Dealers Sly Selling Methods

Steve,

I won't mention anything explicitly but you know what your next upgrade item is. The one that will double your audio quality.

Seriously, what speakers are you using? I'm not familiar with B&W models.

Rich

Although we don't know what your existing speakers are, your dealer has done nothing underhanded - s/he has actually enabled you to upgrade your system in a fashion that will keep it in balance. You wouldn't want your fancy new speakers revealing the shortcomings of that lowly CD5 at source, now would you?



Regards,

Steve.

I bet you're pleased about how underhand he was! :-)

Paul Rowlands

CDX2 - good choice!

Is it possible to just use the Nait 2 as a power amp? Can Naim seperate it for you between the pre & power sections for a small amount of money?

You could then switch it to rear channel service and use the 175 for front (& center) driven off the AV2 as both surround & stereo pre-amp.

I mention it because the AV2 is typically almost as good as 112 & the 175 is a 150 in disguise.

Until very recently I ran my CDX2 through a 112/150 and was very pleased with the results.
Oh by the way just to confuse you even more you could lob in a HiCap for the 175 (I think, but may be wrong) a bit further down the road.

Of course if the 202/200 is next rather than the speakers then this may all be a waste of time.

Sorry about all that. As is if nothing is done I am sure you will be happy.

regards
GEOFFP

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Oh by the way just to confuse you even more you could lob in a HiCap for the 175 (I think, but may be wrong) a bit further down the road.

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OOOPS!!!!!

What was all that rubbish I wrote about the 175 & HiCap. PLEASE IGNORE that bit as I just realised both the AV2 & the 175 are self powered.

Too early on a Sunday I suppose

regards
GEOFFP

So Stephen the CD 5 has shortcomings? I realised that yonks ago and bought a Meridian instead!

Quote 'You wouldn't want your fancy new speakers revealing the shortcomings of that lowly CD5 at source, now would you?'

It's all relative.



Regards,

Steve.

You think you lot know about "dealers sly selling methods" ?

Last night there was a crash on my front door. When I opened it who should I find but my "friendly" Naim dealer, Mr Christopher Murphenstein. In he prances, bold as brass, snogs the missus, interferes with my music, demands a bottle of wine ("something nice") which he guzzles almost single-handedly and then legs it to his RS4 and roars off in a cloud of turbo-fumes.

It was only afterwards, when I went to change the CD, that I realised that while I wasn't watching he had replaced my CDS2 with a CDS3. Now he's gone away for a week and I'm stuck with the bastard, which I suppose I will have to listen to. Life can be so bloody pissing cruel.

Monky, you are surely screwed now!

The devious Murphinstein strikes again. Mwah mwah mwah..

A CDS3 will cut through the strongest resolve. Good luck trying!

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Ancipital, here's my spanner's worth: are you quite sure you want B&Ws of any flavour? I bought 805s and lived with them for a year with CDX and CDS2 with a CDPS PSU an 82/SC and either one or two 250s. I never thought it one of my better purchasing decisions. The Wilson Benesch Arcs disgraced them although they were too cold and too small for my room. I suspect the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor is similarly voiced to the 805s but better top and bottom. If you do get 805s make sure you put them on HNE granite stands rather than on their own.

With what is likely to end up being your budget I'd go source first: CDX2/XPS2 with cheaper speakers from either Neat or Royd.

Alex

Sorry guys, busy busy busy past few days so haven't had time to look on the forum! Just catching up.

Bit of a summary with the above posts! Getting late and wanna go to bed!

Geoff - Nait 2 as power amp, afaik, you can't do this without some major changes (bound to be wrong!), also it's powering the front pair via an AV2 - CD5 direct in to Nait2 of course. This is due to be replaced with a 202/200 sometime round xmas/new year so probably no point in doing this anyway!

Steven, sorry, it was a bit of a tongue in cheek post, he knew I wasn't after a brand new CDX2 just yet as I was working on the other upgrades first, it just so happened that this one came up for sale 2nd hand and he is taking my CD5 as part-ex which isn't a bad thing for him to do really!


Alex, cheers for your comments, the rest of my speakers are B&W (rears and centre), er....apart from the fronts which are actually Royds and the sub which is a Vibe. The 805's I had on demo at home so I have a good idea what they're like and they will have a similar voice to the other B&W's I currently own. Woooo :O , just had a look at the price on the Sonus Faber Cremonas at 5 gramd, they're a little out of my range as I still need to fit in a 200/202/NAPSC/Stageline and the speakers bearing in mind also that the CDX2 is an impromptu purchase! Also have to consider the NAF (Neighbour Annoyance Factor) into the equation. Due to costs, the 805's will sit on my current Linn stands which isn't ideal but will have to do for the meantime though could go and buy some plant pot plinths from a garden center aka the [URL=http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/akropolise.html ]TNT Akropolis[/URL] - unluckily I have a few other purchases to deal with, another motorbike and another horse all round the same time as the new hi-fi so funds will be a tad tight!

