Is Naim hifi big in the US?

Not a lot of people hear about Naim, I mean not as well as Linn. However, it is a highly respected brand for the people who know Naim.

quote:

Originally posted by imperialline:
Not a lot of people hear about Naim, I mean not as well as Linn. However, it is a highly respected brand for the people who know Naim.

I second the quote by imperialline.

I did not hear of the Naim brand until I stumbled upon a dealer who has been selling and swears by Naim equipment for the past 25 years of service they have been providing.

I would like to know if there are any Naim fanatics in the Chicago Illinois suburb areas. A music night like the Naim owners overseas get together for would be great over here in the midwest area of the states.

rega1

They are known in the US as equipment with those weird connectors that only do *PRAT* thing.

Seriously, there aren't many dealers who can demonstrate a Naim system properly in the US. ( not that Linn are any better, but they do have more retailers it seems )

The major magazine reviews in TAS (The Absolute Sound ) or Stereophile help their exposure but I was surprised there are so many of my friends, even the ones who are into the hobby for a long time haven't had an opportunity to listen to one. ( location dependent, I'm sure)

Kuma, are you in the Chicago area?

quote:

I would like to know if there are any Naim fanatics in the Chicago Illinois suburb areas.

I was born and raised in downtown Chicago. I moved out to Brookfield (15 min. from downtown) after we had our 1st child.

I know the dealer you're referring to....They are the best. I've known Ken John and Mark for over 15 years....They know how to setup a Naim rig properly!

BTW There is another forum member who I've made tentative arrangements to meet with but our work schedules are a bit looney....

Are you out there Exiled Highlander?

I have seen Highlanders posts, are you out there highlander?

I would entertain the idea of getting together for a listening session some time if you are up for it. I am in Naperville, Aurora.

And yes, Ken, John, Mark are a great group of gentlemen. I have spent hours down in the lower level listening to new raw recordings that Ken has brought back from a weekend session.

I am a newbee, but love the equipment. Ken blew my mind (and my girlfriends) on the first Naim demo.

rega1

Speaking as a dealer, Naim is certainly offering the consumer something wonderful and unique, which many of our customers in New York do enjoy and embrace. In the US market, consumers have excellent European brands to consider, Japanese and other Asian brands, often at lower price points than Naim, and the American high end. Some listeners seem to be "Naim ready", which is to say they have similar listening priorities to those Naim most fully develops in their playback equipment, and others for a variety of reasons are less in tune with what Naim offers.

To me, it is a bit like discussions of piano jazz, where if you are a fan of the masterful playing and obvious talent of Keith Jarrett, you might well like his solo works, his Standards Trio, as well as his classical and meditative pieces. Others don't get Jarrett, or don't like what they have heard, and prefer other players, say Bill Evans. For a Jarrett fan, there is a whole world to enjoy and explore, upgrade and relish. For others, they don't stay much past that one listen.

It does help that we have the excellent support of Naim USA in this country, they have talented and very passionate people who have been helping Naim dealers and Naim customers in the US for all those many years since Julian set up a Naim USA.

Cheers,

Bruce

I am originally from the Windy City, only moving to California in 1994. I knew Ken and John when they had Chicago Speaker Works. Twenty five years ago I heard and purchased my first Naim gear: NAC 32 with HiCap and Linn LP12 with Ittock and Karma, Hafler amp and a custom "triad" system of sub and satellites. What a great sounding system! The guys at Promusica are the best and I have always enjoyed Ken's enthusiasm for music. I still visit when I get back home.

As for Naim's popularity, it is growing as more dealers are appearing here in California, though the closest to me is 200 miles away. Five years ago I went to a dealer in Monrovia, who at the time had never heard Naim, but now he is a dealer. I still go to high-end stores though that have never heard Naim gear.

Anthony

quote:

Originally posted by TerryFranks:
IS NAIM HI FI BIG IN THE STATES

quote:

Originally posted by TerryFranks:
IS NAIM HI FI BIG IN THE STATES

<monty_python>
I think its the same size as here?
</monty_python>

You sure it hasnt been supersized specially?

My experience parallels Rega1's. I never heard of Naim until I strolled into my now long time dealer in Mount Kisco, NY. Among the Hifi crowd I think it is fairly well known, but I have never met anyone from the "general public" who has heard of Naim.

Matt

I have visited excellent Naim dealers in Seattle, Portland, Austin, New York , San Francisco and Dallas.

Gene Rubin is always helpful and knows his stuff. While Naim is not main stream in the USA, they seem to be gaining traction. Tremendous support staff in Chicago NANA. Chris, Chris and Dave are top notch.

