A new Naim user - straight from Linn
Posted by: thealphabeta on 04 January 2016
Hi All
New Naim user here. I used to have a Linn Majik DSM with Majik 109 speakers which was a set-up that I really enjoyed. I sold it all when I moved to London due to space. Having just completed on a new house with much more space the first thing I wanted to treat myself to was a new hifi set up. I went to audition some Naim gear against my old set up and was blown away by the Naim, in particular the Qute 2. I simply can't believe the sound from something 1.5k less than the Majik DSM, stunning. I much much prefer the overall sound, it was just much easier listening and more enjoyable. As soon as the source was swapped to the Naim I had a smile on my face and new almost immediately I preferred it. I also heard the Superuniti which was great but I didn't feel like it was a massive step up from the Qute2 and with the NAP 100 it stepped up again.
So, here I am with a Qute 2. Speakers I'm still auditioning and reading about. Must be floor standers with a slight frame (gf friendly). I'm into the Neat Motive SX2's. I like the sound very much and their style is right up my street. I've also tried some Linn speakers (109), B&W (i.e. CM8), PMC's and ProAc's.
Looking forward to finally settling on some speakers but I'm not quite there yet I don't think. The Motives are up there but I haven't quite pulled the trigger yet.
Posted on: 04 January 2016 by Bert Schurink
Interested to see if you keep enjoying the sound or still going forward keep watching out for some specific of the Linn Sound....
Posted on: 04 January 2016 by thealphabeta
You mean to see if I switch back to Linn? The one thing Linn have up their sleeve is space optimisation which is very neat. Hoping it comes to Naim
Posted on: 04 January 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Welcome to the dark side.... 
As to speakers - try Monitor Audio Gold GX200. Beautifully made (so scoring high on management approval) and sound very well with NAIM.
Monitor Audio are not the most popular with the forum members, but I really do love them.
Posted on: 04 January 2016 by thealphabeta
Wow yeah they look great. I'll give them a try.
These forums are fatal. The amount I've spent over the years with upgrades....I could have bought a new car
Posted on: 04 January 2016 by Noogle
Welcome on board. You'll soon learn to love unbendable speaker cable and DIN plugs. And to keep your credit card in the freezer to stop it from melting.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by The Strat (Fender)
Welcome - yes I agree I have always found Naim electronics a far better listen than Linn.
You won't go far wrong with the Neats.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by feeling_zen
Welcome. In good company. I defected from a full Linn setup after worshiping at the temple of Linn for 10 years so I know how it feels to be on the other side.
The Qute2 has a knack for getting low cost speakers sounding very good. On a bare Qute2 I got better results with the Qacoustics range than the PMCs at 4 times the cost. PMCs were far better but need at least the NAP100 to sound convincing.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by feeling_zen
Wow yeah they look great. I'll give them a try.
These forums are fatal. The amount I've spent over the years with upgrades....I could have bought a new car
could knock 5 years off my mortgage.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by thealphabeta
Haha yes indeed. Likewise.
Glad to hear I'm not the only ex Linn user here. I'm not completely mental then.
Interesting mention for the Q Acoustics. Not considered those!
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by analogmusic
what impresses me about Naim is that one can buy a 30 year old CB 250 which has been serviced in 2015, and it will perform great and sound good.
Do Linn offer this level of servicing?
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Glad to hear I'm not the only ex Linn user here. I'm not completely mental then.
I think we are all a bit mental on this forum, so welcome to the club
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by sunbeamgls
what impresses me about Naim is that one can buy a 30 year old CB 250 which has been serviced in 2015, and it will perform great and sound good.
Do Linn offer this level of servicing?
On some products (e.g. LP12 and top end stuff) but not others.
