Warm Naim kit is: (Insert missing adjective here)

Posted by: Nime on 25 January 2004

Hi,
I turned the 72/180 off all last night and this morning as an experiment to see if the claimed advantages of continuous warmth were real. My wife claims she can't hear any difference after a period of unbroken connection to the life-giving mains. By which I mean the Naim amps were connected, not her.

Something was definitely missing when I started listening again. Now I can no more find adjectives for what it sounded like when it was warm. Than I can for when it was cold. (apart from cold) I feel I need suitable words as proof of change.

I've tried "friendly", "warm", "liquid" & "transparent".

How would <you> describe a well warmed Naim system?

Nime

Everyone has the right to be wrong.

Posted on: 25 January 2004 by HTK

Musical, transparent, full bodied (sp?).

Posted on: 25 January 2004 by garyi

In my experience most kit coes on song after about an hor of connection, the exception being speakrs which seem to need loosening up.

When you first turn an amp on and start playing music there is no bass, however for me at least its all in place after an hour and very little seems to change in the following weeks except my mood.

Those that claim to hear differences after 5 weeks need to consider if its their mood, room temperature, amount of alcahol etc before claiming it must be warming up time.

Posted on: 25 January 2004 by NaimDropper

Happiness is a warm puppy.
And a warm Naim amp.
David

Posted on: 26 January 2004 by Nime

I can't agre with you garyi that an hour is all that is required to achieve a noticable difference. I found the music more compelling and enjoyable after a few days of connection. I was listening to things I don't normally give a moments consideration.
If it was simply that the loudspeakers require exercise then leaving the amplifiers on would have zero effect. Unless very low level hum and white noise are good for speakers. If your theory were correct a few minutes of 'metal' would quickly warm everything up to optimal. Perhaps that's the secret? Turn the amps off but start every listening session with a really good thrashing.

Nime

Everyone has the right to be wrong.

Posted on: 26 January 2004 by solid state

A warm Naim system can be utterly involving and addictive

A cold Naim system can be total torture

I know cos ive just had to switch mine off for a while!!

Posted on: 26 January 2004 by Nime

I could never describe my system as "torture". In fact it sounds very nice even when cold. Though I would suggest that my 'cold' system is far less involving. The bass is definitely weaker. Seeming strangely half-hearted.
Vocals take on a warmth and realism that fully complies with your description of addictive on a warm system.
Between us we must have listened to hundreds of CDs over the past couple of weeks. This must surely say something about the effect of warming the system up. Even if the words to describe the effect do not flow as well as the music.
The system isn't just switched on constantly. It's being listened to almost constantly while we are at home. The system hasn't changed physically in at least three years. But the sound quality suddenly has.

Nime

Everyone has the right to be wrong.