NAIM - Where are you heading?

Nan

In my view, the new style is simply 'Naim done better'. Although they have provided extra facilities, the fundamental musical presentation remains consistent. The new stuff is remarkably more transparent and less coloured, but it isn't colourless as such, merely 'Naim improved'.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Thanks for the imput, Frank.


Nan

Why worry about the direction Naim are taking?

Just listen to both sets of gear and buy whichever you prefer.


Personally I'm wondering what Naim are doing about the upcoming "digital amp" revolution that looks to be turning up in the next 5 years. For me, the most impressive kit (for the money) at Bristol was the TACT all digital amp. Bear in mind that you could buy the processor and power amp for roughly the same as a CDS3, and it starts to look like something of a bargain.
Sharp have already launched something vaguely similar and Pioneer are incorporating some of the room "correction" facilities in a mid-priced AV receiver.
So, when is Naim going to check this technology out?

Mr Sukebe...points taken. But, lets take Mercedes as an exabple. Before they merged with Chrysler, they were bought for their reliability, dependability, quality etc...

All the mainstream manufacturers are now capable of producing cars with similar qualities to the mercs. And look at what Mercs have decided to do...mass produce cars at a price point for the masses. The current c class is no match for the model it replaced, quality wise. They might be better to drive, but as I recall,"fun to drive" was never a priority for purchasing a Mercedes.

It has taken NAIM a considerably long time to build some very desirable equipment, and it concerns me that they might dilute this approach for a greater share (and profit)with their current thinking.

I have no reason to believe that their "new" products are anything, but excellent. I choose them for their music producing qualities and not the "NAIM" label attached to the boxs.
Furthermore, future upgrade path I want to take and choices I want to make should be between NAIM products and not a host of other quality HIFI. What I'm trying to say is this, I hope for future upgrades, the criteria for selecting a brand is not on the name, because all the makes sound pretty much similar.



Nan

I have tried the TACT amps in the shop. I thought its performance was well off the mark. At the Heathrow show last year, the TACT people were making an amazing sound. Then we asked them to play some good ol' rock an' roll and the whole thing fell to pieces.

That said, there are some interesting developments on the way and these include digital amps as well as class T amps. The future certainly looks to be digital...unfortunately.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

...I've followed Naim on and off for some 25 odd years now and the new stuff, to my ears, is NOT a "sell out". Yes - it sounds different - and better to my and many other ears.

Naim is still Naim. You MAY have some issues with mixing new and old kit, but at the rate you are upgrading you will probably have changed all the pieces in the next year So...give the new stuff a listen and decide if that's where you want to end up or if you want the top-flight "old" system.

- GregB

Insert Witty Signature Line Here

In my very limited experience, the only comparison I have between the old and new series is the
CDX/82/180/ES22 vs CD5/202/200/Allaes in 2 very different rooms. In that little ocmparison, the new series sounded faster and cleaner, but the old one sounded " wow! the scale of the music..." rather breathtaking. Maybe it is due to the different speakers.

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Originally posted by audiopsyk

In my opinion the real naim sound is the old equipment. Todays naim is more hifi (when you start looking at the music, listining for errors and you nolonger "feel" the music), but the old stuff plays more music...

Regards
David

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David,

My point exactly. But has NAIM consciously chose the "HiFI" route for the new equipment or have they been forced into this position because of the lack of these components. I sincerely hope its not the former. But, assuming its the latter, NAIM, as a company should be able to specify to any number of companies the production of components to their exact requirements, hence maintaining the "NAIM" sound we all love.

Nan

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The day that Rodestein stopped making their red 47 uF caps, was the day Naim suddenly had a problem,

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You really are looking in the wrong places if you feel that Naim's ability to replay music is primarily affected by components such as these.

They have an effect, but it is in no way fundamental.

Andy.

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Originally posted by audiopsyko:
Nan,

In my opinion the real naim sound is the old equipment. Todays naim is more hifi (when you start looking at the music, listining for errors and you nolonger "feel" the music), but the old stuff plays more music...

Regards
David

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David,

You are talking bollocks.

Dev

double bollocks.

David i cannot uderstand how you can say the S.L.C.E cap is obsolete , i have bought 3 pairs over the last couple of years and they are date production marked.

I also had my first taste of hearing the new equipment today, and i was gobsmacked at the sound. I heard CDX2 with 202 and amp which i presumed was the new 250, turns out it was the 200 oh nooooooooo. i run CDI Hi 250, cetainly got me thinking.

Regards DP

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The truth hurts - as always...

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The mistake almost everyone makes, when trying to copy Naim, or determine what makes Naim sound the way it does, is to look at the obviously identifiable parts and assume these are the key.

I can categorically say that, with a few notable exceptions, this has about as much bearing on the final musicality of the product, as the colour of my shirt on any given day. Also what looks obvious, often isn't - you won't get the performance of a Naim tested regulator in a Hicap for two reasons - you don't have access to the same source, and you don't know what to test for.

It is bollocks, and you need to look much deeper to understand what makes things sound good. Even the basic topology is often of very little relevance.

Andy.

I think the Naim sound is produced entirely by the olive-coloured plastic fronts.

malcolm

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I think the Naim sound is produced entirely by the olive-coloured plastic fronts.

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That can't be true, 'cos the old chrome bumpers produce it too

Ultimatly Naim are a very successful company who obviously give the public what they demand.
What is disconcerting is the "snobbery" which exists, especially with the "old is better than new " brigade. My mate bought a piece of Naim equipment from Sevenoaks at a bargain price, the bloke who he dealt with said, " Naim have not been a success here because the trad. Naim buyer prefers small "specialist" shops.
My experience of small specialist shops are of "snobbery", Ie you need a CDX, cause theres no point in anything else. Anyone else had this problem ?

Sorry, yes the new stuff is better than the old

I remember buying an Arcam Alpha 6 Plus amp over a Nait 3 because it sounded smoother and more musical and when I upgraded I bought a Nait 5 because it was more musical and smoother

Alert! No New Naim Sound!

This commentary may not be appreciated by some of you, but I think that those who reject the “new” Naim sound are simply stuck in denial. The sound is not new. It’s improved! Technology and experience have allowed magnitudes of quieter, more responsive and accurate electronics. The music is just less restricted by technical limitations. I agree whole-heartedly with Mark Russell. The improved sound is so much more effortless, emotionally engaging, and transcending of “hifi” to realness. I also play my system every chance I get, sometimes even awakening in the middle of the night for a few more listening hours.

Admittedly, my perspective is based on the best Naim have to offer, but I’d be shocked if any of the new equipment were not a vast improvement over its predecessors. We all want to settle into our equipment, be fully content, and not have to think about spending any more money, but... the state of the art advances, with it music reproduction, and levels of joy. How lucky we are that the engineers are seeing to that.

Tom.