Your first encounter with the Naim sound
Posted by: ClaudeP on 28 December 2002
I recently upgraded from a Nait 3 to a S/H 102/140.
My brother-in-law was considering buying the Nait and fitting it between his 10-year-old Kyocera CD player and 500 Series B&W loudspeakers, upgrading from his current Arcam Alpha integrated.
So I went to his place earlier tonight to see if the Nait would be a significant step forward for him. It only took us 5 minutes to figure that one out - the B&W's suddently came to life, with strong, credible bass, an incredible amount of new details to be heard and the famous Naim musicality all at once. (CD was Patricia Barber's "Companion").
A little stunned, we went on and listened to a whole bunch of CD's - classical, rock, pop, jazz, etc. for 4 to 5 hours. Always with the same result: utter disbelief.
Alain (my brother-in-law) had always complained about the "dull" sound of his B&W loudspeakers and their lack of response in the low-medium and bass range. Not so anymore.
But more than anything else, the system is now playing music, instead of making sound. And the Nait has found a new home.
On my way back, I realised thet after two years or so of listening to the Naim sound, I had somewhat forgotten the excitement of my encounter with the brand, a few years ago at the Montreal Sound Festival. But tonight I was able to go re-live the experience.
Can you remember the first time you heard a Naim system (or component) playing and the emotional impact it had on you?
My brother-in-law was considering buying the Nait and fitting it between his 10-year-old Kyocera CD player and 500 Series B&W loudspeakers, upgrading from his current Arcam Alpha integrated.
So I went to his place earlier tonight to see if the Nait would be a significant step forward for him. It only took us 5 minutes to figure that one out - the B&W's suddently came to life, with strong, credible bass, an incredible amount of new details to be heard and the famous Naim musicality all at once. (CD was Patricia Barber's "Companion").
A little stunned, we went on and listened to a whole bunch of CD's - classical, rock, pop, jazz, etc. for 4 to 5 hours. Always with the same result: utter disbelief.
Alain (my brother-in-law) had always complained about the "dull" sound of his B&W loudspeakers and their lack of response in the low-medium and bass range. Not so anymore.
But more than anything else, the system is now playing music, instead of making sound. And the Nait has found a new home.
On my way back, I realised thet after two years or so of listening to the Naim sound, I had somewhat forgotten the excitement of my encounter with the brand, a few years ago at the Montreal Sound Festival. But tonight I was able to go re-live the experience.
Can you remember the first time you heard a Naim system (or component) playing and the emotional impact it had on you?
A few years ago, I decided to change my old Japanese crap amp and went to my local "serious" hifi dealer, as I did know he was selling good hi fi stuff.
He first demoed an Italian amp, good, then, at my demand, switch to the Nait 3. It took me about 5 min to get it boxed and make him a check!
The CD3.5 followed a few months after.
'nuff said
JM
He first demoed an Italian amp, good, then, at my demand, switch to the Nait 3. It took me about 5 min to get it boxed and make him a check!
The CD3.5 followed a few months after.
'nuff said
JM
I went to dem a Mission Cyrus amp in 1985. Half way through the dem the dealer said try this, it was a Naim Nait and it blew the mission away. I was so impressed I purchased a Naim 42-5/110 and have been hooked ever since.
Happy New Year,
NB
Happy New Year,
NB
My first naim kit was a secondhand 42.5/90 which was an upgrade from an original Cyrus 1.
No contest.I was very happy with this until I upgraded to an NVA pre/power.
Cheers,
Paul.
No contest.I was very happy with this until I upgraded to an NVA pre/power.
Cheers,
Paul.
I had a Nakamichi mini system. Nice neat and tucked away creating clean lines in my living room. Then I inherited a chunck of money and remembered what my friend's HiFi sounded like. Tho I wanted that 'less is more' concept in a whole system. I Looked at Rega and liked it.
Then I went to a new dealer's house and listened to a 92/90 CD3.5 and Spendor speakers. Wow, what silky smooth clarity. By comparison his Roksan was brittle, tho in my price range. I walked out with a pair of the s/h Spendors and the s/h 90/92 and had on order a new CD3 and Roksan tuner. It was the depth and detail of the sound especially in the slow movement of my CD that impressed me. What a rush!!!
Also the ability of my dealer to help me get some used gear to bring down the sticker shock impressed me. I'm faithful to him and Naim now. Now I have a living room dense with big equipment and a wonderful sound.
Then I went to a new dealer's house and listened to a 92/90 CD3.5 and Spendor speakers. Wow, what silky smooth clarity. By comparison his Roksan was brittle, tho in my price range. I walked out with a pair of the s/h Spendors and the s/h 90/92 and had on order a new CD3 and Roksan tuner. It was the depth and detail of the sound especially in the slow movement of my CD that impressed me. What a rush!!!
Also the ability of my dealer to help me get some used gear to bring down the sticker shock impressed me. I'm faithful to him and Naim now. Now I have a living room dense with big equipment and a wonderful sound.
quote:
Listened Blue Nile's "Tinseltown in the Rain" LP
Wow,this is one of the/my all time pop classics!
My first encounter with Naim was at a friends house about 8 or 9 years ago. He invited me to come listen to his system, comprising a Nait-2/Rega Planar-3 and Mission 760SE's on target stands.
Never foget it! For the first time in years I wasn't listening to that typical 'HiFi'sound, but I was listening to music, and (as a bonus)enjoying the way it was reproduced.
Greetings,
Alco
Tony Lockart
Hi Tony, I tried to contact you via email, but the server at work was playing up, so hope you see this.
I had the identical setup which you described here, when I was in Saudi Arabia (working for BAe), but I don't remember your name.
Please email me on masonmjs@runbox.com for a chinwag about 'old times'
Incidentally, my first experience of the Naim sound was in Saudi Arabia, I saw a pair of Magneplanars in the dealers shop at a big reduction, thought I would have a listen, then the B.... rd swapped over to an LP12, Nait(1), SBL's ............ and the rest as they say, is history.
Cheers Mike
Hi Tony, I tried to contact you via email, but the server at work was playing up, so hope you see this.
I had the identical setup which you described here, when I was in Saudi Arabia (working for BAe), but I don't remember your name.
Please email me on masonmjs@runbox.com for a chinwag about 'old times'
Incidentally, my first experience of the Naim sound was in Saudi Arabia, I saw a pair of Magneplanars in the dealers shop at a big reduction, thought I would have a listen, then the B.... rd swapped over to an LP12, Nait(1), SBL's ............ and the rest as they say, is history.
Cheers Mike