Trusting in ones Good Naim

If I can't take the stuff home for a weekend, I don't buy it. Ok, maybe I've lost out here and there along the way but at least I've never been stuck with anything that I thought sounded bad.

All previous purchases - pre-DNM to Naim 82/HI/250 - have been done on the basis of audition - it has to sound good for me to buy it. On the other hand, it's rare that I've bought the very unit I've demo'd, so it's possible a unit might disappoint if there are any production sample variances. Unlikely, though.

On the other hand, I did buy my Lyra cartridge on the basis of reviews due to the difficulty of finding anywhere that could demo against other carts, and I've plumped for a 52/SC without ever having heard one with a 250, so that's a gamble too, but one where I think that the odds are in my favour...

John

TC '..'
"Sun went down in honey. Moon came up in wine. Stars were spinnin' dizzy, Lord, the band kept us so busy we forgot about the time."

50-50
I demoed before buying my CDX2
I bought unheard the 282
I also bought the 250mk2 unheard
I demoed the Supercap.
I bought Fraim unheard

So the next one is a defenite demo (probably an XPS2)

No disapointments so far and a trustw9orthy advisor in the Dealer I bought nearly all of it off (Overture in Banbury UK)

Regards
GEOFF

I listen to everything and ruminate for days or weeks - depending on urgency. I'm more likely not to buy anything than make a rushed decision. The only thing I've bought blind in 18 years is a Hi Cap (S/H refurb from a Naim dealer). I didn't think it was worth the bother - and it wasn't. No brainer. I won't make a habit of this though.

Cheers

Harry

I'd heard a NAIT3 in a system once, so that's kind of an audition there...

Got the speakers and most of my sources on hearing them; currently just finished demming a CD5 (which I think I might be buying).

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

I would love to be able to audition everything I am interested in......but...in the US of A it is BLOODY difficult.

I listened twice to the CD5 - 2 times a 220 mile round trip.

I listened to Neat speakers - had to fly from Orlando, FL to Texas.

Both auditions were very good - just a long way away.

When the Mana types kept saying there were plenty of people who regularly dropped a few £k on Naim kit without actually listneing to it I always thought they were making it up just to make Naim owners look stupid.

I am agog.

Matthew

Different strokes for different folks I guess. And it's their money, so why not?

Cheers

Harry

if i ever thought about naim stuff sensibly i wouldnt have any of it as i really i cant afford it. every time i just buy it from my dealer with the knowledge that if im really unhappy he will give me a full refund if i take it back in a week or so.
- ive never taken anything back yet.

I changed a CDi to CDS2 and 82 to 52 without demoing, this allowed me to take advantage of the secondhand market. I'm very very happy with the results.

Brendan

Mike, with the exception of my original 42-5/110 I would say I have bought all my Naim gear without listening to them at demonstrations and I have never been unhappy.

I have though listened to Naim at many hi-fi shows and vowed to get the best Naim sistem I could afford. I have no complaints at all with my current sistem.


Regards

NB
(who has been known to deliberate for a long time over speakers tho )

I demoed my first 92/90 CD3.5 and Spendor 2/3 speakers. Then I got onto this forum and all my purchases since have been from reading options and the opportunity to upgrade second hand from a split decision. This included a CD5, 150 amp and Fraim from my dealer. Then came an 82 with 2 Hicaps on audiogon, I knew it wouldn[t last long. I did hear it at the owners place but he had a 250 powering different speakers so not really comparable to my situation. But I did not fear, I was sure that I'd like the upgrades and I do! Now for a CDX2 and 250ii. I'm actually satisfied for the next year.

glenn

Life is analogue

I find it very difficult to judge whether an "upgrade" is "better" than what I had, or just different, and it's usually at least a couple of weeks before I'm sure. That makes doing dems (even a weekend of home listening) pretty pointless.

I tend to try and develop a good relationship with the dealer, and pop in repeatedly for a chat and a listen over a period of weeks or months. That's how I decided on my HiCap, 250, LP12, Aro etc. That way I have time to think about what I've heard, and, to some extent, compare with my own system.

It's probably not the most efficient way to make a sale for the dealer, but it works for me!

The only item I've bought without some serious (repeated) listening was my DV XX-2. It's a bit difficult to dem given that not many dealers keep that kind of cartridge in stock these days. Also, I know, by reputation, the distributor of DV so I had no worries if I didn't like it, I knew I could give it back.

Chris