Year 2000 review naimwise

Posted by: Franz K on 15 November 2000

As we are approaching the end of 2000 I thought I^d start a thread looking back what happened "naimwise" during the last twelve months for everybody.

For myself, about the same time last year after living with 700 something CDs and listening to a Sony diskman hooked up to active Sony speakers I decided to finally get a "really good" Music gear for christmas. A frind of mine recomended me to go to a dealer in Vienna who also carries Naim.
So I gave it a try and listened to a CD3.5/Nait 3 gear. And I truly liked it. My first impression was whoa, but I didnt want to spend so much money on a stereo. So I got the Nait3 together with the Arcam7SE. That was a big step after years with a discman. Three months later a s/h CDX popped up and I just could not resist to excahnge the Arcam and take the CDX. I also got a Headline shortly after and Grado headphones. The CDX was an eyeopener and I wanted more. So sometime during summer I could talk my dealer into selling me his demo 82 for a reasonable price and exchange the Nait3 to a 90. During September a s/h 250 showed up which I just had to take together with a demo Hicap. Oh well and last week I found a bargain 9 months old SC on the net which I just decided to buy.
So in retrospect I went from nothing to CDX/82/SC/250/Hi/Headline/ within a 12months period and spent abaout 10 times the money I initially wanted to invest. Yet I dont regret it at all.
I^d like to get an XPS and SBLs hopefully soon and that should be it for the next few years.
Well we^ll see.

Cheers
Franz

Posted on: 15 November 2000 by Todd A

I started the year with a Rega Planet / Arcam Alpha 9 / MA 700 PMC set-up. About March, I decided to look for ONE great component. I started with integrated or pre-power combos in the US $3000 - $4000 range. I heard a few that I liked but then I decided maybe I needed a better source.

I tried the CD 3.5 and bought it. Since it was within my budget, I decided to go for a Nait 3, which was slated for the dust-bin, so I waited and got my Nait 5. I'm still waiting for the FlatCap2. That will be my last Naim purchase for a while. I swear. Besides, I need to upgrade speakers.

So, I went from a good round-earth system (no, "good round-earth system" is not an oxymoron, though "GREAT round-earth system" would be) to an all Naim electronics based system. The low end of the scale, to be sure, but wonderful all the same.

(Hey the round earth system, with KEF Q65's, is now my bedroom system.)

Posted on: 15 November 2000 by Rob Doorack

Of course the biggest Naim event of the year - and the saddest - was Julian Vereker's death in January.

Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Tim Collins

Big upgrade from a SOny discman!

It is amazing to see that I am not the only (mad?) one who initially thinks this is the last system I will ever have (I am a new CD5/NAIT5 owner) but am now thinking of upgrading as quickly as possible (i want MORE, MORE, MORE )

Is this madness temporary, or will I be getting hair on my palms in a few months time?

Regards,

Tim

Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Eric Barry

Began year with:
VPI HW19 Mk. III/Audioquest PT6/AT OC9 ($2k list)
Rotel 955 cd player ($450 plus $100 mod)
Nac32/Nap 140/Nac A4 ($2200 ish when new)
B&W CDM1 ($1100)

Now
VPI HW19 mk. IV/SAMA/PLC/SME IV/AT OC9 ($4500 list)
Naim CD3/lavender interconnect ($1850)
Nac 32-5/Hicap/Nap 140/Nac A5 ($3500-ish? when new)
B&W Matrix805 ($1600)

Total cost: $1476 counting sales of old gear (includes a Snaps that was an intermediate step, but I didn't sell the Rotel).

A good year!

Jeers to the grad student who said you must spend a lot on Naim. Even the 32/140 was a satisfying amp.

--Eri

[This message was edited by Eric Barry on THURSDAY 16 November 2000 at 16:04.]

Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Franz K

James

(All of this serious front end kit to drive a pair of headphones and a pair of Sony speakers? I'm impressed with your dedication to source-first principles. Just kidding of course. I note your Ruarks).
Not quite Sony but still no serious match for the front any more. There is a huge differnce in detail and clarity between my Hedphones and the speakers. A week ago I was serious about getting a pair of s/hSBLs but then the SC showed up, which I took instead. So I am broke at the moment. Next SBLs though.

franz

Posted on: 16 November 2000 by Martin Payne

I've had three big upgrades this year - a major purchase, cable tweaks and proper earthing.

I went from CDX to CDS-II (upgraded CDS-I) with CDPS. I only intended to buy the CDPS to power the CDX, but I just couldn't resist the head unit to go with it.

This has proven to me (again) that the source is so important. The bare CDX is not a good enough player for an active system. How did I end up with such a mullet system? - it was built around a decent LP12.

