Focal Naim 10th Anniversary Edition Sopra N°2 NDX 2 NAC 282 HICAP DR NAPSC NAP 250 DR $48,000 Available May 2022.
The system includes all the connections you need, including a pair of Naim’s top-range Super Lumina speaker cables.
March 23, 2023 – To mark the 10th anniversary of their merger, the respective figureheads in French acoustics and English electronics are introducing Focal Naim 10th Anniversary Edition: a complete special-edition system.
FROM MANUFACTURERS TO FULLY FLEDGED, GLOBALLY RENOWNED BRANDS
In 2011 Focal and Naim announced that they were to merge to create a new European leader in the audio sector. Three years later, in 2014, the brands cemented their union by joining the VerVent Audio Group, they would continue to evolve and respond to the challenges of a constantly changing market. Today, an ever-expanding portfolio of Focal and Naim products is available via 10,000 retailers worldwide, including the growing network of Focal Powered by Naim stores, driven by the brands’ ambitious global retail strategy. Their product collections extend to integrated solutions, headphones, in-car systems, recording studio monitors and yachts.
FOCAL NAIM 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION: AN INCREDIBLE SYSTEM
To celebrate 10 years together, Focal and Naim have developed a special edition system – a ready-to-play Focal Naim 10th Anniversary Edition of iconic products with unique aesthetics. Heading the set-up are the award-winning Sopra N°2 loudspeakers in a special finish: concrete side panels pair with a ‘tin’ front baffle; inspired by the grandeur of architectural creations. These finishes, with a metallic effect previously unseen in the audio sector, encapsulate more than 40 years of Focal’s know-how and innovation. An acclaimed array of Naim Classic electronics powers the Focal loudspeakers: the cutting-edge NDX 2 music-streaming player pairs with the NAC 282/NAP 250 DR pre-power amplifiers, complete with matching NAPSC and HiCap DR power supplies. The system includes all the connections you need, including a pair of Naim’s top-range Super Lumina speaker cables.
COMPLETE, CUTTING-EDGE AUDIO SOLUTIONS
Innovation, expertise and local manufacturing are the common thread that have always united Focal and Naim. While one excels in acoustics, the other shines in electronics. Over the years, Focal and Naim have created a range of fully complementary high-end products founded on technology, sound performance and aesthetics. At every level, the brands work together to create visual and sonic synergy. Recent examples include the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition – the perfect partner for Focal’s range of high-end headphones, including the new luxury Celestee and Clear Mg designs. Also, the Focal hi-fi loudspeakers which match with the Naim Audio Uniti players or the lauded Naim Mu-so 2nd Generation wireless speaker family, each featuring Focal-optimized speaker drivers.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Focal Naim 10th Anniversary Edition includes the Sopra N°2, NDX 2 – NAC 282 – HICAP DR and NAPSC – NAP 250 DR for $48,000 and available May 2022. The system includes all the connections you need, including a pair of Naim’s top-range Super Lumina speaker cables.
