System Pics 2018

Franz K posted:

tonym posted:

Sorry folks, as most of you spotted it's just a bit of Photoshopping jiggery-pokery. I did the multiple box photo to post on the Naim Owner's Facebook page as a way to make fun of the usual sarky comments made in response to Franz's system photos on there. Surprisingly, despite it being a very quick and dirty effort, many were fooled & It triggered them all off again. Still, it was amusing for a while.

For us who happen to have a goodly collection of the black boxes the stream of mealy-mouthed comments do become rather tedious after a while. Rather discourteous I think.

Tony,

I just love your sense of humor, what a fine tuned response to some of our experts here..!  Enjoy the music, thats what it all should be about, I sure do

Cheers,

F

Well said, Franz. 

Franz K posted:

Gavin L posted:

Here is my setup - including the new 500.  Sounds amazing compared to running with the 500/300/500.  Better in everyday - but especially timing.

You might notice that I have power lines running along the top of the skirting board - which does a good job of keeping them clear of the speaker cable.  The thicker power lines are also a lot easier to route through the bundies.

I have reposted my cable pic (which actually is of the older setup), which shows I am struggling to keep everything clear.

 

Hi Gavin,

Thank you for sharing some pictures of your marvelous active 500DBL system. A few points come to my mind. I am sure you thought to move the PSUS to the right hand stack and the 500s to the left? But I also see your wall ourtlet is far on the left so it may not be possible due power cable length. As source you have the CD555 and a Nat02? Is there another source as you show three intputs in your pre? What is the smal box on top of the left stack, is this a headphone amp?  You have 6 SL XLRs..WOOOW!  What I probably would try is to free the SNAXO and the Pre on the right stack from the 555 head above, not only because this stack is really really heavy.  Maybe an intermediate fraim might be advantageous to separate the Pre and the Snaxo from the boxes below.  

I am actually surpised to find that displaying 500 active DBL systems creates some "heat" here on the forum , but am quite happy to see more of these fabulous "old school" top naim systems.

Enjoy your system I know how sublime this sounds, also congrats to your third 500!

Cheers, F

Presumably HH considers Gavin's set up to look ridiculous too

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

Hi All

The Sad news | my SL2 adventure is over, SBL back in place. 

The Happy news | moved from NACA5 to WitchHat Phantom - great upgrade, almost as good as SL ! Shock  

rob

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

I would agree with you HH.  (And by the way, I enjoy many of your insights).

I am about the limit for the boxes that I have room for.  If I could put my wish in - it would be an upgrade path to 500 level active with fewer boxes.  However, if the cost was statement like, I doubt I would have made it.  It has been 25 years taking these (relatively) smallish steps.

A shame also that active speaker development, for Naim at least, has stopped at the DBL.  Although perhaps that is a blessing - as my switch away from SBL to DBL proved very expensive in the long run!

 

Hi Gavin,

Thank you for sharing some pictures of your marvelous active 500DBL system. A few points come to my mind. I am sure you thought to move the PSUS to the right hand stack and the 500s to the left? But I also see your wall ourtlet is far on the left so it may not be possible due power cable length. As source you have the CD555 and a Nat02? Is there another source as you show three intputs in your pre? What is the smal box on top of the left stack, is this a headphone amp?  You have 6 SL XLRs..WOOOW!  What I probably would try is to free the SNAXO and the Pre on the right stack from the 555 head above, not only because this stack is really really heavy.  Maybe an intermediate fraim might be advantageous to separate the Pre and the Snaxo from the boxes below.  

I am actually surpised to find that displaying 500 active DBL systems creates some "heat" here on the forum , but am quite happy to see more of these fabulous "old school" top naim systems.

Enjoy your system I know how sublime this sounds, also congrats to your third 500!

Cheers, F

 

Looking at your setup, I did wonder how the cabling might look if I switched the towers.  Interestingly Jason from Naim did the original install (using a long hydra) and selected this setup (using 250/300/500 amps).  I don’t think the power lines will reach now.  I have power on the other side, but not from a separate spur.

I will give you SNAXO advice some thought, although no immediate changes as it is all now really performing and I just need to find time to enjoy it.

The small box is actually my digital source - an Arcam Airdac.  Definitely the weakest link.  I have been wondering best options for getting something more serious.  At the moment, I want to hold on to the CD555, so with only one shelf, my options may be limited.  Not an immediate problem though, as the hifi budget for the year is certainly spent!

PS.  Not sure if you have the SL XLRs?  This really got the bass going compared to the standard  (just couldn’t help following all of the bass lines, gave them a lot of definition) and would be the best cable upgrade I have done.

Gavin L posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

I would agree with you HH.  (And by the way, I enjoy many of your insights).

I am about the limit for the boxes that I have room for.  If I could put my wish in - it would be an upgrade path to 500 level active with fewer boxes.  However, if the cost was statement like, I doubt I would have made it.  It has been 25 years taking these (relatively) smallish steps.

A shame also that active speaker development, for Naim at least, has stopped at the DBL.  Although perhaps that is a blessing - as my switch away from SBL to DBL proved very expensive in the long run!

Thanks Gavin. I thought long and hard about whether to go active with two 250s, or stay passive with a 300, and chose the latter route. I always think back to the days of the 42XO: it would be great if Naim could put active boards on a 272 to enable two 250s to be connected. Or a four or six channel power amp. But with the demise of their own speakers it seems that active is very much peripheral. Times move on of course, but not necessarily for the better. 

