KEF R700 loudspeakers, with a REL T/5i Subwoofer

Chord Company and Naim, a bit of history

The Chord Company was formed in 1985. It all started over dinner one night in Salisbury when a group of visiting Naim Audio USA retailers asked Naim Audio UK for a good-quality DIN-to-RCA interconnect. At the table was one Sally Kennedy, who was then married to a Naim Audio executive, who made the (historic) suggestion that she make the cables and start a business. With the blessing of Naim Audio, the journey to make cables for America began.

With the USA referring to cables as ‘cords,’ the name The Chord Company, with its obvious musical connotations, seemed perfect, and it quickly stuck. Sally drew a logo, designed the packaging, and started testing prototypes. Completely British design and construction, although challenging to source at the time, was paramount, and days of searching eventually led to suppliers of sufficient quality. Friends at Naim Audio provided expertise and advice, with many helping build the cables.

The prototype was named “Chrysalis Cable”, and the Americans swiftly returned with an initial order of 250! Cables were built, tested, packed, and taken to the Post Office. Invoices were typed on a typewriter! After two steady years, The Chord Company got its first press review (by Malcolm Steward), and then the phone started to ring…