Who it comes up against
13 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on bass control.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Emmae Reginae (custom) gives up bass control under the Anchored weighting.
controlled but Naim philosophy not high-DFVintage Naim NAP 250 heritage + reviewer caveats
4 lost · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Hydra II keeps the slot decisively.
With the Leema Neutron, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Leema Neutron gives up vocal presence under the Cavity-Native weighting.
4 lost · Characterful, PRaT, Romantic, Silent Path
Against the Characterful brief, the Audiolab 9000P keeps the slot decisively.
With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on vocal presence.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Audiolab 9000Q gives up vocal presence under the Characterful weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.
THD just 0.002% at 1kHz, S/N >112dB A-weightedAudio Tailor 9000P review + manufacturer specs
4 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference
Against the Intimate brief, the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan) keeps the slot decisively.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature, the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA P50SA MKII gives up low-level clarity under the Intimate weighting.
controlled but Naim philosophy not high-DFVintage Naim NAP 250 heritage + reviewer caveats
3 lost · Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Intimate, Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Audio Note P1 SE keeps the slot decisively.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gives up low-level clarity under the Silent Path weighting.
SET 8W/ch tube power amp, classic Audio Note voicingAudio Note P1 SE positioning + Hi-Fi+ reviews
controlled but Naim philosophy not high-DFVintage Naim NAP 250 heritage + reviewer caveats
3 lost · BBC Sound, Vocals-First
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
3 lost · Artisan, PRaT, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units) keeps the slot decisively.
With the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Exposure 3510 Preamplifier gives up quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.
104dB; extremely high S/NStereo Magazine 2021
controlled but Naim philosophy not high-DFVintage Naim NAP 250 heritage + reviewer caveats
2 lost· 2 won · BBC Sound, Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Naim NAP 250 takes the slot by a whisker.
2 lost · Intimate
Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 890 keeps the slot decisively.
With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Emmae Reginae (custom), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) gives up low-level clarity under the Intimate weighting.
controlled but Naim philosophy not high-DFVintage Naim NAP 250 heritage + reviewer caveats
1 lost · Cavity-Native
Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Chord ULTIMA 6 keeps the slot decisively.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gives up quietness at rest under the Cavity-Native weighting.
1 lost · Anchored
Against the Anchored brief, the Longdog Audio P6100M (pair) keeps the slot decisively.
With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the NVA P50SA MKII gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
1 lost · Twin Arms
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · BBC Sound
No completion of this shape fits that slot's budget.
1 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Quad Artera Stereo keeps the slot decisively.
With the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Naim NAP 250 is the stronger power amplifier — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the power amplifier position.