OK, not quite a summary, got a little carried away

Steve (Looking forward to his new toy, er....audio experience)

It's just occured to me - S/H CDX2 already - someone is very fickle with money to burn!



Regards,

Steve.

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Originally posted by James:
Rico,

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A CDS3 will cut through the strongest resolve. Good luck trying!

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My resolve is obviously stronger than yours . Let's see how Minky measures up.

James

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James,

Does this mean that you have been to edge of the abyss and lived to tell the tale ? If so, what IS your tale ?

Steve, sorry didn't know you had B&Ws elsewhere, makes sense to get the 805s then - invest in the HNE stands though when you can, they make a big difference.

Alex

BTW the Cremona Auditors are just over 2K and about 400 quid for their stands.

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Originally posted by Steven Toy:
It's just occured to me - S/H CDX2 already - someone is very fickle with money to burn!

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Hey, let's hope so eh?! I'm up for one please. So Steve (ancipital), if it's a mistake - I'm here

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Don't forget that I already have an ultimate source in my magic LP12

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James, your LP12 is very similar to mine (Aro/Armageddon/Lyra cart) but the magic is sadly missing for me. It's getting there but slowly... cartridge break in, it's a pain...

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."

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Originally posted by James:

How are you faring?

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Day one was OK. The differences were quite pronounced but strangely didn't translate to more (musical) enjoyment. Good. Maybe I have reached my "enjoyment threshold". Day three (last night) was not so OK. The beastie obviously takes quite a long time to warm up ..

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Originally posted by Steven Toy:
It's just occured to me - S/H CDX2 already - someone is very fickle with money to burn!

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Steven - forgot to mention on this, the CDX2 is a year old and the bloke that owned it has upgraded to a CDS3 hence the S/H one which I will own on Saturaday

Steve.

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LP12 on Quadraspire does not an ultimate source make . You know deep down that Mana is the only support that makes magic with the Linn.

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Perhaps you're right. The LP12 sounds good, but after the Clearaudio it just sounds indistinct, a bit muddy and lacking the get-up-and-go. It's still a good deck, and I know it's been setup well. However, so far it hasn't really lived up to the hype. However, though Mana would be an option, even if I wanted it my wife wouldn't let any through the front door... she's a woman of principle!

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But seriously, how many hours have you run your Helikon now? My Clavis sounded perfect after about 50 hours.

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Due to work, being away on a training course plus generally not having that much free time (my websites plus the fact that I've just acquired a wooden racing dinghy is soaking up much of my free-time) I'm only at around 20 to 25 hours on the Helikon after around 5 weeks. I'd *like* to manage 2 hours of listening a night but the reality is around 1 hour max per evening. So, I'm sure that there's better yet to come out of the Helikon...

Possibly explanations?

(1) LP12/Aro/Geddon'03/Helikon really isn't all it's cracked up to be?

...or...

(2) Helikons sound crap until they're broken in?

...or...

(3) The Clearaudio is simply better than the LP12, making the LP12 sound lifeless in comparison?

...or...

(4) The Armageddon needs to break in more (is this possible? could it make any difference?)

...or...

(5) The Quadraspire isn't ideal for the LP12?

...or...

(6) I'm just expecting too much?

Who knows... but, on the plus side, it's by no means *bad* - everything is listenable and I still think it makes a better job on worn vinyl than the Clearaudio did. However, it's just 'good', not 'great'. I wish there were an LP12 owner nearby who could pop in to give me the thumbs-up or -down just in case it's just me expecting too much...

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."

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how does your LP12 compare to your CD source?

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On good pressings or good recordings the LP12 is still better than the cd, but on less-good pressings it can go either way.

As far as setup goes, it was setup by RObert Ritchie, who is well regarded for LP12 setup - ask anyone who has dealt with him and they'll agree.

Maybe I'll just have to be patient!

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."

Points 1 to 6 look about right. At least you should have gained some warmth over the Clearaudio.

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Originally posted by James:

BTW, a woman who won't have Mana through the front door is not one of principle, but one who wears the pants in the household . Could you try sneaking some Mana through the back door?

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So James, to summarise, you reckon that where the pant-wearer's front door is out of bounds "on principal", her back passage could be considered fair game in the "mana" stakes ?

Hands up those who have done the mains?....