I've also been surprised how much one weak link can really compromise a system. I had Naim plugs soldered onto my speaker cables and was more than happy with the improvement. Also I've ditched a CableTalk interconnect (Studio II) in favour of the new-style Naim jobby. You can even hear that it's superior playing sub-bass test tones through a REL sub-woofer!

I've also been really disappointed by how badly my system is affected by any Earth loop. This has become my hobby-horse:- you have a system problem, try unplugging all the other sources. My six-input 52 now only ever has one source plugged in - why would I need the other sockets???

What didn't work for me? - ball-nutters.

Looking to the future, I expect to be treating my room, which manages to sound both bright and bass-heavy at the same time. I want to get a separate mains spur with earth spike, and I should be replacing the tweeters on my speakers.

cheers, Martin

P.S. See my profile for details of my system.

Posted on: 18 November 2000 by Martin Payne

David,

I was not completely convinced by the first Cirkus LP12 that I heard. Later I realised this was because the system was not performing at it's peak (knackered drive units in an otherwise excellent pair of Isobariks).

I have another friend with Cirkus/Ittok/Dynavector (£180 model?) and that is superb. The cirkus certainly does seem to take the deck to a much more neutral and overall better sound, and I'd definately upgrade given the chance.

However, my system evolved to it's current state around the vinyl, and my CD replay was an early Arcam two-box affair for quite a few years.

Since I'm no longer free and single, I've put channel whatever funds were available into the CD replay. After s/h CD2 & CDX, I recently fell upon a CDS-I/CDPS (with the head upgraded to CDS-II spec).

If a really good deal came up on a cirkus LP12 base (or even, in my dreams, a base + aro) I'd jump at it if finances permit. Unfortunately, they're still recovering from the CDS purchase. Even then I'd get some serious stick if I spent more on the hi-fi anytime soon.

I will probably soon get a chance to try an LP12/Aro in my system - and you'll certainly get to hear about it.

cheers, Martin

Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Engelbert

I went from:
Credos to SBLs
180 to 250
82/HC to 52
CDX to CDSII
....plus a new Soundstyle tripod rack.

I'm delighted with all the new kit....and equally delighted with the superb service received from New Zealand distributor Chris Murphy at The Real Music Company (Wellington).
In a word its all been worthwhile!

Posted on: 20 November 2000 by P

I started the year with a Nait3, Marantz CD63 sig and Dynaudio Audience 40 Speakers (A real Dealer system if ever there was)

Thanks to this forum and other wierd influences I have ended it thus:

CDS2/XPS/52/Supercap/2x 135/Credos/Base.

Bit of a leap year you could say!!!!!

Now I'm wondering, should I sell the 72/hicap/180 or keep it and ...... add another 180 ??....buy a snaxo....??

Err second thoughts - don't answer that .....

Regards P.

Posted on: 20 November 2000 by Jon Moxon

quote:
Now I'm wondering, should I sell the 72/hicap/180 or keep it and ...... add another 180 ??....buy a snaxo....??
Err second thoughts - don't answer that .....

Can't resist.

Why don't you get a snaxo and use the hicap and 180 to activate the credos?

I've gone from:

Elite Rock II/OL300/10X4
Teac Vrds10
Nait3
Kef Q30s

to:

Elite Rock II/OL300/XX1L (works, strangely)
CDS
82/140
Q30s

via an lp12 and nearly a CDI.

JonM

Posted on: 21 November 2000 by Philip Pang

>Thanks to this forum and other wierd influences >I have ended it thus:

> CDS2/XPS/52/Supercap/2x 135/Credos/Base.

Pierre, we have the same set-up and my dealer just took the Credos back. I just set up the
SBLs - the difference is night and day.

That'll be the next upgrade if you're inclined.

Happy listening; the music is still grooving.

Regards

Philip

naimniac for life

Posted on: 21 November 2000 by Andy S

Pierre,

quote:
Thanks to this forum and other wierd influences I have ended it thus:
CDS2/XPS/52/Supercap/2x 135/Credos/Base.

and

quote:
Pierre, we have the same set-up and my dealer just took the Credos back. I just set up the SBLs - the difference is night and day.

Given that you've had enough money to do do a major leap, you might like to consider DBLs. You can even get them second hand if you look hard enough (!) Very worthwhile upgrade with your front end.

Andy

Posted on: 21 November 2000 by P

Hey Guys thanks for the advice but I'm just getting used to the difference the 52 and 135's make to my Credos(f....ng A!) - bloody hell - change the speakers as well????? - You might see me hanging round Picadilly Circus towing all my gear round with the Base cabinet on castors looking for somewhere to live if I ever did that too soon!!!!!! - believe me! Actually wifey has been very impressed with the recent upgrade - not the price mind - just the sound - wow ace!!!!

Gotta go - those tiny lites are calling......

Best P.