I recently had an interesting chat with a NY dealer who commented that many of their customers are folks looking to buy a hifi or home theater and have never heard of Naim or any other brands. They tend to be affluent people who hear about their shop by word of mouth.

When I was shopping around my first real hi-fi three years ago, I visited every reasonably well-known Manhattan dealer to see what they had. I did have a handful of brands in mind, but had never heard of Naim. I stumbled onto Naim purely by (happy) accident when I walked into the only Naim dealership in NYC. My two hi-fi "guides" (my cousin - VTL tube amps and JM Lab Grand Utopias - and one of my colleagues - Krell and vintage audio) had never heard of it either.

As I continued my rotation of dealers, I happened to mention that of all the ones I had heard so far, I'd liked the naim/b&w combination the best. General reaction from dealers was confusion or amusement: most had never heard of Naim, and those who had thought that the Nait was a 30 year old design that was not up to par with modern components (this particular dealer was trying to push a MF/thiel combination).

So from my (admittedly limited) experience, I think that Naim is not terribly well known in the US at all, even in the hi-fi community. Pity .

"but I have never met anyone from the "general public" who has heard of Naim."

ditto for the UK as well

"Popular" has always been somewhat of a red flag for me. When I think of what is "popular" in the US, and maybe this applies worldwide, it always connotes something banal, canned, artificial, easily consumed and generally inferior.

Think AOL, McDonalds, Bud Light, Bose Lifestyle, American Idol, Paris Hilton (WHY?!?!?!), U2, NASCAR, Starbucks, Pizza Hut etc...... etc.....

If for some reason Naim WAS in fact popular here in the US, I probably would not own it, as there would most likely be something wrong with it. We might have money and power but we surely lack taste over here.

I've always loved the slightly red-neck bumber sticker, "Eat Shit... A Million Flies Cant Be Wrong"

quote:

I would like to know if there are any Naim fanatics in the Chicago Illinois suburb areas. A music night like the Naim owners overseas get together for would be great over here in the midwest area of the states.

rega1,

I have 3 good hifi buddies in Chicago who have Naim gears, I know John Schwarz from Promusica, very nice guy, I would think it would be a good way to be introduced to some Naim fan out there, talking to the local Naim dealer

cheers,
Edouard

quote:

Originally posted by Edouard:

quote:

I would like to know if there are any Naim fanatics in the Chicago Illinois suburb areas. A music night like the Naim owners overseas get together for would be great over here in the midwest area of the states.

rega1,

I have 3 good hifi buddies in Chicago who have Naim gears, I know John Schwarz from Promusica, very nice guy, I would think it would be a good way to be introduced to some Naim fan out there, talking to the local Naim dealer

cheers,
Edouard

John just mounted a new cartridge on my TT, and that is where I purchased my gear from. I hang out there for hours on Saturday afternoons sometimes. All those guys are great!!!!

thank you for your input!!

rega1

rega1,

How does sound the Project debut as compare to the CD5i? I take on you have a Project phonostage??
Shouldn't your your name be Project instead of Rega then
John S gave me some good advices when I had to make a choice between SF Amati's and SF Elipsa, I should give him a phone call to thank him

cheers,
Edouard

Jeff

quote:

Are you out there Exiled Highlander?

Yes but currently in the depths of rural New Jersey this week.

Sounds like a plan to coordinate....

I am also in Naperville, rega1

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
Jeff

quote:

Are you out there Exiled Highlander?

Yes but currently in the depths of rural New Jersey this week.

Sounds like a plan to coordinate....

I am also in Naperville, rega1

Jim

Maybe we have passed at quigleys, the foundry, or another venue in the past few years I have been here. I would definitely enjoy a music evening and a beverage or 2.

I drove through New Jersey one day, it was the longest week of my whole life .

rega1

rega1

quote:

Maybe we have passed at quigleys, the foundry, or another venue in the past few years I have been here. I would definitely enjoy a music evening and a beverage or 2.

More likley to have been The Lantern lately....I will be out of the country for the next 3 weeks or so but I get mid June so after then maybe?

Cheers

Jim

The Lantern? Sounds like a nice relaxed place to have some suds.

Lets touch base when you arrive back home. My email will be in my profile. Have a safe trip.

rega1

quote:

Originally posted by rega1:

I have spent hours down in the lower level listening to new raw recordings that Ken has brought back from a weekend session.

Yeah, the guys at ProMusica are great. And Ken is a fantastic recording engineer. When we listen back to my music that he's recorded on the system in the basement, the instruments sound so visceral I feel like I could touch them. And it sounds even better on Ken's home system! What a joy to hear one's music sounding so magnificent.

All best,
Fred