What would you choose if?...

Posted by: Johns Naim on 31 January 2005

Evening All

Like many here, I have a Naim 2 channel system, to which I have added HT facilities.

I am fairly sure, by my own listening, and judging by the comments of many on this forum, that the natural partner to a Naim 2 channel system, so as to 'grow' it into a combined 2 channel/multi-channel music/HT system, is the current AV2, plus one of the Naim centre channel speakers, and now a Naim sub as well.

Rear speakers are more problematical re an identical match, unless one has the wherewithal to say do a set of DBL's, NBL's SL2's, or Arrivas etc all round. Certainly as an owner of the much loved, dear departed SBL, a match for them means second hand (scarce as hens teeth here in OZ) or perhaps Allaes.

Of course, there is the forthcoming N-sat's etc, but then they appear to be more 'stand-alone' rather than something one would integrate with an existing 2 channel setup - assuming earlier generation Naim speakers.

However - "What would you choose IF" you didn't own a Naim 2 channel setup, and thus had no interest in 'adding on' Naim HT capability, OR simply wanted to build a stand-alone HT system of very high performance with surround sound movies as the prime purpose.

What sort of gear/setup would you choose on the audio side of things?

Would it still be Naim?

Is Naim in your opinion, the 'business' for movie sound as it is for 2 channel (as most of us seem to agree), or have you heard other options/compromises for movie audio that appeal for different reasons?

All non - Naim bashing answers appreciated - this is not a Naim bashing thread, but a genuine desire to hear how others assess Naims HT abilities against comparable (price/performance) options in the market place.

Please note, comparable - of course the Naim is going to be better than the likes of Sony/Yamaha/Denon etc, and so it should being a specialist and much more expensive product - but how does it hold up against other equally expensive specialist products in the market place, as an stand-alone HT audio setup?

As always, all comments appreciated...

Regards

John... Cool
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by John G.
I'm very happy with the choices I made regarding the home theatre I put together over the last 3 years. It's based around a Rotel A/V receiver and dvd player. I added ATC Concept 1 speakers a few months ago so now I have matching L,R and center speakers and now a sub which I never had before as prior to the ATC's I was running 5.0.

A true home theatre setup IMO really needs 5 speakers and a suitable subwoofer as a minimum. The cost of my setup including appropriate supports was about $6,500.

Going the full Naim AV route the minimum cost I calculated was about $14,000 using a lesser quality rack than Fraim. So how do you build a system for less than the cost of a full monty Naim setup if you want to start off 5.1? Do you compromise on DVD, Processor, Amps or Speakers?

John
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by PatG
Hello

I have been a Naim fan for over 8 year and have a intermediate setup that is approx 4-8 year old. (incl Linn LP12)

A few years ago I wanted to get a decent TV and researched quite a bit and had a decent budget to spend. I opted for what I saw was the best picture (and still believe to be) and purchased a Bang & Olufsen Avant TV. To this day, I have not seen better pictures on any other TV. I like the warm saturated look of their product. It was costly at approx €6500 but was and is money well spent.

However, I have been grappling with how I could improve the audio side of this TV. The B&O 5.1 channel option using their active speakers is very overpicied for what it offers.
I tried to adapt some of my Naim equpiment to integrate into their proprietary set up but this was always a compromise.

Eventually, a B&O dealer suggested putchasing their amps so that I could use whatever speakers I liked. I did this and also bought their active Sub the Beolab 5. (Most B&O dealers don't even mention the existance of their amps as they are keen to sell the much more expensive full active systems). I combined their amps with some EPOS 12 speekers I had and I now have an "acceptable" AV 5.1 audio system. (Their Amps cost approx €375, 50 watts). The AVANT tv has a built in centre speaker. Configuration is all done within the TVs onscreen menu and is quite comprehensive.

The itegration of the B&O product set has kind of won me oer to their offering.

I now keep my Naim system in a different room and my AV experience is fully provided by the B&O setup which I am very happy with (although I lust after the utopia that would be B&O vision technology and Naim Sound)

This process has forced me to re-evaluate the priorities in a Music and AV setup.

For AV, I believe (IMHO) that the picture quality is paramount and that is why I went the B&O route. Second in importance is the Sub as this is really what distinguishes the AV experience from the pure music listening experience. I feel that as long as I get the general direction of the 5.1 sound (ambiance in the rears and good left to right in the fronts) I am happy.

However, the release of the DVD5 has alerted me to the fact that the Naim AV setup might be closer than I thought. With B&O offering plasmas with no audio (and I could also consider a projector) I am now looking at the DVD5 / AV2 option.

To answer your question, I'd conside B&O as an option due to the performance of the their CRT tvs. Their multi room stuff is also good so a 2nd TV in the bedroom is also an option. As an additional (family pleasing) benefit, the gear looks goos as it resides in the mainliving room of the house.

Regards P
Posted on: 01 February 2005 by HiDefBob
"However - "What would you choose IF" you didn't own a Naim 2 channel setup, and thus had no interest in 'adding on' Naim HT capability, OR simply wanted to build a stand-alone HT system of very high performance with surround sound movies as the prime purpose."

Personally I would chose the Classé CA-5200 amp and SSP-300 or 600 processor (in my opinion Classé make the best Home Theatre electronics) with B&W Nautilus 800 speakers (used by Abbey Road Studios and Steven Spielberg) and REL Strata or Stadium subwoofers. I have heard this system at my home theatre dealer ... it is truly amazing! It betters most commercial theatre systems!

However, the above system is extremely expensive ... Naim therefore would be an alternate consideration.