That is me finished ...

Happy and content is a great place to be, Allan you have it sussed!

Excellent post. This is how demo's should be done. Reminds me of several I had, years ago, trying to find a 'better' CD player than my then Arcam. Nothing sounded 'better enough' to justify the cost. Only a used CDX2 finally did that - at the 3rd demo.

Ripping FIVE Xmas CD's is perhaps, a slightly excessive response to these demo's - but they are your ears....!!  

Perhaps I might suggest you consider the VFM option of a good, used 282 - which would surely drop neatly into your system....? Apologies if this idea was already considered and rejected..... 

I hope you had a lot of fun in the demo process despite not achieving that 'Wow Factor', but at least you satisfied your curiosity, and as you rightly say all improvements need to add VFM... 

Just one suggestion though, have you considered upgrading your speaker cables? Possibly Super Lumina, TQ Ultra Blacks , both are highly rated on the forum ...

Thanks for the replies folks.

I won't be going s/h, no confidence and if new components aren't doing it then s/h would only do it VFM at around 1.5k ... there I've actually put a value on those incremental improvements I was hearing

... BTW that is not about what I can afford but rather what value I place on it in the context of what I already have, just to be clear!

As for cables ... let's not go down that route :eyeroll: particularly since SL is, as far as I'm concerned, in the land of the Night Garden (those with kids or grandkids know what I mean by that.

... just finished listening to Rag 'n Bone Man Wolves CD (Xmas pressie) and its percussive sound really comes over well on my system ... I'm grinning again.

Allan

Nice post Allan. You approached the process logically and have gotten a honest result. Not easy for everyone to do but I suspect we'd all be happier if we did.

You're finished Allan...finished I say!

G

Enjoyable read Allan. Sorry if I upset your new found karma but I think there is one thing you could still try that will provide a big increase in sq and offer vfm, substitute your V1 for a Chord Mojo.

PS. Really enjoying rag and bone man only human, great song.

How did you control the Linn streamers. When I last checked a Linn streamer the pc app was 100 percent inaccessible but I did not look at  the iOS apps.

With a system build around a Dac Chord may be an option, or wait and see what happens with the next generation of Naim streamers, or just forget about upgraditis.

Claus  

Claus - the linn IOS control app is partly accessible but usable; the music selection is fine but there are too many unlabelled buttons - including the play/rewind/ff - I accessed these by BoiceOver finger positioning at the bottom right and memorising the order.

This could have been a total deal-breaker but I thought I could use it and I am sure that if Linn were made aware of the unlabelled buttons they would correct these as it is a pretty trivial software edit. Can't coment on the Tidal or other streaming control since I was always using music from a NAS.

Allan

Great post Allan! Well done with the research.

I do have one upgrade suggestion for you, but surely you'd not be interested in that... 

Nice to know that the app works, so we have more choices in streaming devices. I must still admit that controlling with iOS/Android for me is not optimal, when I am used to the Windows DTC! I am really looking forward to getting my ns01 back in a not to distant future. Blue OS works on iOS with some issues they hopefully will resolve, but Naim servers rule them all!

Claus     

Interesting Allan and congrats for finding some 'peace of mind'

I've had similar experiences test-driving new cars.  I get back in my current car and think, "This isn't so bad!"

Cheers!

It's good to see that you have the maturity to say it's enough for you. In hifi we are definitely talking about the law of diminishing returns. While I am on the side of the people who can appreciate also the smaller increments....., but it's a very personal choice. And being alone it's much more easy to convince yourself that you need it....

Bert - who says I don't need it ...

Claus-Thoegersen posted:

With a system build around a Dac Chord may be an option, or wait and see what happens with the next generation of Naim streamers, or just forget about upgraditis.

.....or even the next generation of Chord DACs, given that they are about to announce some new products? 

Good stuff Allan.   Enjoy the music - as they say!

Regards,

Lindsay

I thought you were curious about the Townshend Allegri? Not very expensive for the performance. 

Dozey - yes,  I was curious and I believe that I could get one on a demo basis from the manufacturers but in my special case I can't do anything myself regarding cabling/set-up/etc and would rely on my dealer and he doesn't carry them and is not keen/interested.

Allan

Perhaps someone on this forum could help out. I don't know where you are based, but I am in Hertfordshire and could help out if you are not too far away.

Sorry Dozey - NE Scotland ... just a wee bit away from you but it was very kind of you to offer

Thanks,

Allan

It is very amusing. When a chap on here says he is done and gives a wonderful and lucid explanation as to where he is and why he is done, all several of us can do is suggest an upgrade to the poor chap. We just can't help ourselves.

Alan, you are in a good place, and you have clear and sound reasons to stop where you are. You have even gone to the lengths of 'exploring' the superb competition and have satisfied your curiosity.

I would love to be able to say I am done. But when I am, and if I announce it on here, please, please resist the temptation to advise me on the next logical upgrade.

Fact: There will always be something better.

Fact: Us mere mortals have to stop somewhere.

Imponderable: Where exactly does one stop?

New year resolution must stop ignoring what the OP says .......

New year's resolution. Must spell the OP's name correctly.

Sorry Allan.