Intro 2, Credo, allae Differences

Posted by: jgeisen on 06 January 2002

I've been trying to understand the differences between NAIM's less expensive speakers by looking at their web site. They appear to use the same drivers with slightly different cabinets. Is this enough to justify the added cost of an allae? If the allae is the clear winner then I am able to afford it but I hear a lot of mixed reviews about NAIM's speakers. My electronics are CD5, NAC112 w/ Flatcap, NAP150 all on a FRAIM stand. BTW, I'm not in a position to be able to listen to the different models before purchase.

John

Posted on: 06 January 2002 by Mike Sae

The Allae uses different drivers than the Intro, has a different cabinet and an NBL-like spike suspension system. Plus i'm sure there's all sorts of pricy bits in the crossover.

What speakers are you using at the moment and how do you feel they're lacking?

Posted on: 06 January 2002 by stephenjohn

Hi
I have the 112/150 flatcap cd5 combination and have been very satisfied with credos. I chose them because I think the sound they made was beautiful and also above the intros for compatibility with potential upgrades. I did not hear the allaes as they were above my budget

Posted on: 06 January 2002 by jgeisen

Hi Mike,

I currently have both Spendor SP100's and QUAD '63's. I was interested in a NAIM speaker in order to experience an "all NAIM" system but didn't want to spend more than the price of the allae.

Posted on: 06 January 2002 by David Dever

Hi John--glad to see that the gear arrived there in good shape...

Cabinets
The Intro 2 and Credo use the same balanced-veneer cabinets available in four wood finishes: Ebony, Cherry, Maple (formerly Beech) and Rosewood ($400 extra in the U.S.)

The Allae cabinet is trapezoidal in shape and features a cast plinth on the underside for better contact with the floor. It also uses brass mass dampers to reduce cabinet resonance, as found in the models higher in the range. Its finishes are slightly different, Black Ash being substituted for the Ebony.

All three units have a radial-firing port separated by three machined PIPs.

Loudspeaker drivers
The Intro 2 uses a pressed-basket paper-cone bass driver manufactured by Naim specifically for it. It uses a thermoplastic phase plug.

The Credo and Allae use the same driver found in the SBL; these are unmatched in the Credo and matched/mass-damped in the Allae and SBL. The phase plug is turned aluminum, which increases power handling (somewhat).

The tweeter in the Intro 2 is a Vifa; the Credo, Allae and SBL use a Scanspeak D2008, once again, unmatched in the Credo, matched and mass-damped in the Allae and SBL.

The Allae tweeter is mounted in a sealed enclosure on a flexible leaf-spring decoupling plate similar to that used on the IBL / NBL / DBL loudspeakers.

Crossover

The Intro 2 uses a internally-mounted single passive network for the tweeter; the bass driver runs full range. This allows for passive bi-amping at a later point. 32-strand wire as used in Naim's amplifiers is soldered to each driver.

The Credo and Allae use a CXO external crossover box, mounted on the rear of each speaker, derived from that used in the SBL. This may be easily removed for active operation with two or more amplifiers and an external active electronic crossover.

The Credo uses 32-stand wiring on the inside, and thicker multistrand wire outside. The Allae uses the thicker multistrand wire both internally and on the external crossover.

Hope this helps,
Dave Dever, NANA

[This message was edited by David Dever on MONDAY 07 January 2002 at 00:55.]

Posted on: 06 January 2002 by Justin

Dave; you make the Allae sound awfully similar to the SBL (or at least, as costly to produce).

judd