n-Vi installed today

Posted by: JohnS on 01 April 2006

My dealer came round today to install the n-Vi. We used the speakers from the 'old' set-up; NHT 2.5s for the front, 1.5s for the rear, an NHT center and a REL Storm III sub. I'm pretty happy with the sound. As I sold my CDSII/252/2*250/SBL setup, the intent was that the n-Vi would play music and movies while not requiring a separate annex for racks and equipment. I'm listening to Aerial right now and it is sounding pretty good. Not as good as the old Naim setup but way better than the horrible noise from the Sony 'Home Theater in a Box' thing.

There were some interesting 'beta test' issues that we experienced with the n-Vi, only one of which is truly annoying. I wanted to use the DVI output (the 50" Vizio monitor has 2xHDMI inputs) as the DVI-HDMI cable is so much less obtrusive than the component cables. And, who uses BNC connectors any more? Duh! So we connected it all up and there was just snow/static. We plugged in the S-Video cable - that worked fine. Was the monitor not HDCP compliant? It claimed it was but... so we connected a different HDCP DVD player using an HDMI-HDMI cable and that worked fine. Hmmmm. I was messing around with the n-Vi setup when I got the DVI Output working, I had selected the DVI Output to OFF then back to ON. Which would be OK if it didn't reset itself every time you press Stop or change discs. So every time you want to watch a movie, you have to go through this special little ritual. How precious.

There's a note in the manual which says "All video outputs will operate when player is in stop mode or when the OSD menu is displayed". What it should actually say is "All video outputs will operate when player is in stop mode, except I will screw up your DVI output again! Hah!".

In spite of the above firmware glitch, I think it's a phenomenal piece of kit and when we watched House Of The Flying Daggers, it looked and sounded great, even on my crappy "twenty-two hundred dollars from CostCo" monitor.
Posted on: 02 April 2006 by julian62/135
Very exciting. Have you told Naim about the firmware issue. Is there some sort of socket to upgrade the firmware or is it a back to base deal.

So now all you need to do is get ride of the those one note bass N(don’t)HT speakers. Have you considered the matching n-SATs, n-CENT and n-SUB - (Linn/Naim twee nomenclature continues unabated of course). They would certainly help with your quest for “small”.

I look forward to hearing it all sometime soon. Big Grin

J
Posted on: 02 April 2006 by john R1
johns wonder its thats the issue they are working on now, or it it another one, see we have not had a reply from av@naim regarging software and power supply problems ?
Posted on: 02 April 2006 by Mr Underhill
John,

I was an early adopter of the DVD5, Naim did sort out the firmware issue....after a while. I'm sure they'll come through in due course.

Out of interest why did you divest yourself of your 'main' system?

Martin
Posted on: 02 April 2006 by AV@naim
JohnS,

I presume your screen is the P50 HDM PDP. It shold be HDCP compliant.

Can you please contact me via info@naim-audio.com. (Can add the make/model of cable and tell me what other issues you are seing with your n-vi).
Posted on: 03 May 2006 by JohnS
quote:
Out of interest why did you divest yourself of your 'main' system?


I sold my house in San Francisco and moved into a shared apartment (pied a terre) on Twin Peaks and we also bought a house on the Russian River (Sonoma County), neither of which really had the space to set up the active SBL system with any decent sort of listening quality/quality of life compromise.
Posted on: 03 May 2006 by blythe
I would struggle to part with my main Naim system, however, for a place on the Russian River..... I might just be tempted!

Lovely scene too ;-)
Posted on: 03 May 2006 by JohnS
You'd laugh if you saw what we used for music out on the deck, but between the spa, the pool filter and the dogs, I doubt we could differentiate much 'detail' anyway!

Posted on: 03 May 2006 by JohnS
quote:
Is there some sort of socket to upgrade the firmware or is it a back to base deal?

My understanding is that the firmware can be upgraded by loading a CD-R (burned with the appropriate file) into the n-Vi drawer.
Posted on: 06 May 2006 by Wolf
Wow JohnS, looks great. I lived up in Freestone for one very wet winter back in 82. Beautiful area. i guess if you don't have the space for it I'd let a top flight system go too, rather than agonize about it. I know some of those SF apartments are tight.
Posted on: 09 May 2006 by Smifffy
quote:
Originally posted by JohnS:
There were some interesting 'beta test' issues that we experienced with the n-Vi, only one of which is truly annoying. I wanted to use the DVI output (the 50" Vizio monitor has 2xHDMI inputs) as the DVI-HDMI cable is so much less obtrusive than the component cables. And, who uses BNC connectors any more? Duh! So we connected it all up and there was just snow/static. We plugged in the S-Video cable - that worked fine. Was the monitor not HDCP compliant? It claimed it was but... so we connected a different HDCP DVD player using an HDMI-HDMI cable and that worked fine. Hmmmm. I was messing around with the n-Vi setup when I got the DVI Output working, I had selected the DVI Output to OFF then back to ON. Which would be OK if it didn't reset itself every time you press Stop or change discs. So every time you want to watch a movie, you have to go through this special little ritual. How precious.

There's a note in the manual which says "All video outputs will operate when player is in stop mode or when the OSD menu is displayed". What it should actually say is "All video outputs will operate when player is in stop mode, except I will screw up your DVI output again! Hah!".

In spite of the above firmware glitch, I think it's a phenomenal piece of kit and when we watched House Of The Flying Daggers, it looked and sounded great, even on my crappy "twenty-two hundred dollars from CostCo" monitor.


Hi John,

I'm seeing exactly this issue with my DVD5 and Panasonic plasma/Panasonic projector. I have to go through the little routine to get the digital output.

I've spoken to Naim about it and they have been very responsive so far, but no fix yet. Interesting to see the issue cropping up on the N-Vi though.

Andy
Posted on: 09 May 2006 by blythe
quote:
Originally posted by JohnS:
You'd laugh if you saw what we used for music out on the deck, but between the spa, the pool filter and the dogs, I doubt we could differentiate much 'detail' anyway!


Be great for a pool party though, regardless of what sound system you're using!

I'll look you up next time I head over to the SF area!
Posted on: 22 May 2006 by JohnS
quote:
Originally posted by blythe:

I'll look you up next time I head over to the SF area!


Email me at jstephens at pacbell dot net. The NSA may read it before I do though.
Posted on: 22 May 2006 by JohnS
quote:
Originally posted by Wolf:
I lived up in Freestone for one very wet winter back in 82. Beautiful area.


And the best bread I've found!