Introducing Uniti, our revolutionary new streaming platform.

I would agree that Naim and Focal were never natural partners acoustically, and there is no logical reason why historically that would be the case coming from very different backgrounds with different design philosophies. But Focal, for whatever reasons (presumably financial) have acquired Naim and both (predominantly Focal) are now starting to make components that complement each other. I am of course referring to the Sopra range of speakers designed and voiced with Naim electronics in mind.

So the logical extension of this must be to design smaller speakers with the new Uniti range in mind. Why not? It would make sense. Unless Focal believe the Aria range fit that particular target.

Well let's see if the Sopra No 0.1 or 0.2 appear.

Focal have been making speakers for cars for quite a long time. As an 'aftermarket' brand, they are one of the best, and if they are now supplying major car manufacturers, that's probably a good thing.

And while I'm at it....

Personally, I am as likely to buy Focal loudspeakers as I am to buy a Bentley car. i.e. no chance at all.

At RMAF 2016 Naim demo'd the following:

Uniti Atom (w/Naim speaker cables)

Focal Aria 926 Speakers $3000

Focal 1000F Sub $1200

Not a fan of Focal speakers myself but I have to admit the sound at RMAF was stellar. The Focal speakers basically vanished and what was left was this huge natural soundstage. No hint of lagging subwoofer, or any subwoofer at all for that matter.

Many interconnect cables cost more than this entire system.

Bill Allen posted:

At RMAF 2016 Naim demo'd the following:

Uniti Atom (w/Naim speaker cables)

Focal Aria 926 Speakers $3000

Focal 1000F Sub $1200

Not a fan of Focal speakers myself but I have to admit the sound at RMAF was stellar. The Focal speakers basically vanished and what was left was this huge natural soundstage. No hint of lagging subwoofer, or any subwoofer at all for that matter.

Many interconnect cables cost more than this entire system.

 

 

The 926's are what I have with my Uniti2, and my reaction to hearing them together for the first time mirrors what you describe above. I wasn't aware of the Focal 1000F sub - I may try and seek that out for use when I'm using the system for AV purposes.

I assume I could get a better sound if I spent more but I don't NEED more than this system gives in reality. Whether I WANT more I will decide as I get closer to retirement. If I do buy anything 'better' then all speakers will get equal opportunity to make a case for being the next upgrade, as I don't really care who makes them provided I get the sound I seek from them.

IMO the 1000F sub goes well beyond AV duties.

I had the boys at RMAF turn it on & off ... kind of shocking what it does for the soundstage & musical enjoyment.

Hear it for yourself ... and decide. 

nigelb posted:

I would agree that Naim and Focal were never natural partners acoustically, and there is no logical reason why historically that would be the case coming from very different backgrounds with different design philosophies. But Focal, for whatever reasons (presumably financial) have acquired Naim and both (predominantly Focal) are now starting to make components that complement each other. I am of course referring to the Sopra range of speakers designed and voiced with Naim electronics in mind.

So the logical extension of this must be to design smaller speakers with the new Uniti range in mind. Why not? It would make sense. Unless Focal believe the Aria range fit that particular target.

Well let's see if the Sopra No 0.1 or 0.2 appear.

The 926's were voiced for the original Uniti2 (there's a post on here somewhere from someone in Naim saying this), so I guess there is already a current option - and their use in RMAF suggests this will be their current suggestion. However, I'd be surprised if they were not already working on something new. It appears from Phil's reply earlier that the output section of the new Uniti's will not change too dramatically from the old versions so this may be all they need. I'm personally very interested to have a listen to the Star and Nova to see what has changed soundwise, if anything...

I've got a Nova on my brain ....

Bill Allen posted:

IMO the 1000F sub goes well beyond AV duties.

I had the boys at RMAF turn it on & off ... kind of shocking what it does for the soundstage & musical enjoyment.

Hear it for yourself ... and decide. 

Will do! Sounds like it might be a very interesting addition to what I already have :-)

Phil Harris posted:

fred40 posted:

I"m note sure if I understand this correctly. If I trade in my Ndxs5 streamer and by a Supernait 1.I  only need to connect the Core into the SN1 an use the naIm app as a interface on my I pad?

