S1/S2; first opportunity to hear this in a domestic environment
Posted by: u77033103172058601 on 28 April 2016
Not my domestic environment unfortunately and not ever likely to be.
My local dealer has just taken delivery of the Statement power amps to partner the pre-amp he has had for a while. I had found an excuse to pay a visit and enjoyed an hour of listening to a variety of music.
I (actually we, because my wife accompanied me) have been very fortunate to listen to a number of high to very high end systems in domestic environments over the last few weeks. All the owners are on here and all have systems and rooms that work really well and offer fabulous insights into the music. Apart from the immediate effects of making my system sound just that bit small (I learned to avoid playing the same music too soon after any visit) these visits and listening sessions have been really enjoyable and an opportunity to share and discover new music. I had enjoyed many hours listening to the other systems and the owners' choices of music (many thanks guys, you know who you are).
The S1/S2 plus Titan 808s are in a listening room that is a completely domestic setting. The overall sound seemed, to my tired old frequency-limited ears, to be in a notch ahead to any of the other systems (and another league to mine), combining all of the good points of all of the others; weight, authority, deftness, insight into the music and musicality in abundance. I was only sorry that my wife came to collect me after about an hour after she had completed the shopping trip to Waitrose; she had drawn the short straw on this occasion.
My visit had been to lend him my speaker cables, thus rendering my system silent. Probably no bad thing after hearing the S1/S2/808s together. And this was, apparently, without the correct pre-power interconnect in place and without a functioning TT in play. I shall have to find an excuse to make another visit.
A good hi-fi system and music is (almost) life affirming.
Don't do it Nick! 
J.N. posted:And so it was my turn to admit defeat and venture forth to my dealer 'Signals' to check out the Statement pre/power amps. I needed an excuse to thank Andy for wrestling my LP12 into the best state of tune it (and I) has ever enjoyed.
The monolithic black beauties were very neatly arrayed in the corner of the room. 'Almost discreet' I thought. It was also an opportunity for me to hear Kudos Titan 808's at Signals for the first time. It seems to be an annoyingly (price wise) very happy marriage. Several known tunes were played and feet duly tapped.
I didn't really know what to expect but the 'Wow!' factor wasn't it. 'Statement' does that DR-type 'less is more' thing in spades. The music flows effortlessly with phenomenal clarity and lack of clutter. There is a sense of utterly unconstrained dynamic swing and latent power, resulting in a superb sense of ease. The sound is beguiling and musically involving at moderate and higher volume levels.
As with the DR upgraded amps, there is even more of a sense of a fog being removed from around vocals. Phil Collins sounded younger on 'Face Value' - possibly because he was younger then, but you know what I mean. Terrific clarity with processing effects and background vocals rendered like I have never heard them before. The top end sparkles with life and presence; the mid-band is transparent and beguiling and there is an iron grip on the bottom end.
Upon arrival back home, I played some of the same tracks on my 500 series system, trying to convince myself that it sounded nearly as good. It did not - so now I have to work on losing that 'Statement' audio-memory.
My thanks to Andy and Alastair for the opportunity to enjoy this magnificent amplifier for a few hours, and to Naim for developing it.
John.
Shame all the source components are so close to the speakers, that's not an optimal set up for such accomplished equipment.
tonym posted:Just pop them in the back of the car & I'll give 'em a spin I said. The chaps seemed strangely unenthusiastic...
Didn't UHES make you just such an offer regarding NAC S1, some time back, Tony? 
tonym posted:Don't do it Nick!
Graham Clarke posted:Why are people referring to Statement S1/S2? There's no such thing as an S2. It's NAC S1 and NAP S1.
A pedant writes...
I avoided it, Tony. Now to get my system powered back up.
The S1/S2 bit is my fault. I struggle with anything that sounds vaguely mathematical, and if it looks like it could be algebra then I am that exchange between Muntz, Lisa and the Harvard alumna (?) in the Simpsons. No wonder, though, that my attempt to purchase the set-up went horribly wrong.
tonym posted:S2's fine - you need two S1s for a stereo setup. Works for me.
A single "S2" would work for George. 
Whats going on, I turn my back for 5 minutes and to return and find you all falling for Statement 1's & 2's. like moths to a flame you have all sucumed to the dark side (see what I did there, tis Star Wars day!!!!).
Next you will all be telling me Naim have stopped making speakers. Come on gents get real...nothing to see here. Move a long....as you were.Normal service has resumed.
This is what Naim & there dealers want. Come on guys fight it...........Now, what is Alastair's number
Hook posted:tonym posted:S2's fine - you need two S1s for a stereo setup. Works for me.
A single "S2" would work for George.
Nice idea - but I am not able to do this before buying a house!
I got this yesterday, though.
Forty Watts and one channel, compared to the NAP 100 at two channels of 50 Watts!
Good enough for me with my ESL!
And the Little Dot makes a lovely pre-amp.
Sorry to be off topic! Also sorry for the terrible quality picture, but the camera is quite good enough for my ability taking pictures!
Best wishes from George
George Fredrik Fiske posted:Hook posted:tonym posted:S2's fine - you need two S1s for a stereo setup. Works for me.
A single "S2" would work for George.
Nice idea - but I am not able to do this before buying a house!
I got this yesterday, though.
...A hamster?
G
George Fredrik Fiske posted:Hook posted:tonym posted:S2's fine - you need two S1s for a stereo setup. Works for me.
A single "S2" would work for George.
Nice idea - but I am not able to do this before buying a house!
I got this yesterday, though.
Forty Watts and one channel, compared to the NAP 100 at two channels of 50 Watts!
Good enough for me with my ESL!
And the Little Dot makes a lovely pre-amp.
Sorry to be off topic! Also sorry for the terrible quality picture, but the camera is quite good enough for my ability taking pictures!
Best wishes from George
Hi George,
Great to see the pics of the your new Quad Poweramp in your system. It must be perfect synergy with your ESL ' s
You must investigate getting some Psvane valves for it when time and funds allow.
Looking foward to hearing how the new system beds in.
Hope all is well with you - Best wishes Ian
An interesting contrast between the two extremes - but i bet they both give a lot of pleasure to their respective (prospective) owners.
That's what all this hi-fi lark is about in the end isn't it ?
james n posted:An interesting contrast between the two extremes - but i bet they both give a lot of pleasure to their respective (prospective) owners.
That's what all this hi-fi lark is about in the end isn't it ?
Actually says something about the appeal of Naim. At both ends we feel we own something a little special.
And Alastair and Andy are happy to sell both.
SJB
Must admit I'm finding it amusing that many suddenly seem to have woken up to the fact that the full Statement set up is rather good. Amusing because I've been saying this on and off over the last 18 months (or so), having heard the full set up at least 10 times through 4 different sets of speakers! 
Honestly, what next? DR upgrades for power supplies seem quite good?
(And yes I am joking if it isn't already obvious)