quote:
Similarly I wouldn't dream of sticking a pair of Linn loudspeakers on the end of a Naim system if I wanted to evaluate Naim's competencies.
There was a hi-fi review a few months back that suggested that Linn's Katans/Ninkas would actually sound rather good on the end of Naim kit and better even than on the end of Linn.
I don't take a lot of notice of hi-fi mags reviews these days but lots of speakers do work very well on the end of Naim gear. To quote one esteemed Naim afficionado,
"Using Naim speakers on the end of Naim kit may be over-egging the pudding."
I actually like the Allaes but apart from that I fail to be moved by other speakers in the Naim range.
I heard the move from the Allaes to the SL2s at the Naim musical evening near Stafford last November and despite hearing the benefits of all the electronic upgrades as demonstrated, I failed to notice any significant improvement in the switch from the 2k to the 5k speaks.
I use Densen amps and love them to bits - they are cheaper and yet more powerful on paper. Moreover the power amp upgrade from B300 (equivalent to a Nap 200?) to a B300XS (equivalent to a Nap 250 at least?) did not reveal any nasty sonic shortcomings from the relatively humble 1000GBP B200 preamp to my ears.
Generally I prefer to mix and match components as I feel that I then have the greatest chance to get the best musical hit for my buck by so doing.
My "dream team" system may consist of the following:
Naim CDS2 or 3/XPS (or 2)/Densen B200 (or the forthcoming B220)/B300XS (possibly biamped with two B300XSs and maybewith active crossovers) into either Allaes, Briks, Ruark CL20s or JM Lab Mini-Utopias.
I would use Chord Anthems i/cs as I do now, or investigate the newer and more expensive Signatures.
The QS Ref. table that I have already will remain although I may wish to experiment with a wallshelf for the CDS2/3 head unit.
I wouldn't use Naca5 as I'm sure that the Townsend Isolda will lift music to even greater heights in terms of realism and release from the confines of the boxes used to reproduce it.
(However, Naca5 has to be THE best VFM hi-fi component ever created considering how cheap it is.)
This is my own individual shot at the best system money can buy from a VFM/musical pespective, and much of it is speculative, but there is nevertheless still rather a lot of Naim in there even if it isn't of an entirely Naim pedigree.
Regards,
Steve.
[This message was edited by Steven Toy on THURSDAY 28 August 2003 at 04:58.]
