ovators (S-400, 600, 800) production stopped

Massimo Bertola posted:

if I will stay with my system for some time, now, it will be due to tiredness, wear: the exhaustion of any further will to mess with boxes, placements, moves, cables, couriers, experiments...

 

It's good to quit the upgrade path at some point. It's just too bad that it happened par usure.

Well, it would be worse if it happened for exhaustion of money... Because the Upgrade Path (that, in my case, was more a Labyrinth) has no end, and can't be quitted serenely, just like any other form of addiction. I am sure that those who stop at 500 series are happy with it because they do not want to, or cannot, reach Statement level; and that if they reached Statement level, after a while they would start wondering if Naim would be able to do something even better...

Believe me, usure is a safe thing sometimes.

Best

M

Naim have tried several times to produce speakers and IMHO have failed in terms of sound quality, with only two exceptions - the NBL and the DBL.

Commercially, I have no idea, but rather suspect that a few might have covered their R&D costs and been sold for a higher price than production. OTOH I suspect most have incurred an overall loss. But as I say, I have no idea.

I wasn't impressed with the pre-production Ovator S600 and I didn't consider the production versions completely overcame the pre-production deficiencies.

When Naim went quiet on plans for an S200 and a possible S1000 I felt the writing was on the wall for the entire range.

Best to rely on a good dealer and your own ears when choosing speakers rather than presuming that an "all Naim" system is "by definition" the best.

Naim and Focal might be able to produce a good combination and might claim that it is their "desired" sound. Whether this is "your" desired sound (or mine !) is another thing.

Don Atkinson posted:

When Naim went quiet on plans for an S200 and a possible S1000 I felt the writing was on the wall for the entire range.

Did anyone from Naim ever say anthing publicly about a possible S200 or S1000?

C.

Not that it matters Don, the speaker game's over.

C.

Christopher_M posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

When Naim went quiet on plans for an S200 and a possible S1000 I felt the writing was on the wall for the entire range.

Did anyone from Naim ever say anthing publicly about a possible S200 or S1000?

C.

I'm not 100% certain. ISTR that there was talk of five speakers in the Ovator range with the mid-range (S600) first off the blocks.

This sort of implied an S400 and S200 lower down and an S800 and S1000 above. But this could have been hear-say or just my imagination.

The Hoopla search engine isn't my favourite tool, but who knows......it might yield some historical insight ?

Well, a quick search on S200 and S1000 throws up a few posts including one by Jon Honeyball in 2011 referring to an interview with Paul Stevens who confirms that both an S200 and S800 ore on the cards.

I haven't found a reference to an S1000 yet.

Don,  please, let's not sweat it . Even if the economic circumstances were right back then, they're not right, now. And seemingly, never will be.

C.

Don is right - the 600 was the middle speaker of a five speaker range. Or not. 

the speaker game's over

Odd thought, given that the Vervent Group comprise Focal and Naim (et alia). Always felt they should have been re-branded 'Faim'. The speaker Naims' over, perchance, but the brand plays on.

Don Atkinson posted:

Naim have tried several times to produce speakers and IMHO have failed in terms of sound quality, with only two exceptions - the NBL and the DBL.

 

The Allaes are great also! I have heard the S400 performing well. The S600 were not to my likings and the big Neats were better. 

The first practical effect of this thread is, on a German 2nd hand audio site a pair of n-Stas have popped up at almost 2 x their usual – and sensible – price. So let's go on, until we'll have created a stellar market for the famous loudspeakers that were dismissed because they didn't sell...

Robiwan posted:

Don Atkinson posted:

Naim have tried several times to produce speakers and IMHO have failed in terms of sound quality, with only two exceptions - the NBL and the DBL.

The Allaes are great also! I have heard the S400 performing well. The S600 were not to my likings and the big Neats were better. 

I've heard the Credos and S400s sounding superb in the right situation. The S600s less so, but that was probably much to do with room interaction. To me, Naim's speaker success is more about appealing to a boutique market than getting things right or wrong. Once you effectively limit your speaker sales to current owners of Naim gear the market is drastically reduced.

My Credo's sound excellent on the end of my Si system and i have no reason to ever change them, even after 20 years of ownership.  I will be gutted when the crossovers pack up, absolutely gutted.

If i were to search for a new speaker i will probably go down the Neat, Rega route.

Sorry but as far as i'm concerned FOCAL have Hi-jacked my favourite Speaker company.

Regards.

Massimo Bertola posted:

The first practical effect of this thread is, on a German 2nd hand audio site a pair of n-Stas have popped up at almost 2 x their usual – and sensible – price. So let's go on, until we'll have created a stellar market for the famous loudspeakers that were dismissed because they didn't sell...