Core would provide you with ripping, storage and playback of your CDs that you have ripped and any downloaded music files ... it would not give you TIDAL / Spotify / Bluetooth etc.

Phil

The lack of support for Tidal, Spotify and other internet streaming services on the Core is disappointing and, frankly speaking, mildly unfair. With an high quality BNC connector, the Core could be an ideal source for s/pdif DACs, in particular for Naim DACs. Many Naim DAC owners have been waiting for a Naim source like the Core for years. Now we have it, but with impaired functionalities. Very sad and, for me, hardly understandable.

Hungryhalibut posted:

IMHO that would be dreadful. Focal are Naim's partner in the V something group, but they are not Naim. I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

Oh no, I am clearly wholly deluded and must dash off to my local hi-fi dealer and get a pair of non-Focal speakers. What a silly bunt I (and my wife) have been for the last 10 years.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

Agreed, and I have written myself so a number of times.

Penarth Blues posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

IMHO that would be dreadful. Focal are Naim's partner in the V something group, but they are not Naim. I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

There appear to be a significant number of Focal speaker owners on here who are quite capable of listening and judging for themselves whether the Focals do it for them - including me. Before I was even aware that Focal existed as a brand I had listened to your once loved PMC's and found them not to my taste, nor the Spendor D7's or KEF R700's. However I believe those speakers will be exactly what some other people, like you, look for in their sound. This does not make them better or worse than what I have - just different.

The moment I heard the Focals with my Uniti I knew they were what I wanted within my price range, and it was a real relief to discover I could get what I'd been looking for within my budget. I'd nearly decided not to bother with a new system as I'd been so disappointed with the other speakers when in my room when on the end of the Uniti 2.

Will I ridicule your choice of speakers? No - because I've never heard your system in your room and would therefore not be so presumptuous as to assume it was crap before listening to it.

PB,

an unrequested comment: before I too become the receptacle of your mild annoyance, Nigel hasn't properly stated that Focal speakers are bad (I had to google bling, though), but exactly what he said – and I too think. That said, I have started listening attentively to Focal speakers more than 20 years ago, when they were called JMLab Focal and a guy, friend of mine, who ran an audio store enthused about them. They were, at the time, bright sounding, assertive speakers with an amazing ability at sound staging but a little fatiguing. In spite of their good built, nobody at the time seemed to consider them in the same league of other brands.

A brief listen at an audio show has, recently, convinced me that some of their models have been significantly re-voiced; and are now much more smooth sounding, balanced, pleasant. This is happening since Naim has become a partner of Focal. This, in my opinion, makes Nigel's assertion even more correct in a way.

Best regards

M

Massimo Bertola posted:

Penarth Blues posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

IMHO that would be dreadful. Focal are Naim's partner in the V something group, but they are not Naim. I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

There appear to be a significant number of Focal speaker owners on here who are quite capable of listening and judging for themselves whether the Focals do it for them - including me. Before I was even aware that Focal existed as a brand I had listened to your once loved PMC's and found them not to my taste, nor the Spendor D7's or KEF R700's. However I believe those speakers will be exactly what some other people, like you, look for in their sound. This does not make them better or worse than what I have - just different.

The moment I heard the Focals with my Uniti I knew they were what I wanted within my price range, and it was a real relief to discover I could get what I'd been looking for within my budget. I'd nearly decided not to bother with a new system as I'd been so disappointed with the other speakers when in my room when on the end of the Uniti 2.

Will I ridicule your choice of speakers? No - because I've never heard your system in your room and would therefore not be so presumptuous as to assume it was crap before listening to it.

PB,

an unrequested comment: before I too become the receptacle of your mild annoyance, Nigel hasn't properly stated that Focal speakers are bad (I had to google bling, though), but exactly what he said – and I too think. That said, I have started listening attentively to Focal speakers more than 20 years ago, when they were called JMLab Focal and a guy, friend of mine, who ran an audio store enthused about them. They were, at the time, bright sounding, assertive speakers with an amazing ability at sound staging but a little fatiguing. In spite of their good built, nobody at the time seemed to consider them in the same league of other brands.