However, SPACE was a free upgrade on every DS produced since 2007. And SPACE & Exakt is being made available for pretty much every speaker they've made. Certainly as far back as the Keilidh, Kaber, Keltik etc., which are over 25 years old now. So not exactly the same support of legacy products, different but probably just as worthy in its own way.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by b_lund
If not mentioned, just keep the M109 loudspeakers(if still yours) unless very large room they are better than most suggested, unfortunately the Neats are way bas heavy imo
The Qute is Qute but I'm no fan of additional poweramp ie Nap 100, its called an upgrade but not 100% win/win for me, if you can avoid it or go for higher sensitivity speakers, the better
And no, there's no DIN's on a Qute (sadly)
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Bert Schurink
You mean to see if I switch back to Linn? The one thing Linn have up their sleeve is space optimisation which is very neat. Hoping it comes to Naim
They also present the music in a different way, some people like a friend of my likes this type of presentation over the Naim way....
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by thealphabeta
I don't have any of the Linn gear left. Sold when I moved to London sadly. I heard the 109s with SU and didn't like the speakers so not sure what that says for the Linns. Liked the Neats personally
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by J Saville
If you can find them, try Totem Acoustic Arros. Small for a floorstander with a big sound!
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Allante93
what impresses me about Naim is that one can buy a 30 year old CB 250 which has been serviced in 2015, and it will perform great and sound good.
Do Linn offer this level of servicing?
That's why I left, Karin went out, followed by Linn XO. Sold the Karin and XO for parts ouch!!!!!
Now I'm another Naim mental case!!!!
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Simoncarr
Hey Thealphabeta....I also have a Qute2 with NAP 100 and I am running Kudos X2 speakers. If you like the look and sound of the Neat speakers give these a try. I think Kudos was started with some of the guys who worked at Neat.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by thealphabeta
hey. Oh great. Did you notice much of a difference adding the NAP100? I've heard really mixed thoughts on that.
Not a bad shout. I will give them a try as well. Seen some nice white ones I like
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Simoncarr
Hi. I know there are some mixed thoughts on it. For me at the time I had a pair of Proac speakers and I felt the Qute2 struggled a little to fill my room with sound. The soundstage was a little small and not much bass. When I added the Nap 100 I personally felt there was a bigger soundstage, the music came further into the room and more bass. When I changed to the Kudos it all seem to come alive and the sound is lovely and at a lower volume. With the Proac I had to have the volume high to get the sound I wanted but not now.
I originally linked the Qute to the NAP with RCA and then changed to Chord RCA to DIN which made a difference. I have the NAP running the speakers and have switched the speaker setting off on the Qute.
I am also using two Russ Andrews power cables, but I am not sure if they added too much, but I got them at a good price so not complaining too much.
I know the Qute and the Nap 100 are at the cheaper end of Naim, but for me the sound of these two small boxes is amazing. I had moved to Naim from Cyrus and I love the difference in sound.
Now I have my Linn LP12 sounding great with the system I think the next change is my speaker cable to NAC A5.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by thealphabeta
That's really helpful thank you. I think in a couple of months I will look to get a demo of the NAP combo to see if I can hear the difference and it's tangible.
I have been looking at the NAC A5 cable as well but hear that's a bit stiff...i.e. not going to be very GF friendly!
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Zipperheadbanjo
If you can find them, try Totem Acoustic Arros. Small for a floorstander with a big sound!
+1
I ran the Arro's with my SuperUniti... they are a very special speaker.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by thealphabeta
Yes I've heard that. I did look for some but all I could find was on ebay in DE for a lot more than they sell fo in the UK
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by catalinmetal
i've never heard Linn gear (not popular in this part of Europe) although in UK seems it is the No 1 Naim "enemy", or as you said, "the other side"...
can you describe in a few words the main attributes of the Linn house sound compared to the Naim house sound, as you perceive them so far?
thank you.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by thealphabeta
I'm not great at describing one sound vs the other, I'm only good at knowing what I like. But, I would say that the Linn system is more clinical and to be sounds like every instrument is well defined but it makes it less enjoyable to listen to. That probably doesn't make much sense to anyone else but that's how i hear it
