Munich

audio1946 posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Some more demo

 

the presentation seems to be about the speakers than the electronics. .first photo  is just the naim sign above.  

There where also some pictures on the electronics. The demo was more about the ability of the overall system with focus on the ability of the ND555, the speakers where described but that was it...

Stephen Tate posted:

Guten tag,

exciting thread we have here!

Anyone here heard the ND5 XS 2 performing yet? I will for one be very interested in your comments, you know things like "it blew the roof off" or "jaws started dropping left right & centre whoever dared go near it"

Was not in Demos only visible...

Bert,

Thank you for being our eyes and ears at the Munich High End Show.  The time you have taken and the impressions & photographs that you have shared with us is greatly appreciated.

Best regards, FT

Oh dear, this is quite exciting. If feel myself being drawn in

Foot tapper posted:

Bert,

Thank you for being our eyes and ears at the Munich High End Show.  The time you have taken and the impressions & photographs that you have shared with us is greatly appreciated.

Best regards, FT

Yep ???? 

GraemeH posted:

nbpf posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

Gazza posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Huge speakers..

 

I remember this very pair of speakers from the Naim factory demo room. Many of us did not like the sound, but the guy on my right hand side really liked them. To my left a well known forum contributor could not believe his ears......really did not like them. That’s speakers for you...

Those are the big brothers of the ones we heard at Naim. We heard the Scala Utopia Evo, which cost £28,000, while the Grande Utopia EM being used at Munich are £130,000 ...

... and quite ugly, for my taste!

‘Dusty Bin’ always comes to mind when I see these disjointed cyclopean Focals leering down.

G

I wouldn't say they're ugly per se, but they're certainly not something I could live with in my home. I can't help but think of 'War of the Worlds' whenever I see them; I'd have nightmares about a killer LASER beam being fired from one of the drivers!

The big blue ones are ‘imposing’ shall we say... I have smaller brown ones, which whilst obviously part of the same family blend in rather better imo.

Bert, many thanks.

If they are as ugly as SIN, but deliver the music that’s OK, if they look wonderful it’s a bonus......

Had a wonderful 2nd day in Munich. Will update you guys in the rest f the evening and tomorrow - hope I can finish it then. So many impressions and as i approached it quite structurally I got I think a good impression. The method I applied was simple but effective. I made pictures of the things I listened to. For clues I also did some Shazam, you saw some of that I’m the listening thread. And then connected to that I made some notes on my iPhone referring to the music I head, as to make it easier on my memory. I also still have to finalize my stuff from yesterday including a brief on the NDX session and some other loose ends..., highlights of today for me...

I heard the best Sony Walkman, wow... Hugo 2, Senheiser HD820’s, Ultrasone Edition 15, Shure KSE 1200 and 1500, Burmeister Signature, Audionet Heisenberg and co and much much more...

I think if you’re a die hard square wood veneer box brigade, then your not going to like them.

Personally I think Focal are pushing the boundaries of modern design without going totally individualistic.

Most likely it’s the price tag that’s the issue...

Burt, thankyou for your efforts in advance of your posts

gazza

So but first what a couple of you have been waiting for. The NDX, with 202 and 200 and Focal Kanta’s 2. First to the Kanta’s, strange for me given my normal dislike of Focal speakers..., but these ones I like a lot, they bring a lot of normal joy across. Easy and forgiving, but definitely no children, but quite mature. 

With regards to the NDX as compared to the NDS, I still have the feeling that the NDS is clearly the better one. While it’s difficult as I have heard the NDS generally in a bit more capable system, like myself but at minimum on 252-300 level, so these could be the wrong conclusions. But let me still try to describe...where is the NDS better in my ears...

1. Detail retrieval

2. Tonal correctness

3. Soundstage.

It doesn’t mean that I didn’t like the NDX, because I did. It gave me a kind of feel of my ex CDX2, the same kind of PRAT and attack, while with more detail retrieval. It’s in my ears also clearly ahead of the 272 and more than the old one. So overall a very enjoyable system, with a lot of live in it. Somethin* you would easily enjoy for hours at a stretch. Reminded me a lot of my starting system, while I heard more detail overall. It’s clearly a good step up. Enough for people to hand in their old NDX’s, if you have to a invest around 2k then I think it is worth he change - perhaps even at 3k, but do also reflect on now preloaded NDS’s as they are in a different league still..... while the difference has limited.

