Naim XS

HI Galty, Although I own a Nait XS, I've not heard one with the Spendor A5s. All I can say is that in general Naim and Spendor are said to be a good match.

What's your source(s)?

Forgot to add its a Audiolab 8200 CD

What about an Audiolab power amp?

Hi Christopher .... I have thought that many times but there's not many about used?  Also I've just thought about a change of sound. How do you rate the Naim XS?  have you thought of going to a XS2 or Supernait?

Greetings newbie.    I had an Audiolab 8000A  integrated amp years ago with Ruark Prelude II speakers ( which on paper are not as good as the A5 ) and really liked them. Although replaying different albums and artists on this combo I always got a sense that I'm listening to the same players in the same studio just playing different stuff.  Switching to an XS then later a cd5x I got more of the taste of differences in my music collection.

I used a 150 with Spendor A5s and it did not work well. They need at least a 200. I always try to avoid being negative about equipment people have bought, but in my view the A5s are dreadful speakers, and the best amp in the world will not give clarity in the bass. If going for the excellent Nait XS I’d be looking at speakers like the Neat Motive 2. 

You like the XS i take it Halibut!  i do have some early Proac super tablettes i could try with the XS but they do lack the bass but excel in everything else!

Galty posted:

 i do have some early Proac super tablettes i could try with the XS but they do lack the bass but excel in everything else!

That should make a good combo. I think the XS is a bit of a star and should work very well with the Tabs. 

Galty posted:

Hi Christopher .... I have thought that many times but there's not many about used?  Also I've just thought about a change of sound. How do you rate the Naim XS?  have you thought of going to a XS2 or Supernait?

I suggested the Audiolab power because I tend to believe more in system synergy than any one product being a transformative wonder product.

I find the NAIT XS incredibly well balanced in character. This is my second XS. After my first I went to 202, 200, then 282, 200. My life circumstances changed and I had no hesitation in buying a second XS. I just wasn't interested in XS2 or SN. But to return to my first point, my NAIT XS is in an all Naim set. Hope that helps.

It is quite possible that the XS would marry happily with your Proacs. Just like with the Spendors. Very room dependent, taste dependent etc.

james n posted:

Galty posted:

 i do have some early Proac super tablettes i could try with the XS but they do lack the bass but excel in everything else!

That should make a good combo. I think the XS is a bit of a star and should work very well with the Tabs. 

Which bit of a Star are you referring too ?

I've heard Spendor A5s being driven by a Nait XS 2.  Don't go there.   (The Spendor SP2s on the other hand work brilliantly with the XS 2.)

The mid and treble are OK, but the A5s need a LOT more control in the bass - a 200 at least, quite possibly a 250.  The mid is less clear on the A5s than other Spendor's anyway, but they are one of the more difficult speakers to drive, and don't match Naim well until you get to the classic pre/power combos (and at that price level there there are better sounding Spendor models anyway).

A valve amp is exactly the opposite of what you need for the Spendor A5s.

I had a bad experience with Spendor A5s, similar to HH's post above. They sounded woolly and muffled, so much so that I thought they were faulty. I haven't heard them with a Nait XS, but a Superuniti certainly didn't help. I took them to a Naim/Spendor dealer, and we listened to them there, and they sounded no better.

Bear in mind that if you are talking about the later A5r, things might be different, although I think they may now have been discontinued.

Can we confirm... are these Spendor A5 or A5r (they are completely different speakers)?

A5's....theres a lot of negativity about them i am already beginning to learn!  They might be up for sale soon hahaha!

Galty posted:

A5's....theres a lot of negativity about them i am already beginning to learn!  They might be up for sale soon hahaha!

I replaced mine with Kudos X2s and have been happy with them, but don’t take anyone else’s word for it, trust only what your own ears tell you. 

Huge posted:

I've heard Spendor A5s being driven by a Nait XS 2.  Don't go there.   (The Spendor SP2s on the other hand work brilliantly with the XS 2.)

Indeed, the SP2 is arguably one of Spendor's best balanced speakers - and a bona fide classic too.

ChrisSU posted:

Galty posted:

A5's....theres a lot of negativity about them i am already beginning to learn!  They might be up for sale soon hahaha!

I replaced mine with Kudos X2s and have been happy with them, but don’t take anyone else’s word for it, trust only what your own ears tell you. 

Unless your ears tell you the A5s sound good - in that case, you absolutely shouldn't trust them.

Worst speakers I ever tried at the end of a Nait XS when I had one.

Ricsimas... Worst ever ?? Eeeeek !!!

might be doing another thread soon best speakers (in your valuable opinion) for a Naim Nait XS hahaha!

Galty posted:

Ricsimas... Worst ever ?? Eeeeek !!!

Well, that I tried - there may be something even worse out there. 

I ended up with Kudos C2s at that point (a bit of a mullet, but I knew I'd upgrade to separates shortly after that), but compared them to offerings from Linn, Neat, Monitor Audio, B&W, the aforementioned Spendors...

This is all a bit tongue-in-cheek of course, and they did manage to get very good reviews in the beginning of their cycle, but I didn't like them at all, unfortunately.

So Galty you bought the A5's because you liked the sound of them.

What has changed to make you now think of changing-aahhh the experten on the forum have given their opinions that they do not like the speakers-so what-it is an opinion thats all- it is your ears that count-listen to them with a Nait XS and make up your own mind- if they are then not for you thenlook for other speakers-remember speaker choive is very personal and depends upon a host of factors

Why am i saying this-i have a Nait XS and A5's and do not recognise at all the comments- happy with the sound

Steve

HI steve.... now ive taken the valve out of the equation I'm liking them more and more but now wondering whether better amp is the route? as I said at the beginning I heard and liked them with a Elex R driving them and they didn't sound that great with my initial set up,  Maybe ive made an expensive mistake buying them  but I don't want to make more buying the XS.  I'm glad you like your setup!

Buy Elex-R maybe!

I haven't heard the A5s sorry, but had a Nait XS with Spendor S6 speakers for years. It was a really enjoyable system with an LP12 turntable as source, and it brought me a lot of pleasure.

SteveJansen posted:

I haven't heard the A5s sorry, but had a Nait XS with Spendor S6 speakers for years. It was a really enjoyable system with an LP12 turntable as source, and it brought me a lot of pleasure.

S6 is much less demanding of the power amplifier than is the A5.