Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Posted by: Craig B on 13 September 2001

-=>The Expert<=- Recommends a Naim Loudspeaker!

Having taken time out from -=>His<=- current widely publicised forum sabbatical, the famous Naim speaker hater, -=>Mike Hanson<=-, was quoted today as having suggested that a fellow Naim Forum contributor replace his SBLs with the larger NBLs in order to 'move more air'. -=>Mr. Hanson<=- went on to say that '...(the NBL) sounds bigger too'!

It should also be noted that -=>Mr. Hanson<=- was kind enough to not mention such descriptive words as soundstage, depth and/or imaging.

No doubt that keen followers of -=>Mike's<=- preachings will be quick to jump to -=>His<=- defense, and point out that -=>He<=- is not condoning the actual use of NBLs for -=>His<=- own purposes, rather those of someone unlike -=>Himself<=- who generally likes the Naim speaker sound.

What else should we Naimophiles expect from -=>Mike Hanson<=- next? roll eyes

Full story on page 3 of I thought I had bass...

Posted on: 13 September 2001 by Mike Hanson
It's nice to see you following -=> My <=- exploits so closely, Craig. I'm honored. smile

If you like SBLs and you want to move more air, then NBLs will probably satisfy you. If, however, you're like me, and you don't enjoy SBLs in the first place, then the NBLs exhibit too much of the family resemblence to make the grade.

Naim speakers aren't wrong. They're just not right for me.

Regarding my sabbatical, I was bored and procastinating. Now it's time for -=> Me <=- to get back to work.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on THURSDAY 13 September 2001 at 22:07.]

Posted on: 13 September 2001 by Craig B
Mike,

I should point out that I do not advocate Naim speakers as a panacea for all systemic ills, however I do feel that someone such as yourself who has garnered a certain level of expertise WRT a wide range of Naim's products should at least try Naim speakers in the context of your own system before suggesting that someone 'Ditch the SBLs'.

Having heard the same CDS2/52/500/NBL system as you, albeit in a different venue, I can't understand anyone suggesting that "there's something ultimately uninvolving".

Just as a point of reference as to where I am coming from, I will relate a short story...

At the Naim musical evening here in town last winter, Terry R brought along a live club recording of a little known, but superb, Blues band that coincidentally was booked into a club the following evening. At Terry's suggestion, I had the opportunity to listen to the entire CD at live volume levels on the Thursday evening, and subsequently listen to the band play live the following night. It was the first time in my life that I felt that a HiFi system truly came close to rivaling the real event. The sense of involvement experienced with the Naim system was not diminished by that experienced at the live performance.

That for me says more than any HiFi adjectives can.

I gather from your posts on this and the old forum that you have never heard any of the Naim loudspeakers in your own home (which I also understand has recently changed). They may indeed not be to your taste. My point is simply how do you know for sure?

The first time I heard IBLs at the dealers, I thought that they were somewhat anemic sounding. I now realise that I was hearing them at their worst as they were neither setup properly, nor were they broken in. My pair have seen many years of use and sound wonderful in my room on the end of a lowly Nait2 (please, no mullet comments as the pair cost me less than the Nait). They open a window onto the musical performance that is simply riveting. I have recently heard what a 250 can do for them and I can't even begin to describe how pleased I am with myself for earnestly tracking them down.

I should also point out that I have heard many of the Royd models and enjoy the Albions very much.

I am not suggesting the we all must like the same things. It is just that I don't believe that you have really heard anywhere near the potential of your current Naim gear.

Craig

Posted on: 14 September 2001 by Steve Catterall
You don't have to take speakers home with you to know that they are not for you. To many people (like Mike) the basic presentation of SBLs is not what they are looking for. Trying them at home is not going to change the basic characteristics of the speaker.

Some people don't like Naim Speakers - you're just going to have to accept it - one day - maybe - when pigs fly - etc etc etc wink

Posted on: 14 September 2001 by Mike Hanson
quote:
when pigs fly

So when are we shooting Mr. Pig out of that cannon? big grin

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 14 September 2001 by Mike Hanson
quote:
try Naim speakers in the context of your own system

As others have said, you don't have to hear a speaker in every possible location, to determine it's basic personality. I have a pretty good idea now how Naim speakers tend to sound. The family resemblance (IMO: dry, flat, clinical, "over there") is evident with the Intros, Intro2s, Credos, SBLs, and NBLs. I'm not suggesting that these speakers all sound exactly the same; I'm merely saying the ways in which they do are a problem for me. Hearing them in yet another room is probably not going to change that (although I suppose anything's possible).

Request For Proposals: Does anyone want to lug their SBLs over to my place, so that I can have an epiphany?

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 14 September 2001 by Craig B
I am absolutely not trying to suggest that Naim loudspeakers should be to everyone's taste. It would be a very boring world indeed if we all liked the exact same things.

My point was just that, IMO, it is folly to recommend against a particular speaker from Naim, or from any other manufacturer for that matter, when one hasn't bothered to give them house space for an reasonable amount of time. It reminds me of the man in the shoe store who comments to his fellow customer 'Oh, you won't like those sir, I just tried them on and they hurt my feet.'

No doubt many of you have had the experience of taking home a piece of kit that impressed you at the dealers, only to be ultimately disappointed at home. Could not the opposite experience also be a possibility? My dealer had to practically force me to take certain pieces home. 'Just try it' he would say, and I grudgingly would. The Naim bits never went back.

I do agree with you Mike that loudspeakers are a very personal choice. We can all express our likes and dislikes about particular makes and models until the pigs fly home, but at the end of the day, it is just you and your own ears that need be happy when listening in your room.

Viva la difference

Posted on: 18 September 2001 by Craig B
quote:
It's nice to see you following -=> My <=- exploits so closely, Craig. I'm honored.

Always a pleasure, Mike.

Craig