 

Morning Max,

Please see the first reply on p1 of this thread  :-)))

Best, Chris

Stephen Tate posted:

I will be gutted when the [Credo] crossovers pack up, absolutely gutted.

 

No need, Stephen.

I had my one-time IBL crossovers done locally. Easy.

Cheers, Chris

Evening Chris,

yes I had seen it... But is it beginning to happen already?

Max

Can't be long now  :-))

C.

What a scoop, 220 replies 2/28/16

Any information on Active Speakers:

Focal/Naim. Joint Venture??????

Whilst I've loved my S-400's and have aspired to S-600's after hearing them several times the announcement to stop production prompted me to defer my proposed amp upgrade (250.2 to 300DR) and purchase a pair of S-600's.  They arrived last Friday in the special moondust finish which were the last pair in stock from my dealer.  They have integrated with my system into my room beyond expectation - simply superb.  The replay has larger scale and even more detail, but quite luscious with it so I'm very happy.  No doubt more to come as they run in, I recall the S-400's took quite some time.

Naturally am still keen to get the 300DR when finances allow, in meantime anybody got views to share on this upgrade with the S-600's?

Thanks

Hutch

Hutch posted:

Whilst I've loved my S-400's and have aspired to S-600's after hearing them several times the announcement to stop production prompted me to defer my proposed amp upgrade (250.2 to 300DR) and purchase a pair of S-600's.  They arrived last Friday in the special moondust finish which were the last pair in stock from my dealer.  They have integrated with my system into my room beyond expectation - simply superb.  The replay has larger scale and even more detail, but quite luscious with it so I'm very happy.  No doubt more to come as they run in, I recall the S-400's took quite some time.

Naturally am still keen to get the 300DR when finances allow, in meantime anybody got views to share on this upgrade with the S-600's?

Thanks

Hutch

Any chance of a photo.. Would like to see what moondust finish looks like.

Hutch posted:

Whilst I've loved my S-400's and have aspired to S-600's after hearing them several times the announcement to stop production prompted me to defer my proposed amp upgrade (250.2 to 300DR) and purchase a pair of S-600's.  They arrived last Friday in the special moondust finish which were the last pair in stock from my dealer.  They have integrated with my system into my room beyond expectation - simply superb.  The replay has larger scale and even more detail, but quite luscious with it so I'm very happy.  No doubt more to come as they run in, I recall the S-400's took quite some time.

Naturally am still keen to get the 300DR when finances allow, in meantime anybody got views to share on this upgrade with the S-600's?

Thanks

Hutch

Hutch,

my wife has seen your avatar and says please send us your dog immediately...

:-)

M

Just given my s400's a big kick up the @rse by adding 300dr. They sounded great to my ears direct from a Superuniti but I now realise these things must have been developed with better amplification in mind. 

It's a real shame a smaller version wasn't developed to compliment the amps and uniti's further down the range. 

Hutch posted:

Whilst I've loved my S-400's and have aspired to S-600's after hearing them several times the announcement to stop production prompted me to defer my proposed amp upgrade (250.2 to 300DR) and purchase a pair of S-600's.  They arrived last Friday in the special moondust finish which were the last pair in stock from my dealer.  They have integrated with my system into my room beyond expectation - simply superb.  The replay has larger scale and even more detail, but quite luscious with it so I'm very happy.  No doubt more to come as they run in, I recall the S-400's took quite some time.

Naturally am still keen to get the 300DR when finances allow, in meantime anybody got views to share on this upgrade with the S-600's?

Thanks

Hutch

Hi Hutch

just to be sure: do you drive your 600s with a 250-DR now with satisfying results?

Thanks!

Klaus

TOBYJUG posted:

Hutch posted:

Whilst I've loved my S-400's and have aspired to S-600's after hearing them several times the announcement to stop production prompted me to defer my proposed amp upgrade (250.2 to 300DR) and purchase a pair of S-600's.  They arrived last Friday in the special moondust finish which were the last pair in stock from my dealer.  They have integrated with my system into my room beyond expectation - simply superb.  The replay has larger scale and even more detail, but quite luscious with it so I'm very happy.  No doubt more to come as they run in, I recall the S-400's took quite some time.

Naturally am still keen to get the 300DR when finances allow, in meantime anybody got views to share on this upgrade with the S-600's?

Thanks

Hutch

Any chance of a photo.. Would like to see what moondust finish looks like.

Moondust finish is gloss black with silver metallic specks and in my opinion quite spectacular, sorry am not yet conversant with posting pic's.

Regards

Hutch