Decisions, Decisions. . .
Posted by: Richard Lord on 02 February 2012
Naim design some superb kit. But apart from the entry level stuff such as the Qute, once you begin to climb the ladder, it is assumed and expected you will progress to an analog preamp based system. Perhaps ending up with the 500 Classics series. Beautiful stuff, but at an eye watering cost.
I bought my existing Northstar Essensio DAC in the hope that after the outstanding reviews that the UniQute has received, Naim would capitalise on this success and bring out a more upmarket version. One that had the same high quality and easily read display, the same high quality remote volume control which is easily readable from across the room, but with their nDAC quality DAC inside. The one that up samples sixteen times, that uses flash memory to buffer and virtually remove jitter. Surely it was a no-brainer to do this? Apparently not. Instead they bring out ever more refined digital products that simply re-invent the wheel; so we see the DAC, NDX, ND5 XS and soon the NDS, I believe. Each able to be further upgraded by adding an external power supply. But not one is able to connect directly into a Naim power amp without a Naim analog preamp, which itself will benefit from the external power supply upgrade. What appears absurd to me, is how wasteful this process is. Imagine the extra cost of adding an analog volume control of similar quality as the one in the preamps. Trifling in comparison to adding the separate preamp and its associated power supply.
Have Naim lost the plot? Let us see, if you have the NDX (or whatever) streamer, its additional power supply, together with the nDAC and its additional power supply, a good quality preamp and its power supply, we are already up to six boxes and we have yet to add a power amp. Contrast that with say a professional quality DAC such as the Weiss DAC202. One box, it accepts digital PCM (via FireWire) from a computer and outputs analog directly to a power amp. One box versus six.
I am reminded of the recent news about Kodak. Remember film cameras? Kodak were synonymous with film, that was what made them rich and powerful. Did you know they invented digital photography? But in fear of the prospect of losing their film sales buried it. Unfortunately for them, they were right. Digital photography did indeed ruin their film sales, but not through their actions, but their non action. Had they accepted the inevitable when they invented it, they might have been able to survive in business, who knows? But they bet the farm on digital staying buried, but it did not. It was taken up by their competitors. Result? They have had to file for Chapter 11 protection from their creditors.
I suggest a similar situation exists within Naim. Obviously they did not invent digital audio, but they appear not to want to embrace digital as an independent system to integrate with their existing power amplifier base. It would seem they are rightly fearful that a high quality Qute might not generate the same level of margin that they have enjoyed in the past from their analog preamps. The digital side of the audiophile market works on tighter margins, just look at how much is being traded over the Net. Dealers are going out of business, all are finding trading conditions tough. But whether or not Naim do eventually bring out an up market Qute (and I certainly hope they will, sooner rather than later), the digital side of the audiophile industry will eventually dominate.
Meanwhile they are losing market share to their competitors. Just look at the number of companies now selling digital DACs of one sort or another. The Naim solution is a good one if you are prepared to spend shed loads of cash and accommodate six boxes of electronics, much of it redundant. Think of the redundant power supplies in the base units before the external supplies are added, think of the redundant engineering with all those metal cases, circuit boards, even DACs. All this is waste, utter waste. Future potential landfill.
There will always be a hard core of pure analog enthusiasts of course. Maybe Naim can survive on these enthusiasts alone. The CD is now virtually obsolescent and if not actually dead it is dying a slow steady death. More and more people are downloading music. This inevitably means it arrives in digital form.
In my humble opinion, many would like to see a complete digital preamp from Naim, a more advanced device that offers the sonic advantages of the nDAC but having the ability to accept a Sp/Dif from a computer and then output directly into a Naim power amp. Simplification, not a word much used by Naim.
I would be prepared to bet it would sell. It may not generate the magin's they have enjoyed in past years, but those days have gone forever. We cannot live on memories alone. To survive a business must adapt. Today the world is very fast changing, too fast for many to keep up.
Naim must adapt or die.
Richard
I bought my existing Northstar Essensio DAC in the hope that after the outstanding reviews that the UniQute has received, Naim would capitalise on this success and bring out a more upmarket version.
They did, It's called the SuperUniti 
I bought my existing Northstar Essensio DAC in the hope that after the outstanding reviews that the UniQute has received, Naim would capitalise on this success and bring out a more upmarket version.
They did, It's called the SuperUniti
The SuperUniti is certainly a great upgrade from the Qute, but it is still very wasteful if you want it to be the front end of a digital system. A power amp can be added, of course, but once again there is this question of the sheer waste of a power amp. Of course, if the SuperUniti is all you want. . .
