Naim 'sound'?

Posted by: guy batey on 08 September 2000

Naim gear is the most exciting and dynamic around, but I worry about two tendencies: one is a way of pushing drums, percussion & other dynamic peaks up in the mix to exciting but maybe unrealistic levels; and second is a slight but persistent hardness or harshness on acoustic instruments especially piano. Before people start pelting me with SuperCaps, I can hear traces of this Naim ‘sound’ on systems from a new Nait 5 (compared to a Sugden A21a A Class amp), to a £6-7K monster demo system. Does anyone else hear this? Is it a Naim ‘sound’? Is it unavoidable to get dynamics, punch, presence & excitement at the expense of acoustic accuracy?

Posted on: 13 September 2000 by Martin Payne

The "Naim sound" that several of you have described here sounds like an earth fault to me. (Two or more earthed sources connected - Naim preamps do not switch the earth path).

I've heard half-a-dozen Naim system in as many months and they were all crippled by earth faults - my own included.

This gives a constricted, bass light, harsh, muddled sound.

cheers, Martin