My first Naim demo

Rob, I had a demo of the earlier version of the PMC 25 23 speakers a couple of years ago and ended up purchasing a pair of Spendor D7 speakers much as you much preferring the presentation of the Spendors over the PMC  speakers.

I would advise a home demo if possible to ensure they work well in your room.

It’s all down to personnel choice pick the speaker YOU like the best.

Just make sure that you try the system at home for a few days, as it may be totally different in your room. Ensure also that the speakers you listen to are well run in. I bought some ex dem Spendor A5s once, thinking they were run in and that what I heard at home was the final sound, but no, they were hardly used and once they ran in over a few weeks they developed so much bass that they were intolerable and had to go. 

One other thing - try not to be swayed by pinpoint imaging and other hifi artefacts - it’s the speakers that communicate the meaning of the music and stir your soul that you actually want. You don’t get pinpoint imaging at a concert. 

I run the A4’s with a Nova and they’re a lovely speaker but will most likely upgrade to the A7’s once I can organise a demo, I originally had an Atom but wouldn’t mind a bit more scale with the Nova. I’d imagine with an SN2 they’d sing, I heard the 25.23’s and wasn’t hugely impressed compared to the Spendors but as said above a home demo is always wise 

Rob,

oh you sad, sad, person - they have just got you on the hook and over the next few years they will reel you in 

I too remember my first demo (CD5X) many years ago, … and look where I am now, and I'm not nearly in the top bracket!

Be firm, stand tall and never, never read this forum again … I recommend "blah blah blah" and fingers in the ears when you visit your dealer!

Enjoy the music and trust your ears, all of ours are different - for example, I did not like the Linn Klimax DSM when I heard it, even compared with my humble V1/202 (thankfully for my wallet).

happy listening,

Allan

Allan +1, especially trust your own judgement.

Enjoy the journey, enjoy your music.

C.

CD5x got to me too having been put off a few years earlier by a Nait 5.

The top is a moving target, a bit like the end of the rainbow.

Allan Milne posted:

 

Rob,

 

oh you sad, sad, person - they have just got you on the hook and over the next few years they will reel you in 

 

I too remember my first demo (CD5X) many years ago, … and look where I am now, and I'm not nearly in the top bracket!

 

Be firm, stand tall and never, never read this forum again … I recommend "blah blah blah" and fingers in the ears when you visit your dealer!

 

Enjoy the music and trust your ears, all of ours are different - for example, I did not like the Linn Klimax DSM when I heard it, even compared with my humble V1/202 (thankfully for my wallet).

 

happy listening,

Allan

 

Ha, I think this is the end game for me rather than the start of years of upgrading. This is a huge leap from my previous system that lasted me for many years. Also I am not keen to have more boxes in my room.

One good thing about the CDX2 vs streamers is that there won't be a new version that makes the current one seem obsolete.

I think it is important for anyone looking for advice on speakers to realise that anyone posting on their experiences with speakers both good and bad that it is really only relative to that person. If I had listened to forum wisdom I would never have bought my large floor standers for a room my size , I would have sold them and kept the Nap 300 when experiencing bass boom then finding other speakers to match that amp and finally would never, ever have underpowered those speakers creating what they call a mullet BUT I would have missed out on the best sounding system I have ever owned.

The guy I sold the 282 to said he had been buying quality hit systems for nearly 40 years and that my modest pre Cirkus/FR12/LP12 >> 102/HC/180 was one of the best systems he had ever heard we then connected up the 282 he was buying and he agreed it sounded only marginally better than the 102/180 but because of how good that sounded he was very happy to buy the 282.

Even within my own home when I still had the 300 and was suffering a bit of bass boom in my living room I put the system in our more sparsely decorated living room placing the speakers more into the room a per advice and it sounded like they were in a big echoey hall. 

So always try speakers at home if possible and if your used and can't demo then make sure you can sell them on without loss.