Mighty Cat is a high-performance Class D amplifier IC (integrated circuit) with internal blocks that run the embedded, exclusive Mighty Cat software suite that is part of what makes DH disruptive. Mighty Cat is the “brain” of Maria and all DH amplifiers. Mighty Cat has fully programmable architecture which enables a new level of performance, precision and flexibility in music reproduction, as well as many conveniences and practical advantages. Mighty Cat enables re-programming and updates at any time in the future
Maria contains, in one chassis: Preamplifier with 3 analog and 3 digital inputs WiFi Receiver Embedded DH Mighty Cat Audio Software Suite Active Crossovers C Wave Technology Speaker Tuning Headphone Jack Headphone Tuning Power Amplifiers x 4 Channels Regulated Power Supplies (90-250V) DH Speaker Connectors DH Speaker Connector Tightening Tool
Quality and simplicity Maria is a minimalist, elegant design with unparalleled performance, ease of use, and unique advantages. In a world that pushes mediocrity and complexity, Maria stands for uncompromised quality and maximum simplicity. Build Maria is built with proprietary new Daniel Hertz technology on the inside, and a new type of chassis on the outside that embodies the uncompromised excellence of Maria’s performance and sound quality. Sound The sound of Maria is lightning fast, extremely smooth with no “electronic” sound, and has astonishing punch, dynamics, deep bass, imaging and detail. The sound of Maria is unavailable at any price from “high end audio” amplifiers using old technology. C Wave DH patent-pending C Wave technology offers the sound and feeling of pure analog audio from all sources including digital content, opening the door to streaming with natural sound previously impossible to obtain. New technology The new Daniel Hertz amplifier technology, including main motherboard, power supplies and output stages, enables the most natural sound with stunning dynamics, punch, detail and imaging, with no electronic sound, beyond the limitations of typical “tube” and “transistor” equipment. Many engineering advances and refinements add up to maximizing the benefits, to obtain a unique listening experience unavailable any other way. Digital to analog conversion with 384kHz native resolution, no separate DAC The exclusive Daniel Hertz Mighty Cat Class D amplifier IC (integrated circuit) converts digital audio to analog with no separate DAC, providing native resolution of 384kHz. Some 384kHz DAC’s alone cost 25,000 euros. The DH Maria offers resolution second to none, in a highly integrated design with the most elegant signal path that eliminates sources of coloration and degradation. All preamplifier functions The main functions of a preamplifier include input selector, precision volume control, optimum input parameters, optimum output parameters, high linearity, low distortion, low crosstalk, low noise and high headroom (no clipping). Maria includes the functions of the most expensive preamplifiers – and much more – with maximum performance, reliability, and ease of use. ¼” headphone output on the front panel A ¼” headphone jack is provided on the front panel on the right. A polished stainless steel knob screws into the front panel so the jack is covered when not in use. The DH Maria’s embedded software includes headphone tuning capability to optimize the performance of any headphone. 1 megohms analog inputs 1 megohms analog inputs The DH Maria has 3 analog inputs that can be used to connect any device with analog outputs such as a phono preamplifier, analog tape deck, digital recorder, analog tuner, cassette deck, or a CD, SACD or DVD player with analog outputs. The 1 megohms input impedance (first introduced by Mark Levinson with his company Cello, Ltd. In the 1980’s) virtually eliminates loading of the input signals to obtain the cleanest possible sound. Maria is optimized not only for reproducing digital content, but also pure analog material and analog recordings that have been digitally remastered and then produced in LP format. (many so-called “analog” LP’s are digitally mastered). Maria faithfully reproduces all content regardless of the format. Digital inputs and WiFi 3 digital inputs are provided: USB, Coax and WiFi (with a module that also offers high resolution Bluetooth). Macs and PC’s are hard wire connected via the USB input; professional equipment often uses coax; and any device with WiFi or Bluetooth – computers, phones, tablets and mobile phones – can use the wireless input provided by the receiver module on the rear panel. The WiFi module can connect directly to a WiFi enabled device, or via a router. Connecting the module to a router enables the device to simultaneously access the internet and play through Maria. Sound quality with WiFi is superb, similar to hard wired. Daniel Hertz Speaker Connectors designed and made in house DH speaker connectors, made in house, go beyond “high end audio” standards. Instead of adding soldered speaker connectors like typical cables, DH speaker connectors sandwich the bare speaker wire between two brass plates that are tightened with a DH tightening tool made of stainless steel and Delrin, for unimprovable quality of connection that never degrades. The threaded brass rod connects to the power amplifier output stage inside the chassis, where it is fastened with brass nuts, only millimeters away from the speaker wire, for the shortest possible signal path.
You think a pagode° rack can no longer be improved? Neither in its visual appearance nor in its craftsmanship? Not to mention the quality of its sonic performance?