A brief listen at an audio show has, recently, convinced me that some of their models have been significantly re-voiced; and are now much more smooth sounding, balanced, pleasant. This is happening since Naim has become a partner of Focal. This, in my opinion, makes Nigel's assertion even more correct in a way.

Best regards

M

Morning Massimo

I think you have misread Nigel's post. It was meant exactly as it reads. 

My post was to provide an alternative to his 'exaggerated for effect' viewpoint. It was therefore also slightly exaggerated.

I consider him a knowledgeable, experienced and readable poster, but with a slightly bizarre habit of rubbishing perfectly good equipment simply because he does not rate them. 

I'm quite clear from reading HH's posts that he means well but sometimes his posts are so obviously wrong that this needs to be pointed out. 

You also don't like the Focal sound it seems but can acknowledge that they sound OK - just not your taste. That's a perfectly reasonable position to take presented in a reasoned manner. 

HH missed the 'reasoned reply' classes in School it seems. 

Massimo, for whom English is a second language, fully understands the point I made. I did not mention the sound of Focal speakers in any way. Calling them blingy is because I don't like their appearance, with loads of drivers, shiny bits and writing to tell you what they are.  It's simply a matter of taste, and I couldn't give a monkey's what people say about the look of my speakers. 

If one goes back, Focal were never, or hardly ever, mentioned on the Forum and it is only since Naim partnered with them that they have become more popular here. 

So if we are talking about good and bad form, I'd suggest that having a dig at me and my apparent lack of education is infinitely worse than me having a humorous swipe at some MDF boxes. 

Focal speakers suck, that's official, just ask the ITKs!

PB

Too swift, by far, to take offence when none was intended. By all means disagree with the expressed opinion that Focals are 'bling boxes', but why then launch into an unjustified, rather immature, personal attack? (I'm not rushing to your defence, HH, just expressing my opinion!).

Let's all chill, and leave the personal insults to American politicians!!

Tim

Hungryhalibut posted:

Massimo, for whom English is a second language, fully understands the point I made. I did not mention the sound of Focal speakers in any way. Calling them blingy is because I don't like their appearance, with loads of drivers, shiny bits and writing to tell you what they are.  It's simply a matter of taste, and I couldn't give a monkey's what people say about the look of my speakers. 

If one goes back, Focal were never, or hardly ever, mentioned on the Forum and it is only since Naim partnered with them that they have become more popular here. 

So if we are talking about good and bad form, I'd suggest that having a dig at me and my apparent lack of education is infinitely worse than me having a humorous swipe at some MDF boxes. 

'Humorous'? If you say so. 

Read my response again. I'm not questioning your intelligence, I'm questioning your judgement and the way you present it.

People read this forum for advice and guidance.  In my opinion, and that's all it is - an opinion, your continual denigrating of Focal is not warranted based on their recent offerings  

I'm not going to continue this conversation as we'll never agree by the very nature of our viewpoints and I have no need or desire to 'win' this point.  

I'd hoped I'd made it clear in my first post that I consider you an excellent poster with some good contributions. 

I wish you a nice rest of the day with your system and recovery. 

Penarth Blues posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

IMHO that would be dreadful. Focal are Naim's partner in the V something group, but they are not Naim. I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

There appear to be a significant number of Focal speaker owners on here who are quite capable of listening and judging for themselves whether the Focals do it for them - including me. Before I was even aware that Focal existed as a brand I had listened to your once loved PMC's and found them not to my taste, nor the Spendor D7's or KEF R700's. However I believe those speakers will be exactly what some other people, like you, look for in their sound. This does not make them better or worse than what I have - just different.

The moment I heard the Focals with my Uniti I knew they were what I wanted within my price range, and it was a real relief to discover I could get what I'd been looking for within my budget. I'd nearly decided not to bother with a new system as I'd been so disappointed with the other speakers when in my room when on the end of the Uniti 2.

Will I ridicule your choice of speakers? No - because I've never heard your system in your room and would therefore not be so presumptuous as to assume it was crap before listening to it.

