Upgrading - B&W CDM 9NT

Posted by: Guido on 15 March 2001

Hi There!

I'm quite new in the Naim community, but since I joined in, the upgraditis bug has already bitten, so my CDI/102/180/B&W CDM 9NT has already developed to CDI/102/HiCap + PSC/180 B&W CDM 9NT.
It started all with an old Pioneer amp, a Sony CD and small T+A speakers, developed to H&K amp with Grundig CD player with Canton Sub/Satellites (which I still have for my home cinema ) But with the B&W speakers and the Naim gear I'm missing something. Although flipping through this forum, I learned that the SBL is a good choice which my - not so- local dealer (Munich - Hamburg) recommended, the SBL is no choice, as I have no chance to set it up near a wall...
So advice is needed. As only Saturdays are available for listening I would appreciate advice for the direction of the quest.

What I experienced during the past changes and upgrades, especially with the highcap, was more "vividness", voices got more timbre, percussions seem to be more transparent - actually I have no idea how to express these impressions. But my feeling/hearing tells me, that the music stays a little "cold", some female voices even sound a little harsh. I know, room accoustics can affect a lot, in addition to hearing and trying to reposition the speakers I ran the substantial parameters of my living (hearing) room through a "room accoustics" computer program owned by a friend, which stated a reflection peak at low frequencies (below 100 hertz), so the mids and heights shouldn't be affected?
That's why I'm looking for a change/upgrade
Thanks for your help
Guid

[This message was edited by Guido on FRIDAY 16 March 2001 at 12:26.]

Posted on: 16 March 2001 by Matthew T

Guido,

You have a similiar set up to me and in the process of auditioning (bought the system in one go)I ended up with up with the B&W N804. I listened to some the other lower end B&W range, probably you're speakers, and they didn't do the job and listened to every speaker that Grahams had in the 1000-2000 range (10+ pairs) and they didn't do the job either. You way want to give them a listen to. They maybe a little bass light but could just be that I need to get those external power sources for the amps.

cheers

Matthew

Posted on: 17 March 2001 by Guido

Hi Matthew!

I spend some time at my local (Munich) dealer today, ended up with a new pair of front speakers for my home cinema - Cabasse Fregatte + stands - cannot be there without buying...
I borrowed Naim speaker cable (Naca 5 I believe), perhaps this will do, have not tried it (in the moment I have audioquest CV 4) and arranged a speaker test session for next Saturday, Cabasse Iroise vs. NT 804 and 803 (they have the hole Nautilus series there); they will set it up with a CD 5 and a Nait 5, should be fun.
Thanks for your help
Guido