Comments on Exposure VII/VIII preamp/amp combo
Posted by: Ken Forton on 24 February 2009
Has anyone owned this combo in the past? If so, how did you like it? What were its strengths and weaknesses? What speakers did you use with it? Thanks very much.
Posted on: 24 February 2009 by Chris Shorter
This combination followed a Quad 405 set-up and was vastly superior. However, it preceded a Naim 52/250, which brought a huge increase in presence and vitality to music. Initially, I used them with Musical Fidelity Ref 2's and later with Linn Kaleighs (?)
Posted on: 24 February 2009 by Ken Forton
Chris, can you make any specific comments on the phono section? I have a Nait 2. How does the phono compare to that, if you know? Thanks.
Posted on: 24 February 2009 by Christopher_M
Hi Ken,
Never owned them but worked in a shop that sold them and owned a X myself. The VII/VIII was made popular by Hi-fi Review magazine, here in UK. It would be a system comprising typically, LP12/ Ittock/ K9, VII/VIII and Kans.
We didn't shift that many of them because the X and the later XV were so good for the money. You really had to go to the XI/XII/Super VIII to better them, by which time you would probably also have maxxed out your LP12 with a Lingo and an Ekos/Troika. But you may well have kept the Kans.
My X was great with vinyl though I never tried to compare it with anything from Naim. The phono stage wasn't switchable between mm and mc, you had to specify which you wanted.
During my time in the shop I was sent on factory training at Linn. There on a top shelf in 'the cottage' where they did the listening was a Nait 1 and a battered Exposure X. I knew I must be doing something right! It's one of the few bits of kit that I've regretted selling.
Regards, Chris
Never owned them but worked in a shop that sold them and owned a X myself. The VII/VIII was made popular by Hi-fi Review magazine, here in UK. It would be a system comprising typically, LP12/ Ittock/ K9, VII/VIII and Kans.
We didn't shift that many of them because the X and the later XV were so good for the money. You really had to go to the XI/XII/Super VIII to better them, by which time you would probably also have maxxed out your LP12 with a Lingo and an Ekos/Troika. But you may well have kept the Kans.
My X was great with vinyl though I never tried to compare it with anything from Naim. The phono stage wasn't switchable between mm and mc, you had to specify which you wanted.
During my time in the shop I was sent on factory training at Linn. There on a top shelf in 'the cottage' where they did the listening was a Nait 1 and a battered Exposure X. I knew I must be doing something right! It's one of the few bits of kit that I've regretted selling.
Regards, Chris
Posted on: 24 February 2009 by Chris Shorter
quote:Originally posted by Ken Forton:
Chris, can you make any specific comments on the phono section? I have a Nait 2. How does the phono compare to that, if you know? Thanks.
Ken, I never used the phono section during the time I had it. Nowadays, I hardly use anything else! Chris
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by MaHa
Ken, I have never heard the kit you refer to. But, I owned the 21rc/18 super rm kit. It had beautiful melody, and pretty good prat, but it never gave me the thrill of Naims "bounce". It just didn't get me up from the chair in the same way, if you catch my drift. A little less seamless than a lot of Naim gear. Other than this, it was a great kit, especially on classic music. Can you give it a listen before buying?
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by Wazza69
Ken,
I have gone the other way from Naim kit (32.5/Hi/250) to Exposure (XXV integrated and a XXI/IV pre/power). I love them. They are very much in the Naim vein but with a slightly warmer sound. It has great rhythm but not quite on the edge like Naim kit is. Then again, adding a Naim CD player to Exposure amps is a match made in heaven for me. I am awaiting the Naim DACs to add to my setup. Speaker wise, all of the speakers that work well with Naim also tend to work well with Exposure. I use Ruark’s are a great match. Also, the difference between the VII/VIII and the Nait 2 will be the amount of power on tap. The Exposure’s are very “meaty”!
The phono sections on the Exposure kit are absolutely fabulous. I compared the phono section in the X integrated to a Stageline and found the X to be much more preferable. The phono section in the VII is supposed to be great as well.
Basically, if you can get them for a good price then I would definitely give them a try.
Hope this helps.
Wayne
I have gone the other way from Naim kit (32.5/Hi/250) to Exposure (XXV integrated and a XXI/IV pre/power). I love them. They are very much in the Naim vein but with a slightly warmer sound. It has great rhythm but not quite on the edge like Naim kit is. Then again, adding a Naim CD player to Exposure amps is a match made in heaven for me. I am awaiting the Naim DACs to add to my setup. Speaker wise, all of the speakers that work well with Naim also tend to work well with Exposure. I use Ruark’s are a great match. Also, the difference between the VII/VIII and the Nait 2 will be the amount of power on tap. The Exposure’s are very “meaty”!
The phono sections on the Exposure kit are absolutely fabulous. I compared the phono section in the X integrated to a Stageline and found the X to be much more preferable. The phono section in the VII is supposed to be great as well.
Basically, if you can get them for a good price then I would definitely give them a try.
Hope this helps.
Wayne
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by Wazza69
quote:Originally posted by MaHa:
Ken, I have never heard the kit you refer to. But, I owned the 21rc/18 super rm kit. It had beautiful melody, and pretty good prat, but it never gave me the thrill of Naims "bounce". It just didn't get me up from the chair in the same way, if you catch my drift. A little less seamless than a lot of Naim gear. Other than this, it was a great kit, especially on classic music. Can you give it a listen before buying?
Hi,
Do you mean the dual monos 18s?
What do you have now?
Thanks,
Wayne
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by MaHa
They were Super 18 (XVIII) Regulated Mono. Some users on pfm regard them as almost equal to Nap 250 olive. I'm not sure, I never tried them with another pre than 21 rc. But, I never got the bass weight and punch I wanted. Maybe they needed a recap, but still...
Right now I use a Nait 2, but I have a 82 pre, and will get a 180 or 250 in a while.
Right now I use a Nait 2, but I have a 82 pre, and will get a 180 or 250 in a while.
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by davidge
I had the Exposures before my current all-Naim system. Bear in mind I'm going back over 13 years here, but what I can remember is that the Exposures worked better in my then system (LP12/Basik+/K9, Micromega CDP, Linn Kabers) than the equivalent Naim pre-power combo that I auditioned at the time (sorry can't remember the model numbers). Both pre-power combos were musical rather than 'hi-fi', the Exposure being warmer and more relaxed with a sweeter top-end compared to the Naim which, whilst having more get-up-and-go, at the time I found too edgy and 'in your face' (particulary using the Micromega). The Naim gear did look better and was better built - SWMBO thought the Exposures were home made! I spent many happy hours listening through the Exposures - it was only when I heard what my current olive active system could do that I decided a change was required.
Posted on: 25 February 2009 by Ken Forton
Anybody have an idea of a good price for this combo together? In US dollars or pounds sterling?