New Products - Q&A

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1. What do Naim think they are bringing to the market with the new stands that isn't already available. No bullsh*t please, I'm just looking for an honest opionion as to what you feel is lacking in the stand market that Naim has fulfilled.

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I doubt that naim will reply, but my take on this is:

it is a naim branded, premium price product that some will buy for that reason alone(baa);

it might improve the performance of naim kit - yet to be proven;

it will be used at shows and demos in preference to other stands so that people will no longer ask what stands naim recommend.

cheers

Nigel

It is common practise for Naim and other hifi manaufacturers to preview new products at hifi shows, this has happened since time began. Full info on the racks will be available shortly.
The racks should be available in in MAY 2001, we have taken orders already. We believe the Naim racking will offer customers a support solution (sound and aesthetic) which is not presently available from our dealers. We first showed this stand at Bristol 2000, since then we have worked hard to get the performance we wanted. I am sure as some of the people here get to hear/own one the discussion can be of more interest to those of you here who are passionate about supports.

"2. From the pics of the CDSII/52 based systems, the CDSII and 52 are always in racks with unused shelves. Was this simply for aesthetic reasons (to match the height of the adjacent racks) or are you suggesting that additional shelves provide sonic improvements"

The spacing, was to provide a visual setting that customers might wish to have. Aesthetic only.

3. What is the timescale for getting the Vivo and SBL replacement to the dealers.

The VIVO is expected to be in the shops in May 2001, we have no news on any SBL replacement.

Hope this helps, we will update our web site and be informing our dealer base asap.

[This message was edited by Paul Stephenson on THURSDAY 01 March 2001 at 13:44.]

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We believe the Naim racking will offer customers a support solution (sound and aesthetic) which is not presently available from our dealers.

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but might be, or is, available elsewhere?

cheers

Nigel

A couple of questions spring to mind:

1) will you be providing a lower priced entry into the stands for 5 series users (e.g. with multiple shelf units to put on top of the bases)? I would have thought the prices for the stands mentioned on the forum would cause customer resistance to 5 series purchasers.

2) will you need to address any other non-audiophile customer friendliness issues - for example a more malleable / thinner / flatline speaker cable?

I for one trust Naim not to "do a Linn" and abandon its existing audiophile customer base.

Nic P

We have NO plans to abandon our audiophile customers or music fans, we have no plans to make the racks more affordable, this is it, you should have seen where we were few months ago with some different materials. There are several racks that will fit the bill for customers not wishing or able to purchase our stands.

We have been looking at speaker cables for years on and off and will continue to do so but right now naca5 is as flat as it gets from us!

"1) will you be providing a lower priced entry

into the stands for 5 series users (e.g. with multiple shelf units to put on top of the bases)? I would have thought the prices for the stands mentioned on the forum would cause customer resistance to 5 series purchasers.

2) will you need to address any other non-audiophile customer friendliness issues - for example a more malleable / thinner / flatline speaker cable?

I for one trust Naim not to "do a Linn" and abandon its existing audiophile customer base."

I'll repeat the question I posed elsewhere with regard to your strategy regarding accessories:

I wonder what is more interesting for a company like Naim: sell a great accessory for a fair price to the whole of your loyal customer's base or sell a great accessory for an exorbitant price to only some happy few of your customers?

Ciao!

Willem

I'd like to defend naim on the issue of the cost of the stands. I do not think they are exorbitant given what Townsend and Wilson Benesch charge for their top end products. Now, Wilson benesch is expensive because of Carbon fiber, which doesn't come cheap. They don't use bundled fullerene nanotubes (500 a gram) but they don't use charcoal either. Even a carbon fiber hockey stick is about 150 bucks these days. As for townsend you have the fancy air-cusion suspension that justifies the price. This and the small market makes these things expensive. And what about black diamond racing shelves? Yet they work wonders. The naim stands come in, at my calculations, at about the same as the WB ones, so if they perform as well then they are not overpriced. The naim stands have an extra layer of isolation, but they don't use carbon fiber, which is better than aluminum in terms of being light and rigid.

If naim is trying to make what they feel are the best audiphile stands on the market and have put years of development into it, then they are not overpriced. And the pricetag of getting all the mana freaks off the forum can never be too high. Just imagine...a world without Mana! Almost as good as a world without famine, crime, or poverty.

Thanks naim!

dave

Unfortunately the price tag of the Naim stands will be above my and many other Naimophiles' budget, but I'm certainly looking forward to hear them, exactly because I know Naim doesn't introduce something when it isn't something special!

David,

You may be right about the cost of materials, but I still can't help wondering what makes these stands so expensive. A Greek saying used when a pullover or another piece of clothing is very expensive comes to mind: How much did you say? Why, what is it made of? Pubic hair?

Ciao!

Willem

one of the posts that I saw re the new stands said the wooden boards were MDF.

I've seen reports that plywood is better. Have you tried this instead?

cheers, Martin

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I've seen reports that plywood is better. Have you tried this instead?

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750 density chipboard is said to be better than MDF - particularly when used for loudspeaker cabinets.

MDF is said to have a sonic signature in the mid-band, but tends to be chosen for it is easy to machine and an OK-material for cabinets.

Andrew

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

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After viewing Rico's pic of the way in which you prepare dinner, I am completely behind everything you say. You're definitley not a girlie-man.

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Yeah, but Vuk I am concerned that James is still mulling over taking the barbeque to Phase-7; I keep telling him it should improve both flavour and texture of the meat, as well as giving extra drive (realised as faster cooking time).... but I think he wants to try the new Naim offering first.

Rico - all your base are belong to us.

Poor poor we the poor...

Arye