Is NAIM gone mad? Or the value of sticking what we have...

you are lucky in europe, you can take a relatively inexpensive flight to London or any other part of the UK, and do the comparison, and fly back the same day.

I would do this. 

Nap 252 is 9298,00 Euro, Nap 300 10.998 Euro now in Germany. Exchange rates are one thing, but with this price-level naim kicks themselves out of the market, i think. christoph

you can always buy second hand, ex-demo, olive (excellent value for money), or just enjoy what you already have... 

it is all about the music after all...

then who says that a black box has to be the next upgrade?

what about interconnects, speaker cables, a new source like the Chord Dacs, new speakers..

plenty of ways to improve the music for not a lot of money...

Well, whilst in some parts of the UK that is also the only way to get to a dealer and back in a day, that doesn't solve the problem of assessment in own system.  Next best is to take critical parts of your own system not stocked by the dealer to the audition (especially speakers if trying an amp) - which also isn't possible if having to fly.

well then you have to take a risk.... or just enjoy what you already have 

Naim has to make a choice - commit to overseas sales by providing support, or risk those sales diminishing disproportionately compared to UK if the exchange rate or import costs are significant factors. maybe doing something like  provide one or two selected dealers at least in each country with demo units at a lower cost on a sale or return basis, with the proviso that they be loaned to other dealers in said country when needed. I've no idea if that is practicable or even what the present model is as I know nothing about overseas sales models.

There are few consideration to do

Probably the S400 at launch were relatively underpriced.

Saturday i collected a new Fraim stack (base+ 2 medium levels) In a timeframe of less than 12 months

MRSP in Italy rose from 990 euro to 1200.

Particulary some items saw a ludicrous price hike this is partially due to our weak euro but Naim also played his part .

However there some evergreen items  like the 250DR that @ about 6000 euro  is still huge value for

money,  probably not so for his pre counterpart 282 @ 7200 whithout psu.

Just sold the latter at a fellow member here and spotted now  in Germany a nice 252 of 2012 vinatge with SC DR,  I think this country is probably at the moment  the best marketplace for pre owned items

Regards

Roberto

(slightly off topic)

I have to say, this is really ridiculous. Flying to Britain for a hifi listening session. Everybody is talking about "flying less" -- and than that...

This supposes that all other options sound "trivial". I don't think this is remotely the case. There are lots of good options and I would go for the brands that are supported locally. I have heard a few gorgeous sounding systems down the years. Most I couldn't have because the components were no longer available or out of reach for other reasons. It didn't stop me loving music or putting together the best systems I could afford and physically get my hands on at the time.

From about 1979 to 1989 I was focused on buying an LP12. I planned, dreamed and saved. Every time I got close to the asking price the price went up. I never got to the finish line. It didn't stop me listening to music and building great systems (at their respective price points).

Yet another comical comment analogmusic.........yawn

I'd think that's more of a Euro problem, not a Naim problem, at the moment.

Exactly right.

I find quite a few unwarranted nasty comments here, when Naim has done all that it could to cater to all budgets.

The Muso and NAC 272 being the most recent examples

even 25 + years ago, the 32.5/Hicap/250 was damn expensive, and Naim was never a mass market product.

Sure, i know. but naim can adjust it a little bit . i think for example car companies do so, otherwise their brand is out of reach for too many peoplel . To be honest, it is not my problem, i have the kit i have ever dreamed of, but i like naim and i don't like to see that more and more dealers reduce their stock or give up naim. i live in Dortmund where more than 5 mio people live nearby and it is not possible to see or hear a naim pre bigger than a 202.

Your comment on capitalism illustrates the point concisely - lots of alternatives to Naim. No need to be a brand slave.

I listened to all the alternatives I could get my ears on. Nothing beat the LP12 for me. Getting the best I could afford at a lower price point was already covered by my Rega Planar 3.

I never heard better than an LP12 at the higher price points and anything half way just seemed like spending money for the sake of a bit of water treading. I didn't see the point in blowing what I'd thus far saved on a compromise.Got to like what CDs could do if properly presented and bought a Marantz CD94 in the end. That sorted it. Still have the RP3 in the loft.

Just lacklustre and dull...............................................................

Well, at least the discussion got to three pages.

I still will keep my records, but I am not motivated to buy anymore....

The thing is that modern Vinyl is cut from digital masters, which have (much) inferior DAC than the Hugo. When I compare a digital mastered Vinyl with the Hugo, the Hugo sounds more analog than the vinyl.

Once the Chord DAVE is out, and Rob Watts invents ADC convertor as good as Hugo, you can well imagine that Digital will sound extremely good... I anticipate it could well make lots of people retire their expensive analog rigs on the second hand hi-fi market.

As for analog mastered Vinyl from first pressings, well grab those while you can  

Or possibly the Hugo is the most overrated bit of hifi ever 

The question is whether Naim products are overpriced or not - they may or may not be.

What I mean is that in lots of markets, 4,500€ is a lot of money for an integrated, and other manufacturers' prices haven't necessarily gone up by the same amount. With the euro/sterling parity as it is at the moment, amplifiers from the eurozone become much cheaper. OK, I know British hifi (English???) is best - I can hear some screaming - but if the price difference is too great, then some customers won't buy.

British! 

Scotland is still part of Britain (just)

I know, just teasing...and I for one am prepared to pay (a bit) more for the sound I like.