5.1 Speakers for Naim n-Vi
Posted by: SA on 24 June 2014
I would be very grateful for 5.1 sub sat recommendations to partner a Naim n-Vi. I have no local options for demos unfortunately. I am aware of the limitations of the n-Vi with regards to the latest sound formats and am not considering ditching the n-Vi. I watch films and listen to music in equal measure. A separate Blu-ray player will be used for Blu-ray films but the built in cd on the n-Vi will be used for music. I am willing to pay up to £2,000 on speakers. Thank you for your time.
SA, the logical match, and one that works superbly with the N-Vi is Naim's own N-System comprising of 4 x n-Sats , n-Cent and an n-Sub. It's no longer available new but you should just about be able to put one together secondhand for close to your budget.
SA - I originally used a Focal Dome 5.1 set up with my n-Vi. Although the n-Vi has limited control over frequencies sent to the five speakers - the choice is either 'big' or 'small' - that set up worked very well for me. I think the Focal Dome system is still available and cost less than £1500.
I'm still using the Focal Domes for rear speakers and their size and mounting options make them very discrete.
Big issue with the n-Vi is that "small / large" setting, as opposed to having a user selectable crossover point.
I don't remember the exact frequency cut off, but I seem to recall naim picking an odd value like 85 or 90 Hz.
Domes, fixed to a wall, would probably be good "in room" down to around 95 to 100Hz, before they roll off. In fact, if I hadn't already been using a set of older Focal Chorus 705S for rears, the domes would have been on my list for surrounds when I changed my front three channels to Chorus 800 V W series.
However, that high roll off in the processor means that whether your speakers go down to 80Hz or down to 50, you'll probably still end up using bass redirection to send all of the LF from the small channels to a sub.
So, in that case, get a damn good sub, as it may be working to give 6 channels worth of bass instead of just LFE!
I can get new Focal Dome 5.1 package for only £749 please could you try and describe the type of sound signature that the n-Vi Focal Dome combination gives please? Many thanks SA
Tweeters are the same as in the Chorus 816VW that I use for 2ch front end. Really engaging.
However, the Domes sub is very much the weak link in this chain. Is the package at £749 just 5 domes, or the 5.1 pack including a sub?
As per my earlier post, you'll be relying heavily on your sub, so I would strongly suggest a upgrading to a better sub to work with the domes, given the price you'll be getting these speakers for.
If you look at my profile, you'll see that I use MJ subs, but others on the forum have great success with BK, REL and Velodyne.
I chose the MJ because it timed so well with my 5ch set of Focals... better even than Focal's Profile SW904 that I used to own.
Hope this helps
Mike
It comes with the Focal Dome sub for £749
That's an excellent price, SA. Depending on how you want to mount them e.g. if not to walls or sited on top of something else, you may have to factor in buying stands, too. I agree with Mike1380 on the sound signature. I also think the Domes pack much more of a punch than their size would suggest. On the Dome sub, I enjoyed mine for about year so it wouldn't be a bad place to start but I noticed the difference when I swapped for a bigger Rel Strata II.
Oh and you get a choice of colours of Domes.
MDS
Sounds like it is worth going for them as recommendations from you all who have n-Vi experience and some good reviews too I was especially pleased to read that what hifi though they were excellent for music too. At £749 they seem a bargain and means that I can save the rest of the budget to see if a larger sub seems necessary further down the line. Thank you all for your help. My last choice is what speakers cables to get, any recommendations? The mrs can choose between the 3 different Focal Dome colours! Thanks again SA
I use QED silver micro cable in my home theatre system. It's thin and unobtrusive so you can tack it along skirting boards etc without it looking obvious. Pretty inexpensive, too. I think the n-Vi isn't as fussy as most Naim amps as regards speaker cable.
Do let us know how you get on, SA.
MDS
The Dome sub (despite my earlier comments) is an absolute bargain at that price. There is a crossover setting on it marked "DOME", so use that and set all speakers to small.
My brother in law has one in his system, and based on my efforts setting it up I'd suggest setting the gain to around 60% on the sub, and then the sub level on the n-Vi to somewhere between -2 and -10 dependant on how it interacts with the room.
If it's the later version it should also come with a high level connection cable for hooking straight to the speaker terminals in stereo systems.
My advice.... Keep this. If you then, later on, invest in a superior sub for the LFE, you can connect the Dome sub to the centre channel, set the centre to Large, and balance it (by playing a music cd in your n-Vi, with surround mode set to MONO).
Until then, enjoy the absolute bargain you're getting.... it's tremendous value and should sound outstanding.
Very happy with the Naim n-Vi and Focal Dome 5.1 combination but have the opportunity to pick up a used B&W PV1 SUB for £350 so any opinions on whether this would be a good upgrade or a bad idea would be very gratefully received. Many thanks SA
For a similar price you could grab one of the small MJ Acoustics, BK or REL subs.
My profile should tell you which make I'd personally have, but all three are good, if not as pretty as the Bowers.