Helprequested from Chicago Naim Newbie.......
Posted by: ianrmack on 16 October 2003
Greetings,
This is my first post here. Have been a regular Contributor at www.audioasylum.com and am a hopeless audiophile, musician and general music lover.
Well, after that little preamble, allow me share my question/topic to which I would kindly like to ask that you respond.
There is a fantastic dealer three blocks from my house in downtown Chicago from whom I have been buying the odd component over the last 17 years. Their main brand is Naim and, to date, I have not actually purchased a single Naim piece. I don't know why;something to do with the naive impression of proprietary requirements at all links to the audio reproduction chain - save speakers.
When I moved to San Francisco for 7 years, I ended up buying some great gear and assembling some wonderful systems. A sampling of it would look like:
Audio Aero Capitole cdp
David Berning ZH-270 otl amp
Merlin VSM-M speakers
Cardas cabling
Linn Classic
Proac ISCs
Unison Research Unico int. amp
Modded Sony 999es
Von Schweikert Audio VR-1s
Audio Analogue Puccini SE
OK, so a massive consolidation is going to occur soon. For WAF reasons, and others(aesthetics, size reqs.), I may start with Dynaudio Special 25s in the new rosewood finish. FINALLY, the Naim question: which system would you front-end them with?
The dealer is recommending a CDX2/200/202 combo with a possible upgrade to a 250 with a Hicap.....I think. Once the sale of much of the other gear is complete (assuming an audition is truly successful)I will quite possibly have the funds to this correctly. (This dealer has been tastefully tring to get me to buy Naim gear for yearsand it appears that I amy be seeing the light. Every time I hear Naim, I love it.)
What do you think of that configuration? My tastes range from Coltrane to Marley, Costello to Cachao, Vivaldi to Verve. Preferences seem to fall on the side of rich textures with seemless imaging to produce a full sound with articulated definition and pace.
My room size is 24x17x11' and serves as our living room, so there are ample shelves, furniture and rugs to try to provide some damping.
Alright, I've rambled enough. Is this journey worth embarking upon?
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Ian
This is my first post here. Have been a regular Contributor at www.audioasylum.com and am a hopeless audiophile, musician and general music lover.
Well, after that little preamble, allow me share my question/topic to which I would kindly like to ask that you respond.
There is a fantastic dealer three blocks from my house in downtown Chicago from whom I have been buying the odd component over the last 17 years. Their main brand is Naim and, to date, I have not actually purchased a single Naim piece. I don't know why;something to do with the naive impression of proprietary requirements at all links to the audio reproduction chain - save speakers.
When I moved to San Francisco for 7 years, I ended up buying some great gear and assembling some wonderful systems. A sampling of it would look like:
Audio Aero Capitole cdp
David Berning ZH-270 otl amp
Merlin VSM-M speakers
Cardas cabling
Linn Classic
Proac ISCs
Unison Research Unico int. amp
Modded Sony 999es
Von Schweikert Audio VR-1s
Audio Analogue Puccini SE
OK, so a massive consolidation is going to occur soon. For WAF reasons, and others(aesthetics, size reqs.), I may start with Dynaudio Special 25s in the new rosewood finish. FINALLY, the Naim question: which system would you front-end them with?
The dealer is recommending a CDX2/200/202 combo with a possible upgrade to a 250 with a Hicap.....I think. Once the sale of much of the other gear is complete (assuming an audition is truly successful)I will quite possibly have the funds to this correctly. (This dealer has been tastefully tring to get me to buy Naim gear for yearsand it appears that I amy be seeing the light. Every time I hear Naim, I love it.)
What do you think of that configuration? My tastes range from Coltrane to Marley, Costello to Cachao, Vivaldi to Verve. Preferences seem to fall on the side of rich textures with seemless imaging to produce a full sound with articulated definition and pace.
My room size is 24x17x11' and serves as our living room, so there are ample shelves, furniture and rugs to try to provide some damping.
Alright, I've rambled enough. Is this journey worth embarking upon?
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Ian
quote:
I may start with Dynaudio Special 25s in the new rosewood finish. FINALLY, the Naim question: which system would you front-end them with?
Ian. Welcome to the mad house. Could I suggest you take a deep breath and slow down just a little. Settle yerself in with a glass of your fave single malt, do some research in the right areas. Search on Source First. Search yourself a great dealer. I would respectfully suggest that you are building your new system from entirely the worng end!
Yes, strange as it may seem the music comes from the front. The source. It is helped along the path to the speakers by the amplification. What's not pulled from your source material certainly can't make it out of the speakers. Choosing your speakers first merely makes it more difficult to choose the kit that powers them.
My suggestion is that you head off to the best Naim dealer you can find, tell them what it is you want to acheive. Do the dems. The loudspeakers should be the last thing you choose - they're more about presentation and a little room matching in setup. 'Certainly "putting the cart before the horse" to choose them before you sort out your electronics.
Alternately, you might find that bus that Minky mentioned entirely more suitable. The number 43, IIRC. Be careful though, it could be a little uncomfortable.
Hope this helps.
Rico - SM/Mullet Audio