All in a name?

Posted by: Frank Abela on 23 May 2001

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by David Stewart
I agree with a previous post that this name is too weak and wussy. For me it creates no image or identity - names like Intro, Credo and Vivo do!

The only thing 'Allae' reminds me of is a song from the 60s? about a caveman with a penchant for dinosaur stew!

"Allae-oop-oop, oop, oop-oop!!"

Come on Naim, you can do better than this

David S.

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by Paul Stephenson
"Naim started with numbers and is now moving towards names, what does this tell you?"

That your Naim history and product knowledge is suspect I guess!

1989- aro, 1991-aromatic & 1992 Armageddon.

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by Rob Doorack
and it's the Roksan Xerxes, both old and new. That MDF plank with the arm perched at one end forms a leaf spring.
Posted on: 24 May 2001 by John Schmidt
Will the new allae follow the Naim speaker tradition of being happy placed against a wall? This isn't mentioned in the marketing material currently on the web site.

Cheers,

John Schmidt
"90% of everything is crud" - Theodore Sturgeon

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by ken c
john s: see the thread

http://www.naim-audio.infopop.net/1/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=6751968412

you are right, the naim site only mentiones that the speaker doesnt have to be right against a wall.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by Martin Payne
quote:
Naim started with numbers and is now moving towards names, what does this tell you


Except for their very first speaker (402?) the SBL & DBL had T.L.A.s for names.

The Intro and Credo introduced names for the lower end of the range, and the Allae (sp?) has continued this. Unfortunately, Intro and Credo are very good names where Allae, er, isn't.

The NBL has demonstrated Naim's persistence with acronyms for the upper-range speakers.

I don't see any change here, and it's neat how the expanded versions of the name describe their major design features (Separate, Decoupled & Nested).

When it comes to giving numbers to amps - the higher the power output the bigger the number. NAP500 has continued this tradition, too.

cheers, Martin

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by Andrew Randle
quote:
the higher the power output the bigger the number. NAP500 has continued this tradition, too.

Although, I'm sure Naim was tempted to call the NAP500: "Bertha". As in "Big Bertha".

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Posted on: 24 May 2001 by Jay
Mark

That's a really good question - what are the differences between the traditionalists and the newbies? On the whole I don't think that the priorities of Naim customers have changed that much. Sound quality is still number one.

Market-wide the big changes have been in the area of convenience. Mass market manufacturers have put a lot of emphasis on these. WHY? They are a lot easier to demonstrate than sound quality. The differences have been perpetuated by modern marketing and in particular the theory of differientiation. "The market is crowded - we need something that makes our product look different."

Even Naim customers bring this baggage with them, after all (all things being equal) if two products sound the same but one has remote, which would you take?

The challenge for Naim is to remain true to the brand (and all that entails) and competitive in the market. After all there are commercial realities, if Naim don't make money, they don't develop new products for me to enjoy!

Jay

Posted on: 25 May 2001 by Engelbert
Personally, I'm not keen on the word "Allae". To me, a particular issue is that when you read the word, it is not obvious how it should be pronounced. Infact, I'm still not sure. (Clearly, this uncertainty won't help people remember the name - rather unfortunate from a marketing stance?)
Far more important, however, is how they sound. Interested to know how forum members rate them against SBLs.
Have a good weekend everyone, Rob.
Posted on: 25 May 2001 by Andrew Randle
Call it the Alto and have done with it. It is after all in the middle of the range.

Andrew

Andrew Randle
2B || !2B;
4 ^ = ?;

Posted on: 25 May 2001 by Stephen Bennett
....Alto easy

Stephen Bennett. Composer and sound design. (UK)
http://chaosstudios.gen-next.com

henry fool http://www.collective.co.uk/henryfool The Fire Thieves: http://tft.gen-next.com

Author of 'The Fast Guide To Logic' http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/fgel.htm
and 'Making Music with E-Magic Logic Audio http://www.pc-pubs.demon.co.uk/mmela.htm'

Posted on: 25 May 2001 by Greg Beatty
quote:

Mass market manufacturers have put a lot of
emphasis on these. WHY? They are a lot easier to demonstrate than sound quality.

I'm just guessing, but I suspect its the other way around. Customers *expect* the convenience and the sale is lost when the customer finds out the unit *doesn't* work via a remote. The old guard audiophiles may not care about such stuff, but the potential new customers expect it.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

Posted on: 26 May 2001 by Jay
Greg

You're right - customers expect the convenience, it's now a "hygiene factor". Even audiophile manufacturers have remote control.

Major manufacturers try and "out convenience" each other with features and cosmetically update models without significant improvement in sound quality.

As a manufacturer, when most of your contact is passive (ie. one-way, through media such as press, magazines, etc), it's a lot easier to portray and communicate physical features than sound quality.

Jay

Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Arye_Gur
I suggest to replace the "LLA" at the middle to
"RY".

But agree that ALLAE is a strange name (for a Naim).

Arye

Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Sproggle
I'm not at all sure Arye is the best name for the Vivo, but I certainly prefer it to Allae. I'd have even preferred Allae if it were Alae - whose pronunciation is easier to guess correctly.

On the other hand, things could have been a lot worse:

Algae so named because in the dark the illumination from Naim electronics makes them look as if they're covered in algae.

All E a misguided attempt to appeal to drug-crazed ravers.

Allan named after a Naim employee's cat which dances wildly whenever it hears music played on its namesake.

El Al because the speakers are so good they make you feel as if you're flying [especially if you're a green, drug-crazed raver or you like to dance with your cat].

--Jeremy

"Time is an illusion - lunch-time doubly so."

Posted on: 28 May 2001 by Arye_Gur
Sproggle,

If Naim will take the name El AL, I'm asking in advance that all the people who'll buy the speakers will not listen to music on Saturdays !!!

Arye