Naim vs Exposure

I realize you asked about the 2010, but I did a home demo of the 3010S2 about three weeks ago ($2,700 USD). Very musical amp. It'll get the toe tapping and is something I could listen to all day long without an inkling of harshness or fatigue. Very sweet top end (great decay) but a vague bottom end. The bass is there in quantity, just poorly defined. The sound is not especially sophisticated or revealing and the speed of attack is moderate.  A good basic listen but it didn't transport me deep into the music. While it has a 450 VA transformer (equivalent to the SN2) and is rated at 110 watts into 8 ohms, I'd say it falls short of that mark relative to the watts Naim amps deliver. That said, the 3010S2 will drive speakers much better than will a 5si. My overall impression was the 3010S2 fell somewhere in between a Nait 5si and the original Nait XS. A fun listen full of PRaT and a good grip of the speakers, but with a basic level of resolution.

joerand posted:

I realize you asked about the 2010, but I did a home demo of the 3010S2 about three weeks ago ($2,700 USD). Very musical amp. It'll get the toe tapping and is something I could listen to all day long without an inkling of harshness or fatigue. Very sweet top end (great decay) but a vague bottom end. The bass is there in quantity, just poorly defined. The sound is not especially sophisticated or revealing and the speed of attack is moderate.  A good basic listen but it didn't transport me deep into the music. While it has a 450 VA transformer (equivalent to the SN2) and is rated at 110 watts into 8 ohms, I'd say it falls short of that mark relative to the watts Naim amps deliver. That said, the 3010S2 will drive speakers much better than will a 5si. My overall impression was the 3010S2 fell somewhere in between a Nait 5si and the original Nait XS. A fun listen full of PRaT and a good grip of the speakers, but with a basic level of resolution.

I appreciate your experience on the Exposure 3010S2. I presume it's the 3010S2-D integrated you have listened to in your system. I once considered getting the 3010S2-D integrated sometime last year but was swayed to the other side and ended up with the NAC 282, Hicap DR and NAP 250 DR. 

Although I have not listened to the 3010S2-D, I can somehow relate to your remarks on the "vague bottom end" of the Exposure. Having lived with the Naims both 202/200 and 282/250 for almost 8 years now, I can concur with the sophistication of the "Naim sound" in areas of speed and attack which are basically the qualities of good PRaT. Everytime I listen to music with fast bass lines, the articulation in the bass is amazing with the Naim. The speed, transient and attack in the bass lines are top-rated. There is little to zero smearing when the fast and punchy lows are hitting. I was listening to Rio Sol by Earl Klugh and the transients and dynamics with drums and bass lines were delivered with good clarity and articulation.

I have not listened to a lot of amplifiers but do acknowledge the strengths of the Naim when it comes to bass articulation. Somehow I also understand that few folks prioritise on other things and regard the PRaT or mid-bass lift of the Naim as undesirable traits. The sweeter top end and decay of the Exposure 3010S2 may be more appealing to these group of people although the bass definition (of the Exposure) may be poor.

I cannot tolerate amps with mediocre to poor bass articulation ie. smearing in the bass (Rega, Plinius to name a few). Though it is little suprising to hear that the Exposure 3010S2-D's bass articulation is also below par. Perhaps the higher range of pre-power monoblocks may exhibit better bass performance or articulation.

I have experience of both the Exposure CD2010S and the Naim CD5i.  Sonically there's a lot to like about either of them, but the Naim has a very slight advantage in resolution, and a little more finesse in the HF, but these differences are tiny.

However the Naim has a much better build standard:  The Naim is 13 years old and still going strong, the Exposure died after 8 years when the CD transport draw wore out mechanically (both Naim and Exposure modify a bought in CD mechanism, but Naim do it better!).

In the UK, the Naim is a bit more expensive than the Exposure, but I believe it fully justifies that extra cost.

By far the best thing you can do is to audition them with your speakers.

P.S.  I have experience of the Nait 5i but not the Exposure 2010S integrated so I can't comment there.

With those Denton anniversaries, perhaps the exposure combo will bring out the best of them.

Hi Tobyjug, I'm curious as to why you think that.

There has only recently been a thread from someone who changed a 5si integrated up to the XS2 and commented that they felt a loss of bass, and others have said the same, that the 5si has more obvious bass, where the XS2 has maybe a more neutral balance.

Reading up on a few reviews of the Denton Anniversary's all have said that the bass is a little laid back. With the 5si amp it could tip over as too strong.  I haven't heard this combo, so only speculation.  Might well work.  Same with the Exposure 2010, I haven't heard. But I did run the 3010s2 a while. Bass whilst nimble was a little one note with my Ruark Prologue speakers at the time, but the 2010 may well play better with a quality stand mount.