I've been a staunch Naim supporter since 1981, and love my 500 series system to bits. A CD555 and 'The Scottish Gramophone' provide me with immense musical pleasure and satisfaction.
I've been wanting to 'scratch the streaming itch' for some time, and have been put off the Naim streaming solutions due to cost, complexity, clunky interfaces, apps, and regular reports of unreliability. A MacMini simply USB connected to a good DAC makes a lot more sense to me.
As Naimees we like to follow the true path if possible, but like others here, I can't get my head (or wallet) around Naim's digital/streaming strategy and products. I've just installed a MacMini and an M2Tech 'Young' DAC. I'm using the excellent free 'BitPerfect' app (recently upgraded to v 1.0) which integrates seamlessly with iTunes, and is invisible for operable purposes.
Download the free Apple 'Remote' app onto the iPad and Robert is your mother's brother!
It sounds very good indeed to me, for relatively sensible financial outlay.
The number on the front is how old the DAC feels at the time.
This post is intended as constructive criticism to make Naim aware of what some of their customers want.
John.
PS. Yes; of course a MacMini sounds better on Fraim!
Dear Richard,
Like JN, I have kept it simple, and you heard it - if not sounding as well as it does today - last autumn.
Of course mine is really much more budget than JN's, but the functionality is exactly the same: Computer,USB connection to DAC, analogue signal to amplifier. I wish Naim would make a true USB version of the Naim DAC, so that I could use my iTunes PC directly onto it. Simple, and totally reliable, and as you know the iTunes user interface is a work of genius in its ease of use!
The Nait is really blooming, and the old ESLs are singing like only great speakers can when well driven.
KISS is a sensible idea.
ATB from George
Like this, perhaps ? You also get a top-notch headphone amp.
I bought my existing Northstar Essensio DAC in the hope that after the outstanding reviews that the UniQute has received, Naim would capitalise on this success and bring out a more upmarket version.
They did, It's called the SuperUniti
+1
> Contrast that with say a professional quality DAC such as the Weiss DAC202. One box, it accepts digital PCM (via FireWire) from a computer and outputs analog directly to a power amp. One box versus six.
Sorry Richard but to my little ears the Weiss 202 isn't in the same league as DACs by Naim, Chord and BAD Alpha. It is as, you say Professional, more for analysing music than enjoying it. I have heard a Weiss 202 directly against the BAD Alpha using a Meridian G08.2 and the Alpha is something else (no contest Alpha wins hands down) - a friend has a small studio and had both. He used the Weiss for analysis and the Alpha for enjoyment and I could understand why. Being fair to the Weiss, it exhibits the type of SQ that doesn't appeal to me; I'm not keen on the analytical sound that others may well enjoy. Nothing will please everybody. You may remember my similar reaction to the Lavry.
If you have Ethernet available in your listening room then you can have a superb one-box system (+ speakers) from Naim and I have not heard anything else to rival it. As Jan says, it is called the SuperUniti. All you need is a Vortexbox somewhere on your network (spare room, office, kitchen, cupboard, garage) and you are there. If you don't have Ethernet then one little Mac Mini will suffice, just plug it in to the SU.
So I'm a bit lost with your argument, Richard. I certainly don't think Naim has lost the plot
All the best, Guy
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PH - adding a Naim DAC to the CDX2-2 improves the sound dramatically; furthermore I added a Naim DAC/555PS to a superb Meridian G08.2 and once again it improves the sound dramatically. The trick is to use a lower jitter transport and the Naim DAC will do its magic. Nothing precious about, it is just the way it is. You are right most external DACs are not that great - but some do improve things and by a large margin.
Of course, you don't need to add the Naim DAC or an external PSU. The UQ and SU demonstrate how Naim achieves great results in a simple package. Whether you want/need the extra is up to you.
Even the entry level Naim system CD5i/Nait 5i/nSats makes a great sound, it just can be improved if and only if the listen feels the need to and has the money to spend.
The NDS should bring the DAC and transport back together again, but we have to wait to see if this does deliver improved sound.
Richard said :
If I were somebody with real influence at Naim, I would be truly frightened by your post. Nothing I have said above comes close. I was predicting a possible future scenario, you are confirming it is already happening.
For further indication of where things are going, have a look at Dynaudio's new XEO range, where the amplifiers are inside the speakers. Signal passes wirelessly from a small transmitter ...
... to the speakers. Look Ma, no cables ! :
Another speaker manufacturer that I know well has an identical product in the works.
I'm sure that Naim-Focal R&D are on the case !
Regards,
Jan
Ooh, I like that. Can I use it in an article one day 
ATB
Jan