Did your Naim Change your Musical Taste?

I am the same, I think the systems bring out the music you would not normally hear on a run of your mill dixons special.
I find my dealer always manages to impress me with his choice of music for demo's and I end up leaving with a list of new CD's to purchase.
Antonio who

Indirectly. By virtue of listening to more music I have had to extend my range of music selections. I even listen to jazz now (not opera though).
There you go Sicey and opportunity to expand with Antonio.

Howard

Yep, another one who falls into that category here.
I think your taste changes because the stuff you start listening to at demo's, and then add to your collection, is generally better recorded and therefore highlights the strengths in your system.
It possibly has something to do with getting older too.

Regards,
Steve O.

My tastes have not changed ,if I like it I buy it!

Dear Dave,

Straight answer is not a bit!

But I have a lovely story about Paul Darwin, who no longer works for Naim. He had arranged for a factory visit by two very well healed people, myself, and our local Naim dealer. I was supposed to bring loads of CDs for the purpose of showing off various sets until we were presented with a CDS2, 52, and three 500s ACTIVE into DBLs. The 500 was a very rare beast indeed at the time. I had brought one of the all time great performances of Beethoven's G Major Piano Concerto, with Artur Schnabel playing the piano and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the then Dr Malcomb Seargent. It was done in 1933 in Abbey Road, and technically it is first rate.... for its time! The actual music making is sublime, for any period.

I never saw a smile wiped from a face so fast, and I had no idea why. It seemed the perfect test to me! And it sounded fabulous.... to me!

The point for me was that good kit makes anything sound as well as possible, so really nothing changes!

Fredrik

Not a one bit.

I still enjoy the same old s**t on Naim, too.

No. My system has always been chosen for its ability to play the music I like. I expect it plays music I don't like well too.

Cheers

Harry

Some good points there; I guess that much of personal taste in hifi equipment is based upon enhancing a system that performs your type of music. A by product of upgrading is exposure to different types of music that dealers feel perform well in certain systems. I’ve got a CD called ‘Blue Valentine’ by Sarah Jane Morris recorded live at Ronnie Scott’s, which is sublime and purchased as a direct result of a demo. I’m no judge of whether a recording is good or not, but this record is so intimate and visceral, perhaps the closest I’ve been to a performance without being present.
Fredrik – I’ve just looked for Beethoven's G Major Piano Concerto on Amazon, it’s a 4 – 6 week wait, but oh…the anticipation.

Thanks and regards

Dave

Dear Dave,

What company is responsible for the transfer? I think all five of the piano concertos are on Pearl at the moment played by Schnabel. The performance of the First is something very special as well. I have never heard the rhythmic comedy of the finale so deftly brought out! The slow movement has a depth hardly conceived of in so many efforts and the first has a serene expresiive logic which prepares the ground. The Fourth is the best, I think. For something close to a conversation between an Angel (the soloist) and mankind, set in the most poised balance listen to the slow movement. I know of no recorded performance that so nearly makes you hold your breath for the duration. Incredible. That is what I tried at Salisbury, and in fairness, I was allowed to listen to the whole movement before the brick-bats flew!

There is no weak link in these performances, so I really hope you get through the old recording quality to the wonderful performances contained in these wonderful records. Good luck from Fredrik.

Hello Fredrik - this one's on 'Naxos historical' I've attached a link, I think it's the right one. If you look at the enlarged album sleeve you can just about make out that it was recorded in 1933 and Artur Schnabel and Malcolm Sargent were performer and conductor, respectively.

I tend to enjoy old recordings, their limitations often add a sense of space and give that subjective feeling of stepping back in time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005K3PG/qid.../202-9656914-0915801

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by HTK:
No. My system has always been chosen for its ability to play the music I like. I expect it plays music I don't like well too.

Cheers

Harry

What Harry says.

quote:

Originally posted by Dodge:
Some good points there; I guess that much of personal taste in hifi equipment is based upon enhancing a system that performs your type of music. A by product of upgrading is exposure to different types of music that dealers feel perform well in certain systems.
Dave

Good point - lost on me for better or worse. Good fun and possibly a joy if you're in an open frame of mind and like new experiences. Not wishing to sound peevish - but a dealer playing something I don't know (and possibly don't like) because it shows off a component is IMO a waste of my time. Maybe I'm losing out because I'm not inclined to sit and chew the musical fat. I often don't have the time and I'm always very focused on what the dem needs to do for me. I've got a fairly wide range of material at home (and I take a wide range to a demo) so having selected a candidate to take home for audition, there's subsequently plenty of time to feed a variety of wierd and womderful stuff through the whole system (and most important) in the room where it's going to live.

If that makes sense?

Cheers

Dave,

That is the one. Report back on how nicely Naxos have done the transfer. Mine is an EMI transfer from the metal masters, issued in the 80s, and is very accute, but not easy to take. If Naxos have found some shellac in mint condition, they may have made a finer job of it by a big margin now!

The musical values are spell-binding....

Fredrik

Once again, I'm in total agreement with Harry.

When auditioning to buy a DVD player, I became irritated by a salesman trying to force me to watch Galdiator even though I explained to him that it was of no interest to me. I wanted to know how it performed with Steptoe & Son, Moulin Rouge, Oh Mr Porter and the Italian Job - i.e. the type of DVDs I would watch and ones I brought along for the audition.

Same goes for music, if you play Dire Straits or Phil Collins then sorry, but I'm not going to appreciate it no matter how in tune with the system it is - I've heard enough of both over the years to know that I don't like them; I mention them because they always seem to be in favour with those demonstrating hifi equipment. Yes of course you are free to enjoy both the aforementioned artists, it is just not for me. If I hear the strains of Trouble Over Briidgewater then I can sit and listen in earnest. If I hear Shirley Collins and it works then I'm in tune with the kit. If I follow that with Janacek and I still like it then it is probably naim kit.

To me naim kit helps me hear the songs I like best at their best no matter what the recording is like and I think that is what really matters to me.

DAve,

My system did not in itself change my musical tastes, rather my musical tastes have been broadened in the last year through friendship with another Naimee, Traveling Dan.

He has introduced me to lots of new music - especially Jazz - and I believe he had benefited from exposure to my musical tastes.

Amother consequence of bulding my system is that I now listen to a lot more music than I used to. As I type I am listening to a broadcast on Today FM, an Irish station, and the featured artist is Elvis Costello.

I have never really listened to very much of his music, but listening to the programme, I think I may be splashing out on some of his albums.


Brad

Yeah. It's good when you can bounce stuff about. I spent many nights sitting on floors with mates and girlfriends soaking it up. Then later on in mate's and workfriends lounges. My life nowadays doesn't seem able to fit in such activities. But there's the radio and TV (though very occasionally), the odd film sound track and the occasional speculative walk into a dealer to compensate. It's not much compensation compared to the huge information I used to be hit with as part of my social life.

Cheers

Harry

What Yeldarb said – in spades.

It started out as offering a potential buyer the chance to hear Naim-active Isobariks and very quickly the emphasis changed to the music (which is as it should be). I have definitely gained by hearing lots of music and artists that I probably would not have considered previously – and I have found lots to like and enjoy.

I realise now that, in isolation, I had got a bit dull and conservative in always choosing music I knew I would like – and I had forgotten how enjoyable it is to explore new horizons in the company of friends.

Now I’m buying and enjoying more and more music and always looking forward to the next meeting.

Dan