New all in one Naim n-Vi

I'm looking forward to seeing more information (and getting a demo). Especially interested in Naims implementation using the Tripath modules.

I demo'd the full dvd5 / av2 / nSat system earlier this year and was very impressed so am waiting to see what the n-Vi can do before taking the plunge.

James.

It would be great if sombody got a picture of the BACK of one of these babies.

Is there a preout for the two front chanels? Can the 2 un-used digital power amp sections be use for 7.1 if you use a unity gain on one of naims' preamps?

Mario.

Mario.

I am pretty certain there is a pre out option for front l/r channels.

Mario,

Yes there is a pre-out to go to a preamp (or a power amp with a modified lead). I don't know if this means you can reconfigure the extra two channels for 7.1.

The SCART connector can be used as input or output, allowing you to upscale your skybox/playstation/whatever when the scaler module is in the box. There's quite a few goodies on there. The switched mode power supply is used uniquely as a linear power supply by means of separate feeds for the digital and analogue sections of the unit. I do wonder about the class T implementation. This strikes me as very sensible indeed given the extra power and lower heat generation of that kind of amplifier (due to it being around 90% efficient). What I heard was very promising indeed.

Oh, and I was wrong about the picture output - it is equivalent to a DVD5 which makes it one of the best pictures on the planet!

Oh, and the 128x64 screen on the unit is excellent.

Thanks Frank, very helpful as per usual. It's probably unlikely that it will do 7.1 if you use your main rig for the fronts, but the features are so impresive that you never know!

I'm really interested because it allows me to stay focused on my 2 channel stereo and do everything else with the addition of just one box.

I really look forward to what naim are going to say about the digital power supplies. many manufactureers are finally biting the bullet with this technology, notice how naim cleverly use it for an entry level product. They probably will say for the ultimate performance, a conventional linear power supply still provides more music. Just like how they stick to that old blue Alps pot instead of moving to a resistor ladder for their best preamps.

mario.

quote:

Oh, and I was wrong about the picture output - it is equivalent to a DVD5 which makes it one of the best pictures on the planet!

And I believe it sounds like AV2/150/175 ?

I was told that the picture is as good as a DVD5 but the sound is not as good as the separates (on DVD and especially CD), but that it is still pretty good and better than any other 1-box offering! 1 Naim person said it would be £2750 while another said £2995, and they weren't yet decided on whether the tuner module would be included or not. It is also supposedly not fussy about either speakers or speaker cable and certainly seemed an interesting development.

Neil

I agree with the source first point but if the n-Vi has pre-out you could have an n-Vi + NAP 250 for approximatly the price of a DVD5/AV2/NAP 150/NAP V175.

Mario,

As I said earlier, the main reason for the SMPS is space. The SMPS uses just 1/3rd of the space in the box. This is also why they used class T power amps - they are small and dissipate much less heat because they are so efficient (90% against the more usual 65% of class B), but Naim will tell you they're not as good as linear (or conventional) power amps.

The £3k price tag excludes the optional FM/DAB and scaler modules. This doesn't make it cheap exactly, just very very enticing to a lot of people who thought Naim was out of their reach. After all, £3k is still a lot of wonga in anybody's world, especially in one hit. Realistically, you're looking at £5k when you've added a half-decent speaker package so we're not exactly talking bargain basement here.

Frank,

You're right, this is not cheap for most people. But for DVD5/AV2/amps owners it can be seen as very very cheap. Even comparing with DVD5/AV2 only I do consider n-Vi is a bargain ... but lets see the specs and hear the sound.

I hope one of you will give us soon a detailed review of that box. It won't be me, my dealer doesn't even have received any DC1 cable ...

Heh heh, no DC1 required with the n-Vi!

The n-Vi is still being finished for its release in late November so it will be a while before anyone can talk about having used it in a situation they know well...

quote:

Originally posted by Frank Abela:
but Naim will tell you they're (class T amplifiers) not as good as linear (or conventional) power amps.

I am sure they are trying to work their magic over the SMPS and class T technology. Could take some time though.

Andrew

Grrrrr - Manged to get together 2 NAP 140's, JUST bought a Denon 3910 (3 days before the show abd DVD5 out of range as hoped in the next few months the AV2) and REL Strata 5 heading this way.

Now wondering what to do?
Return the Denon (On mail order so I've only got 7 days, and n-Vi not out till Nov, then Ebay 140's and get n-Vi or stick with the plan).

Denon will do SACD and DVD-A (Only got 2 DVD-A disks at the moment) and AV2 will let me go 7.1

But n-Vi may have better video quality and only one box to deal will.

In short - Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I know what you mean Stuart. I've got all the amps i need to just add an AV2 and DVD5, but want to see what this little box of tricks will do.

James.

Andrew,

My understanding is that the SMPS and amplifaction stages are completed. They're simply working on an option or two.

Stuart, it's always the way isn't it? What a bugger. The 3910 is a very good machine. I haven't done the A/B comparison, but I imagine it has a very good video performance just as all Denons do. The n-Vi's video performance is equivalent to that of the DVD5 which is a cracking performance. You could even use one of those 140s to drive the fronts if you like! That said, the long term plan with AV2 etc should yield better sound quality, even if you have many more boxes than the n-Vi on its own.

Frank said:

quote:

but Naim will tell you they're not as good as linear (or conventional) power amps.

Well, I suppose it depends what is meant by 'not as good' and who is saying it. After all Bel-Canto, NuForce, Tact, Lyngdorf, and Tripath amongst others would probably differ in their opinion.

As far as I can tell with my limited electrical engineering knowledge, either a single ended valve amp, OR a pure digital amp offer the nearest approach to the classic 'straight wire with gain' scenario.

Certainly pure digital negates the need for bias; feedback is an option not an necessity, and things like crossover distortion, thermal modulation distortion etc don't exist anymore.

It strikes me that with analogue, there is more scope for playing around with the circuit (adding some 'nice' distortion, perhaps), to get a 'particular' or 'favoured' sound; tweaking digital is harder simply because of the greater simplicity of the circuit; albeit the requisite chip design is not easy in practical terms.

So the new N-Vi may not, and probably will not sound the same as Naims analogue gear; whether it is worse, or better depends upon what you listen for I guess. I would think different rather than better or worse is more likely closer to the mark.

Still, as the saying goes, one mans meat, is anothers poison; such is the subjective aspect of HiFi...


Best Regards

John...

Back panel details from Naim USA

http://www.naimusa.com/public/NANA_Product_Info_Sheets/...m_Press_Rel_US_e.pdf

Any idea if the DVD player will be region free or at least provide a "hack" to make it region free?

Same thing as the DVD5....