North West Naim Society

quote:

Its on Amazon uk for £17.90.
I got mine last year for £7.00
Its now been deleted acording to hmv. Why i ask?
Such a great album.

Hi Munch, yes, there's loads of them there now. Only one last night. Have you seen some of the prices being asked? Looking forward to hearing the whole album.

Just wanted to say thanks for organising and to the Audio Counsel for their hospitality. I enjoyed it very much and heard some new music, always a worthwhile pastime.

Lets do it again some time?

Regards
Richard S

Gosh,

Don't know where to start so, I'll try to order my thoughts slightly more than usual.

1) Big thanks to Mark and James for organising and for Dave and Brian for hosting. Sandwiches were indeed good. Bit unfair to pick on "Mr. Crumb". Some of us were just really good at kicking our crumbs in his direction!!!

2) Extra thanks to James and Stella for the lifts.

3) Finally. heard the Definitions. Big mistake. Simply the best speaker I have ever heard.. Both horns and drums were so overwhelmingly realistic that they simply sounded "there". I can't comment on other instruments as I was just lost with the drums!

4) The Presence. What a speaker... and barely installed. Unfortunately, I may now never buy another Naim box having heard them on the end of a bare CDX2, 202, 200 and no Hi-Line. Downgrades here I come.

5) Everyone who attended - it was a pleasure to meet everyone and all concerned made it a long and enjoyable day. Nice company, some good laughs and a huge range of music. I'm really looking forward to doing it again.

6) Last but not least - Young Mr. Fitton for the endless brews. No, not your Dad. You!!!

Here's to the next one.

Mike

Hi all

As others have said, an excellent morning / afternoon, ably hosted by Dave, Brian and Mr Fitton junior; thanks for feeding and watering us. It was great to meet some of the forum contributors. Thanks to Mark and James for your time and energy in making it happen.

The system demonstations was enjoyable and thought provoking (not to mention potentially bloody expensive - but ours is not a cheap hobby). The Presence in particular were an ear opener. There was great new music too. I arrived at 10.30 and could not believe it when I looked at my watch which showed 3.00 pm.

So, a high quality event and loads of fun. I also hope we do it again. So much better than going to a hi-hi show.

See you on Tuesday, Mark and, hopefully, Ryan.

Mike, my friend Paul mentioned that you were in the middle of listening to speakers - I had hoped to have a chat with you about this but ran out of time. Maybe I could give you a call?

Norman

Hello Mike, and all other attendees............

That's a great post as it sums up just about all my feelings of the day. I thoroughly enjoyed it and what fine company it was. It is always nice to listen to new gear but even more so the music. It would take me all day to cover the sounds we listened to as it was an incredible mix, but it really was good fun. By the way, Hugh Masekela - "Hope" is now on order. That was stunning.

Well, thanks again as follows, but in no order whatsoever:

Dave (& son!) and Brian........superb hospitality, proper demos but most of all I love your enthusiasm. Thanks for for the scran and endless cups of tea/coffee. I can't speak highly enough of your love for music, which to me is all that counts................but please keep those Definitions warm

James for all your work in making this happen, a real gent and a great laugh. I hope to take you up on your offer of me visiting you soon. And of course......the "Acoustic Live" has had a couple of plays today.

Ryan - thanks for the lift, and your continued friendship. A cool guy, knows his stuff............and goes cycling in the pissing rain, ha ha ha! Don't tell me you never went today, lol!

Norman, Paul, Charles, Richard, Ken and my God anyone else I have forgotten, great to see all.
Norman, I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, hopefully with Ryan.

Mark

Hi to All,

I agree Mike, Mark and Norman have summed the day exactly.

We all had a very, very good time.

Even if myself and Mike left at around 6.00pm, after another dose of the Druids downstairs. Which were sounding stupendous.

Went to see Roger Poll yesterday, and listen to his Isobariks - absolutely stunning, very enjoyable and they as always play music, which as Mark says is what it is all about.

Dave (son Andrew) and Brian, what can I say, faultless as ever, enthusiastic and passionate about music, and ensuring all their customers are looked after, you always put in the extra 100% to ensure that it is always spot on at your shop and in our systems.

Mark, and everyone else are welcome anytime at the partial-building site, to listen to some good tunes and have chat and a laugh.

Hope to meet up with all you guys very, very soon!!!

James

OK guys - when is the next one??

I was thinking along the lines of a more social event, where we could go for a meal and a couple of drinks. A bit of banter and a good laugh - anyone up for it?

Mark

The draw for a pair of these takes place tomorrow morning - I wonder who the lucky competition winner will be, lol?!!

Mark

quote:

OK guys - when is the next one??

I was thinking along the lines of a more social event, where we could go for a meal and a couple of drinks. A bit of banter and a good laugh - anyone up for it?

Mark

Definately, which end? Who is prepared to risk having their car left on four bricks if we go over to Merseyside?


Excellent pictures Mark.

Could you email them over to me so that I can pin them up on my wall?

James

quote:

Originally posted by James E. Avison
Excellent pictures Mark.

Could you email them over to me so that I can pin them up on my wall?

James

Done!

Would love to make it to the next meet, if work doesn't get in the way.

Looks like you all had a great time, with what seems to be a universal likeing to the Zu speakers. Would love to hear these some day myself, although I am very happy with my Allae's.

Martin

Hi Martin,

We would love to meet you, Mark is going to set up the next meet, a more social outing.

If you are happy with what you have got, stick with it, just keep buying the music.