Mort2k posted:

The Happy news | moved from NACA5 to WitchHat Phantom - great upgrade, almost as good as SL ! Shock  

rob

 

 

 

You’ve still certainly got a nice system, even if the SL2s didn’t work out!

Interesting to see someone go for Phantom. Do you have any thoughts on how to describe the difference compared with A5?

Dave***t posted:

Mort2k posted:

The Happy news | moved from NACA5 to WitchHat Phantom - great upgrade, almost as good as SL ! Shock  

rob

 

 

 

You’ve still certainly got a nice system, even if the SL2s didn’t work out!

Interesting to see someone go for Phantom. Do you have any thoughts on how to describe the difference compared with A5?

Oh Totally, I’m very happy. 

The Phamtom.. More Open, Better detail in the mid range, more definition at the bottom end, very musical. A tad faster and took a slight harshness of the top end. Nothing earth shaking but a worth while upgrade .

I also did a comparison to SL in a mates system, he has sold his SL ! The Phantom was 98% of what the SL did. 

Rob

Alba1320 posted:

Mort2k posted:

 

What happened/what's the story with the SL2s/SBLs?

Nothing sinister or otherwise. Just speakers not working in my room (unexpected) and me finding them a bit uninteresting ????. No doubt they are much better in the mids and highs, just not the same boogie factor as the SBL (for me in my room). 

Rob

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

HH, thanks for your indispensable appreciation of my systems looks and for helping me see the light, byh mate, F

Mort2k posted:

Alba1320 posted:

Mort2k posted:

 

What happened/what's the story with the SL2s/SBLs?

Nothing sinister or otherwise. Just speakers not working in my room (unexpected) and me finding them a bit uninteresting ????. No doubt they are much better in the mids and highs, just not the same boogie factor as the SBL (for me in my room). 

 

Rob

 

Hi Rob

i notice that you are using the Isoacoustics GAIA 111s under your SBLs,I use the 11s under my Dyns...Were you able to use those under the SL2s?If not,wonder if this is why you preferred the SBLs,I find they really tighten up the bass and imaging on my Dyns.

Okay, offense is taken by describing these monster setups as ridiculous.   I guess, then, that ostentatious wouldn't be a good fit either, would it?  Theses massive displays of black boxes wouldn't be out of place on a server farm by Apple.  Maybe I'm just jealous at that display of Power.

Great picture, thought i still love the old olive stacks more, but the 500 beasts is super cool.

My only question is many have their speaker firing right next the the whole system stack, can't be good ?

Franz K posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

HH, thanks for your indispensable appreciation of my systems looks and for helping me see the light, byh mate, F

You are most welcome. I’m sure it sounds absolutely wonderful. 

Rob,

I too prefer SBLs to the SL2s so you are not on your own. I went into the dem with the finance in place but they seemed like a sanitized version of my Sibbles. Never regretted walking away from that one, although the ‘2s are no doubt a classy speaker.

And I only dislike the photos of the big systems because I can’t afford one myself....

Stu

Hungryhalibut posted:

Franz K posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

HH, thanks for your indispensable appreciation of my systems looks and for helping me see the light, byh mate, F

You are most welcome. I’m sure it sounds absolutely wonderful. 

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

French letter 

French Rooster posted:

French letter 

.................    this might prove 'interesting'  

French Rooster posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Franz K posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

HH, thanks for your indispensable appreciation of my systems looks and for helping me see the light, byh mate, F

You are most welcome. I’m sure it sounds absolutely wonderful. 

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

French letter 

We can conclude that freedom of speech is there in the UK. That topic in the Padded Cell can be closed now.

I've printed these series of replies to educate my kids about Irony and Cynism.

French Rooster posted:

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

What's this mean?  Not a phrase I've come across before.

I'm sure we used to have pictures of systems on this thread...

Dave***t posted:

French Rooster posted:

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

What's this mean?  Not a phrase I've come across before.

a japanese can smile to a person and think the contrary.....if i can explain like that.

Ardbeg10y posted:

French Rooster posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Franz K posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Not at all, it looks ok, as does Tony’s. It’s just the three angled stacks that I think look ridiculous. That said, I do think it’s ridiculous that one needs so many boxes for active. There has to be a better way, as I said before. Anyway, what does it matter what I think?

HH, thanks for your indispensable appreciation of my systems looks and for helping me see the light, byh mate, F

You are most welcome. I’m sure it sounds absolutely wonderful. 

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

French letter 

We can conclude that freedom of speech is there in the UK. That topic in the Padded Cell can be closed now.

I've printed these series of replies to educate my kids about Irony and Cynism.

good idea, but will they understand?

French Rooster posted:

Dave***t posted:

French Rooster posted:

it’s like a japanese smile.....   

What's this mean?  Not a phrase I've come across before.

a japanese can smile to a person and think the contrary.....if i can explain like that.

Oh, so it's racist.  

Don't worry, I'm not accusing you of being a racist - just (charitably) pointing out that perhaps something was lost in translation - that kind of phrase doesn't go over too well in English.

I move that some pruning take place and there's a bit more focus on pictures rather than sniping.

Mike-B posted:

French Rooster posted:

French letter 

.................    this might prove 'interesting'  

HH once said to me:  “ i won’t call you French Letter because you write tipy responses “. ( tippy or tipy?)