Just my opinion of course.....

There was an interesting session yesterday of Lyn Stanley and a cutting engineer who was also creating audio equipment. She explained how she only worked with two takes. And how they are preparing for a direct to cut recording which is planned for February 2019. And how this works including quality of musicians stress etc... I found it very interesting, more than the system in the background...

Absolare - never heard of them, but the new mono blocks gave a nice natural sound, High speakers as well. Tasteful....

Burt, did they use a 555 ps on the NDX2, if not, it’s not a fair comparison to the NDS? I heard with/ without....it’s a big step up.

Marten, Deep warm, ideal for blues...

KRM posted:

Does anyone know if the ND555 price includes a couple of Burndies? Sorry if this has already been answered.

If you live in the UK you'll get more for your money ;-)

https://www.naimaudio.com/stre...tiroom#NetworkPlayer

Kalista, the design is remarkable - but I found the sound not so convincing, derails are a bit hidden in overall sound. If it would sound like it is designed it would be very fine

Bert Schurink posted:

Harry earlier in the thread I tried to describe the ND555 it quite some detail - right now that’s all I would be able to say until I would have heard another demo in another context, or heard it in my own environment .... I was mighty impressed and can belief it’s the best Naim source ever...

Damnit! I just knew you were going to say something like that.

Oh well..... maybe it will sound horrible in my lounge.

With Lindemann they streamed through their DAC, with Tord Gustavsen, an impressive open sound, liked it..

Harry posted:

Bert Schurink posted:

Harry earlier in the thread I tried to describe the ND555 it quite some detail - right now that’s all I would be able to say until I would have heard another demo in another context, or heard it in my own environment .... I was mighty impressed and can belief it’s the best Naim source ever...

Damnit! I just knew you were going to say something like that.

Oh well..... maybe it will sound horrible in my lounge.

If that fits you - it will sound horrible.... :-), that can easily be done. Put it on a wrong rack on top of it’s power supply, no warm up, bad cabbles......, but knowing your love for music a bit, I guess you would easily find out and,........, your current source would sound broken. A cruel world isn’t it ?

Gazza posted:

Burt, did they use a 555 ps on the NDX2, if not, it’s not a fair comparison to the NDS? I heard with/ without....it’s a big step up.

I forgot to check, but looking at my picture. You see not three black boxes - which would mean no power supply. A 555PS would make of course a big difference. But I evaluated with what I had, and missed the aspects I mentioned before. My impression - the NDS will still have a margin, though a smaller. But don’t kill me if I am wrong, I didn’t have A-B comparability.... Further tests on arrival will tell us. I am listening okra no forward to those reports of others, I still hope that the other Naimees will post their impressions from the show in this thread or another thread. It had been rather silent so far....

Bert Schurink posted:

Gazza posted:

Burt, did they use a 555 ps on the NDX2, if not, it’s not a fair comparison to the NDS? I heard with/ without....it’s a big step up.

I forgot to check, but looking at my picture. You see not three black boxes - which would mean no power supply. A 555PS would make of course a big difference. But I evaluated with what I had, and missed the aspects I mentioned before. My impression - the NDS will still have a margin, though a smaller. But don’t kill me if I am wrong, I didn’t have A-B comparability.... Further tests on arrival will tell us. I am listening okra no forward to those reports of others, I still hope that the other Naimees will post their impressions from the show in this thread or another thread. It had been rather silent so far....

Ps I make my statements also based on other ps options I heard at events. I heard the nds also with the XPS and even with the small one, but that doesn’t make sense anyhow. With the 555ps so much more comes, that’s why I lot of the current owners are sceptical on what the ND555 could do in addition. I tried to give my colored impression on that already earlier in the thread. Main words. Prat, detail, sound stage...

Bert Schurink posted:

Snip

I forgot to check, but looking at my picture. You see not three black boxes - which would mean no power supply. A 555PS would make of course a big difference. But I evaluated with what I had, and missed the aspects I mentioned before. My impression - the NDS will still have a margin, though a smaller. But don’t kill me if I am wrong, I didn’t have A-B comparability.... Further tests on arrival will tell us. I am listening okra no forward to those reports of others, I still hope that the other Naimees will post their impressions from the show in this thread or another thread. It had been rather silent so far....

Thanks for all the information Bert, it’s been great of you to take the time to write so much interesting feedback from the show, both on the new ND*s and the other kit, really informative and very kind.