Variation between Naim units
Posted by: Rockingdoc on 15 October 2002
Over the past month I have had the unusual opportunity to have five different NAC 52s to use in my home system; old, new, borrowed and blue (broken). I have been surprised by the large amount of variation in sound between the units. Burn in, warm up, you cry, but this doesn't really fit my findings. The sonic differences between the units were greater than that which I have heard from changing interconnects and speaker cable, but not as great as the difference between an 82 and a 52. There was neither a clear line of improvement with warm-up or burn in, nor an obvious improvement or degradation according to age. All of the units were less than 2 years old. I am sure that there are clear sonic differences between units, just as one experiences differences between other items e.g. apparently identical electric guitars.
Thiss may all sound obvious, but how many of us hear a dem model, or a friend's model, then order a new one expecting it to sound the same and get confused when it doesn't. I wonder if we should ask to audition the actual unit we intend to purchase.
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Bosh
Very interesting. Its not often that any of us get to compare like with like (5 times over in this case)in the same environment and system context.
Of course the natural response would be scepticism. How could Naim let such a thing happen. Was mains or mood variation an influencing factor, was the comparision done on the same day, was the same mains lead configuration/distribution used, was the cable dressing consistent, etc.
I have often commented to my dealer that in shop demos I enjoy his system better than my own (and I am more receptive to other genres music). The reply has usually been that most people say this. I dont for one minute think his system is better, its probably due to being in a sanctuary from work and home pressures for a couple of hours.
It would be interesting to hear views of others on this
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Timbo
I think ones mood plays a great part in the appreciation of music. If I am unsettled about something (worse if its to do with my HiFi) which I am at present I tend not to appreciate the music so much. When I get my record deck sorted to my own exacting standards I'll be a lot better, additionally I also get a bit annoyed when the mains supply is not so good and I get humming supercaps & hicaps, I'm not bothered about the hum, it's that I know I'm not getting the best sound at the moment.
When I'm relaxed the music is wonderful!!!
Tim
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Rockingdoc
I disturbed the system as little as possible between listening to units, but obviously had to power down briefly when changing 52s. Tried to keep to the same cables where possible, but sometimes had to change Burndy. The difference between units was consistent, and much greater than the cable effect. i.e. I could always tell if I was listening to 52A, 52B, 52C etc. independent of mood and weather conditions.
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Paul Stephenson
we would expect a unit with 20hrs use to sound different to a unit with 100 hours, they will all level out.
There are so many variables that you would need to work out so that it is a level playing field.
The differences once run in will be small.
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Rockingdoc
but I had each one for at least a week switched on all the time.
By the way none of them sounded bad in any way (when working) just different. I'm not complaining, just observing.
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by Paul Stephenson
"just observing."
Understood, it is not just the warming up but the running in, some components change with use and once run and switched off return to the run in state.
Posted on: 15 October 2002 by HTK
It only goes to illustrate the importance of a good dem and being able to listen at home and take it back if necesary.
Naim owners take this kind of dealer service for granted - and we probably should.
Cheers
Harry
Posted on: 16 October 2002 by Rockingdoc
Perhaps it is all psychoacoustics. My fifth, and hopefully final, 52 sounds the best of the lot and I had a very enjoyable evening with music.
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Martin Payne
There are the occaisional 'exceptional' items, and occaisional 'disapointing' ones.
I've only been stung by this once myself - with an Ekos that sounded nothing like the demo item. Was eventually rebuilt by Linn.
Lesson learnt - if you do a demo, take that item.
cheers, Martin
Posted on: 17 October 2002 by Paul Stephenson
Great, sorry about the problems you had!!
