I may have converted another music lover to Naim

Posted by: Todd A on 26 February 2001

I had a friend of mine over to listen to my newly completed stereo – capped off by the Vienna Acoustics Bachs – and he was just amazed at how good my system sounded. I played selections from dozens of CDs and all he could mutter were phrases like “I can’t believe it,” “That sounds fast,” and, very frequently, “I just can’t believe how clear it sounds!” By the end of his ordeal, he had decided that he, too, would head down to our local Naim dealer for a listen. I told him to try the gear out with some ProAc speakers and some Naim Intros to see what type of sound he preferred.

I may thusly be able to save another misguided soul from the evils and waste of home theater. That’s his current involvement in audio and he came to the conclusion, on his own, that to maximize sound quality for music, one needs to build a system designed to play music. I pray he converts . . .

Posted on: 26 February 2001 by Mike Hanson

ProAc is slow, compressed and boring. It's tonally impressive with some amps, but not Naim.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

P.S. Congrats on the potential convert.

Posted on: 27 February 2001 by Jonathan Gorse

Todd,

Congratulations on the conversion. I would disagree with the notion that home cinema necessarily precludes good HI-fi. Home cinema through a good hi-fi even done relatively economically can bring movies to life in a way that usually only the flicks could.

I have added a Yamaha processor to drive rear and sub to my 102 tape loops and bought a couple of decent rears and am very happy with it. Visitors have been extremely impressed. Coupled with a LCD projector (borrowed from work) the effect is very enjoyable.

Just my thoughts,

Jonathan

Posted on: 27 February 2001 by Mike Hanson

Is that you Vuk ?

Sorry, but it's the genuine article, and I stand by my claim. ProAcs do interesting things with some amps, but I've never heard them on Naim where they weren't lackluster.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 03 March 2001 by Bob Edwards

To Hanson--

Either you have a short memory or you are deliberately revising history. One of your first posts on the old forum talked about how spectacular the R2.5 was--something like "I think I'm in love !" There was then an extended period of agony where you listened to every speaker on the planet (or so it seemed from your forum comments) and ultimately bought the Albions because you wouldn't buy the ProAcs new even though you preferred them.

ProAc and Naim work very well together, although I would grant that it won't be the best solution for everyone.

Changing taste is fine, but don't rewrite history in the process.

Cheers,

Bob

Ride the Light !

Posted on: 03 March 2001 by Peter Litwack

I have set up several of my clients with Naim and ProAc, and find them to pair quite well together. The best models to match with Naim are the Response 1SC, Response 1.5, and the Response 2.5. The 3.8s work pretty well also, but need at least a system of the CDX/82/HICAP X 2/250 caliber, not to mention quite a large room. BTW, the 1SC sounds particularly wonderful with the 5 series, providing you include a FLATCAP. Otherwise, they can be a bit boring.

Posted on: 05 March 2001 by Mike Hanson

Bob said:

quote:
Either you have a short memory or you are deliberately revising history. One of your first posts on the old forum talked about how spectacular the R2.5 was--something like "I think I'm in love !"

Yes, I was quite enamoured with the ProAc Response 2.5s when I first heard them. The main reason for this was the glorious soundstage (all fluffy and woolly). I actually sat there for three hours, telling myself how wonderful they sounded. At the same time, I knew that they were missing something; I just couldn't put my finger on it. Well it just so happens this was before I learned to categorize and recognize PRaT for what it was. What was missing from the 2.5 was a sense of dynamics, slam and rhythmic flow. (I do understand how some people can get fixated on soundstage to the exclusion of all else, but this isn't me.)

BTW, I first heard the Response 2.5s in the store with some top-flight Arcam gear. Later I got them in my own living room, and pitted them against the Albions with a 102/NAPSC/Flat/140. They were extremely disappointing with this set-up. I realize, though, that the 2.5s need more juice than a 140 can supply. However, the Albions sounded marvellous.

When I originally auditioned the Response 2.5, I also heard the Studio 150 (or 125?), Response 1SC, and Tablette. None of these other ProAcs did a thing for me.

I've also heard the Response 3.8 with some big Chord amps. They sounded big, but boring. That store also has Albions, and they kicked the ProAc's royally. Sure there wasn't as much really deep bass, but we all know that man cannot live on bass and soundstage alone.

More recently I tried the Tablette 2000 with my 82/2*Hi/250, and they were dismal next to the Albions.

That's why I've got Albions instead of ProAcs. Maybe the soundstage isn't as fluffy, but they give life to the music. In comparison, ProAcs are vampires!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-