Oranges are not the only fruit [why all naim ??]

quote:

Originally posted by James Hamilton:
Is everything from the same company a good idea ??

One remote control to rule them all.

Only one dealer to give sheet to if something goes wrong.

Let's reverses the question; Any good reason NOT to purchase a full system from a single company?

Bye.

Linn turntable with Naim electronics and Linn speakers ..

LP12/Naim/Isobarics

[I told you I was old !!]

ends==

I believe that it actually simplifies things for many people (less choices). In addition, there is a certain level of synergy in such systems, both from the sonic perspective as well as the aesthetic and support/maintenance perspective (in addition, with cabling/interconnect on Naim-based systems).

I agree with the above at some level (at least in my main system). However, in my secondary/tertiary/etc. systems I mix and match as I see fit (e.g., a Fisher 80 tube tuner with a NAIT 1, etc.). Heck, I've even used a DIY tube preamp (Bottlehead Foreplay) with a NAP 250.

I think it all sounds pretty good.

Don't worry about dogma - do whatever sounds good to you.

Big Bubbles....No Troubles...

As the man says ...Do whatever squeezes your oranges...

Bob

Naim Audio equals peach replay. Not everyone likes a peach,, but peaches are still the perfect fruit!

ATB from George

In the mid-60's, I don't think there were many companies around that could do the whole system. The closest were the likes of Quad and McIntosh but even they did not dabble with their own turntable and cartridge. Even today, companies like Naim do not make their own cartridge or turntable. With a complete system, its much easier to get a good sound, as the components were designed to work with each other. Many people mix and match out of necessity rather than out of desire. We usually start out with a basic system and go the upgrade path over the years, resulting with components left over from an earlier time.

Joe

P.S. - I thought the banana is the perfect fruit !

I used to think that I could use research and creativity to do better than a single manufacturer and that single brand systems were marketing ploys for the lazy or ill informed. I now believe that Naim, (and I'm sure many others), design their components to go together and system synergy brings very significant benefits. It was demonstrated most clearly to me in adding power supply upgrades and Fraim. I am not sure if any other companies design in synergy as effectively as Naim, which is extraordinarily well designed to go together. This is particularly so with the Naim levels set out in their website.

quote:

Is everything from the same company a good idea ??

James,

After playing around with a few kit, I'm beginning to think it is much easier to use a one-make system since it takes a guess work out of putting together a synergistic hifi. ( that is.. if a listener embraces the company's sonic leaning )

That said, I am still using mongrel systems.
A LP12/Naim electronics and Briks are still the formula that works well to my ears. They skip a few hifi trimmings but musically it's still compelling. ( can't say the same for mixing Linn amps and a Naim source, tho )

All Naim systems are nice, but their speakers don't work in my rooms!

If there is one one-make system that I can live with, it's Naim. ( exception is a Sondek, tho )

quote:

Let's reverses the question; Any good reason NOT to purchase a full system from a single company?

Simple, no single company provides the best solution in each category of kit, or at each price level.

Even with a range like Naim's, there is quite a gap in the speakers offered between SL2 and DBL for instance. That's even if you believe Naim speakers to be your thing.

Steve

1987: Linn/Naim/Linn
2007: Linn/Naim/B&W

I'd add that but for the fortunate accident that Naim happen to make THE CD players there would probably be another brand in today's system. In fact, systems involving Naim are probably more diverse today than they were in the late 70s/80s when Linn and Naim were the way to go.

Naim/Conrad Johnson/B&W

Thing about mongrels is that some of them look a bit odd but they can live longer. That has nothing to do with hifi but I like my mongrel system.

It's a non-question in my opinion. I've always auditioned quite extensively and simply chosen what has worked best for me. Sometimes that's resulted in every component being from a different manufacturer, sometimes it hasn't. At present all my gear is Naim with just a couple of small exceptions because I couldn't find anything that worked better for me in my room.

Perhpas I just like oranges.

In terms of convenience, a dependable, financially-stable manfacturer helps, but above all an excellent dealer.

Cheers

Mike

If you like oranges, why spoil it and add grapefruits?

Andrew

The question of synergy is an important one though. In the case of Naim (and almost uniquely as far as I know), a complete system is star-earthed to the CD player. So, if you have a CDX2/202/200, the CDX2 acts as the earth point. When the amp is used with another brand of CD player, this is not the case and you get different effects, which may account for different players having such different results with Naim amplifiers.

This is a gross example of why a one-make system can be optimal. I'm sure if I had more experience of Meridian or B&O I could describe why those systems' synergies work best as one-make alternatives. However, in building this synergy, it also locks the systems. This can put off customers as much as turn them on. One customer will say he loves the Naim approach because it's simple and all sorted out for him, and another customer will say he doesn't like it because he feels locked in by the manufacturer and wants to have the opportunity to enjoy different flavours without the concern in the back of his mind. In this day and age where business is tight and every customer is important, a manufacturer has to be pretty careful about this kind of perception. Naim and Meridian have pretty much got around this, but B&O certainly hasn't and if anything markets itself as the alternative solution. Then again, they only really talk about solutions rather than components.

system synergy takes all the fumbling out of the ratio. It's nice to not cable roll. speakers may vary.

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
If you like oranges, why spoil it and add grapefruits?

Andrew

I thought Naim were all peaches, now I'm all confused.

One has to admit that a "Black Stack o' Naim" looks pretty neat on the rack, with all those cute little Naim lights all lined up in a row.

A system doesn't need to be all Naim if you can find a component you prefer from another company - providing it is compatible and it sounds right to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Hi-Fi Dave:
A system doesn't need to be all Naim if you can find a component you prefer from another company - providing it is compatible and it sounds right to you.

How often great truths sound obvious.

And the obvious.

ALL NAIM RULES!

P.S. Adam, this is case sensitive

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Stoik:
Let's reverses the question; Any good reason NOT to purchase a full system from a single company?
/QUOTE]

Interesting as for many audiophiles "is not cool" to have a full system from a single company. They really like to mix it up .... and "mess up"

quote:

Originally posted by Stoik:
One remote control to rule them all.

I have a programmable remote!

quote:

In the case of Naim (and almost uniquely as far as I know), a complete system is star-earthed to the CD player.

Back in the old days it was star earthed to the record deck.

So if you have a "new" naim amp and are vinyl only do you not have an earth?

If you have both vinyl and CD are you double earthed and so break the star?
Should you leave the earth on the TT disconnected?

Doesn't seem to bother me as I use a hydra but.....

I have a friend that has a 70s-80s system and every component is different and the wiring is very complicated. He even had someone take it apart and match the transistors. It does sound fabulous with great 3D sound stage. but what a mess of a stack. (and guys on here don't like mixing olive and black components, sheesh!)

He doesn't think much of my Naim, tho doesn't put it down, and he hates CDs altogether. I think he's only into the big sound stage so naim doesn't rate.

quote:

Originally posted by prowla:

quote:

Originally posted by Stoik:
One remote control to rule them all.

I have a programmable remote!

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting a cool one too anytime soon, because the old version of the I-Com I have here is a bit boring. I'm thinking about this one:

http://www.ofausa.com/remote.php?type=URC6960

quote:

Originally posted by Rui Marques:
Interesting as for many audiophiles "is not cool" to have a full system from a single company. They really like to mix it up .... and "mess up"

Some prefer to make their own path to their Hi-Fi nirvana, I do very respect that approach, it's the hard way to "get there". But I prefer to let that task to real experts and own the fruits of their findings.

Bye.