Couldn't agree more.  I listened to probably six or eight sets of speakers, including some costing a good bit more than my 926s that are raved about on here, and I bought my Focals because they sounded best with my system in my room.  I do find it amusing when the Hifi snobs cast judgement on an entire range without spending some time listening.  Possibly more than any other component speakers are a matter of taste; if you listen and you don't like them, as I don't like the Naim speakers I have heard, for example, then don't buy them but please don't castigate the manufacturer.  And I guess if Focal own Naim then Focal also make hifi for Bentleys, not that that makes any difference what so ever to what speakers work well in my living room

Goodness me, I never said I didn't like the sound of them, merely that I don't like the look of them. That's hardly a big deal. 

Timmo1341 posted:

PB

Too swift, by far, to take offence when none was intended. By all means disagree with the expressed opinion that Focals are 'bling boxes', but why then launch into an unjustified, rather immature, personal attack? (I'm not rushing to your defence, HH, just expressing my opinion!).

Let's all chill, and leave the personal insults to American politicians!!

Tim

That's a very good proposition Tim! May I suggest that, when it comes to outsourcing our capabilities of delivering personal offences, we also consider Italian politicians beside American ones? Although the Americans (and, in fact, not only them) have meanwhile managed to get to the top league,  we have been there for decades! I acknowledge that, when it comes to unjustified, immature and personal attacks, the current Italian politicians have by far failed to reach the scores achieved in previous legislations, in particular during the Berlusconi era. Still, I believe that we have something to say in this area and I am not sure that the Americans will be able to maintain their current level after November 8. On the other hand, if Trump wins ...    

Timmo1341 posted:

PB

Too swift, by far, to take offence when none was intended. By all means disagree with the expressed opinion that Focals are 'bling boxes', but why then launch into an unjustified, rather immature, personal attack? (I'm not rushing to your defence, HH, just expressing my opinion!).

Let's all chill, and leave the personal insults to American politicians!!

Tim

Exactly!

What's with the "have a dig at HH" anyway?

As he's just pointed out, his comments were confined to their appearance.

His opinion, to which he is perfectly entitled, without the keyboard warriors getting all bent out of shape, surely?

Just my 2p worth, and I have no wish to become embroiled in this "winning the argument" silliness.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I'm convinced that if Naim and Focal were not partnered, the apparent enthusiasm for the French bling boxes amongst Naim owners would be infinitely less. 

I agree to an extent.

Although I had heard Focals working well with Naim in the past (I think it was Derek Jenkins who was an advocate, but am happy to stand corrected) and clearly people enjoyed them, they were not really an intuitive choice of amp/speaker combination and were not a frequent recommendation. So if , almost despite that, people tried them, liked and chose them, then kudos to them.

Back in the day Naim speakers were rather good imho, but considered a bit "marmite". Then imho Naim speakers became less good, yet were adored by others - so still marmite perhaps, but there is inevitably a brand effect as HH alludes to.

There is also the possible working together effect - is there a special synergy with more recent Focal speakers because of design or testing collaboration? Or does a discount for buying Naim and Focal together have a trumping effect.

All jolly interesting but no substitute for trying them at home  

Hungryhalibut posted:

Goodness me, I never said I didn't like the sound of them, merely that I don't like the look of them. That's hardly a big deal. 

Sorry HH, wasn't aimed at you although I can see how it would look that way.  I know you don't like the looks and I can see why that would be, all a matter of taste.  It was the comments that followed yours that mildly irritated me.

Probably because they have been open minded enough to listen, draw a conclusion and have chosen based on their findings and they then find it irritating to see others writing the whole company off for arbitrary reasons.  It's silly, I know, what others think doesn't change the sound but it's part of ownership and not restricted to Focal owners.  Of course if someone listens and compare and then states they don't like the sound of that model of speaker that is their right but it grates when others make sweeping statements.  In my case it probably doesn't help that I've not slept for most of this week as a result of sciatica and an overly zealous physiotherapist. Anyway, forums would be rubbish if no one illogically defended their equipment. 

Given this is a weekend, and the fine people of Naim are either taking a well earned rest or are hard at work polishing the new range, can I quietly suggest that slagging off people and their choice of speakers is not really good form?

After all, I have DBLs and *everyone* knows they dont work...

:-)