James

quote:

Originally posted by James E. Avison:

quote:

OK guys - when is the next one??

I was thinking along the lines of a more social event, where we could go for a meal and a couple of drinks. A bit of banter and a good laugh - anyone up for it?

Mark

Definately, which end? Who is prepared to risk having their car left on four bricks if we go over to Merseyside?


Excellent pictures Mark.

Could you email them over to me so that I can pin them up on my wall?

James

I'll have you know that we are the 2008 European Capital of Culture, your car will be left on four stacks of books should you dare to venture that far from home.

quote:

Originally posted by markah: The draw for a pair of these takes place tomorrow morning - I wonder who the lucky competition winner will be, lol?!!

Mark

Just give in now. You people know how good I am in competitions!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Marti-C:
Would love to make it to the next meet, if work doesn't get in the way.

Looks like you all had a great time, with what seems to be a universal likeing to the Zu speakers. Would love to hear these some day myself, although I am very happy with my Allae's.

Martin

Yes, I think that most, if not all of us are highly impressed by the Zu range, and they were most effectively demoed by Dave and Brian. One room had a CDX2/200/202 driving the Presence. The other had a CDS3/XPS/252/250 driving Druids and Definitions at different times. Mind you, the Zu Presence is a speaker that only its designer could call beautiful.
Whether you are in the market for new speakers or not, they are worth a listen.
It was a great day.
Ken

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
Just give in now. You people know how good I am in competitions!!!

I need to send in an SAE to get the results - how about you just put us out of our misery and tell us if you won?

Mark

Changing subject (but not much):

Saturday was my first experience of what the Definitions can do having heard them at the airport show and been unimpressed. Having then heard the best, worst and then best again of the Druids it was an interesting experience to hear the Presence.

On reflection what do people think of the Presence? I appreciate it's early days but I for one have never heard so much dragged from a bare CDX2, 202, 200.

Thoughts?

Mike

quote:

On reflection what do people think of the Presence? I appreciate it's early days but I for one have never heard so much dragged from a bare CDX2, 202, 200.

Put it this way Mike...I won't be trading my WBs for a pair. The Zu sound just isn't for me. Don't like the look of them much either...Come to think of it, the only speakers Dave sells that I can get along with at dems are the Sonus Fabers.

Mike,

Although it is early days for the Zu Presence (they have some more running in to do). But based on my several listening sessions to them, they are going to be a extremely good loudspeaker (when fully bedded in), even if their looks are not every ones tastes - if it sounds fantastic and you can really enjoy the music then they could be in cardboard boxes for me!

The room where the Presence were being played IMO was more of a home demo room, which made the experience a much more personal one. I (as you have) have heard the Druids in this room with the lower end of Naim Electronics and we all know the outcome of that!

It is good that other music lovers (Mr Major-Tom) have different opinions and tastes when it comes to what they like, it just helps the rest of us explore all the available products on the market place.
There is nothing better than to listen to someone elses system in their home environment to experience the same as them, which shapes their preferences and choices in equipment.

Having said that, Major-Tom - could there be an opportunity to meet up and chuck on a few CD's at your end? My email address is my profile.

Its all very interesting and diversifying, and it is a fantastic hobby, the range and type of music and people we are all exposed to and meet just makes it so much more enjoyable.

All the best

James

I was extremely impressed with the sound of the Zu's and would have to explore the druids again as this would be the only one i could afford and they sounded awful when i heard them.

As Mike said the 202/200 sounded amazing through the presence and I wouldn't be in a hurry to change them because of this. They are a fabulous combo.

I actually did like the look of the presence but the other half seems to have vittoed this completely.

They are an interesting proposiion.

Definitely looking forward to the next meet.

Ryan

quote:

Having said that, Major-Tom - could there be an opportunity to meet up and chuck on a few CD's at your end? My email address is my profile.

James, you have email.

I must admit I am no great fan of the Zu "look". I find it old fashioned, dated and somewhat clunky but I am won over by the sound. At the moment I feel like the Presence were impressive but perhaps not yet as engaging as the Druids. Ryan, you need to hear the Druids upstairs on the end of the CDX2,202,200 and with a Powerline. That was excellent. Actually, it was more than excellent. It was mesmerising.

I'm not tempted to downgrade (much) to make the Presence affordable but I do feel like I want to hear it again when thoroughly warmed up. I did however go online and found the one review utterly perplexing. On the one hand they like it. On the other hand they somehow didn't enthuse as much as I have seen them enthuse for the Druids.

At present the way I am looking at it is that the Definitions are superb. Probably the best, most realistic speaker I have heard. They are not beyond budget if I save a lot but I am reluctant to go down that route as how do I then justify not upgrading my current system? It was never my plan to further upgrade and the Druids appear to give 70% of the performance for 33% of the cost.

Logically, the price positioning of the Presence means they are either a cut down Definition or a beefed up Druid and I side with the online review that they are more of the former. Equally logically given their price they should provide at least half of that missing 30%. This is where I come to a halt and need to hear them warmed up and with a Powerline. What confuses the issue is that I can't find anyone who has heard a CDX2 sound like that before and if that's what it can do after only a few weeks, well, these calculations could be pointless as it would surely be a clear winner in the value for money stakes. So, what I need is September and a Powerline!!!

Looks-wise I fear I may well spend any extra savings on a really customised Druid rather than a Presence but the next few months will decide that I suspect.

Sorry, I am meandering.

Mike