What are Naim best at?

As I have told already, I think that a Naim amp, in a different context, could be hard to tell from other good amps, and as for CD players I think that until CDS3/CD555 level their gear is not very different from other excellent CD players.

But their approach to loudspeaker design has been unique, and if you loved the results, a Naim loudspeaker could be actually irreplaceable – to me, for sure, they were: after four pairs of N-Sats, two of SBLs, one of Arivas, one of S-400s and experiments with Credos and Allaes. The same, in my opinion, for their approach to power supplying: the introduction of the DR technology has been a panacea for almost all of their range of equipment, and a marketing stroke of genius (in fact, after the DR came out who has been talking, or hearing, about 3rd party PSUs anymore?).

So, I tend to agree mostly with Chris and Richard Dane but I add, in strict alphabetical order:

Loudspeakers

Marketing

Power Supplies

(To me – strictly personal opinion – to dismiss Naim loudspeakers means not to have fully understood their approach to domestic sound reproduction)

M.

...making music come alive (from recorded media, of course).

BigH47 posted:

Yes.

Made me smile 

I would guess that B & W makes audio gear, but best at Speakers. I know Linn makes audio gear, I think some here are familiar with their TT's.

The LP 12 & B & W Speakers have stood the test of time, and are incorporated into some very fine Naim Systems. I don't know if the same could be said about IBL, NBL, SBL, DBL, and even the Ovators. I would suspect that for the most part, these iconic Speakers resides within Naim Systems.

Hence, I tend to agree with Richard, that Naim is best at making Music Systems, but to answer the question, I join into the Amp camp, although their CDP's aren't bad. 

I remember a while back, when Linn took care of the front and rear, with the LP 12 and Briks, while Naim took care of the electronics. 

So perhaps the Merger was a good thing, Naim can focus on the electronics, while Focal can focus on the Speakers.

 I think Naim is best at Amps ( Pre, PS, PA ), as Richard said a System of Amps/Electronics!

Allante93!

I think Naim are best at keeping our interest.  They offer so many different ways of delivering music, and at every price point. The upgrade paths offer many different choices to consider. It is truly a thinking person's approach to building, as Richard says, a complete audio system.

As proof, how many other audio manufacturers have such an active, passionate forum?

ATB.

Hook

About 10 years ago when I first saw Naim black boxes, I told my dealer these are crazy stuff, why need to spend such huge money for a small black box. There is no balance knob, treble & bass like some other brand. But today I owned them, and not only one black box!

Naim is simple but it rocks.. 

I have never known a company to have so many components for a system. 8 or 10 boxes at their price point is over the top. Not to mention their secondary upgrade market which must account for 1/2 the total sales.

I would say Naim's strength lies in how they leverage their combined know how of both electronic and mechanical design in their range of hifi products.

i agree with most of the excellent comments above. For me, products aside, I have always been most impressed with the company itself. Maybe because I spent my working life in government, I have always enjoyed reading about and dealing with well run companies. Naim seems to me to be a place where a profitable business has been built on the basis of an enjoyment  of music and an enjoyment of engineering both hardware and software. From its inception the company has done a great job of producing a desirable product while at the same time treating its employees and customers well.  How many support their products for as long or as well? The product while not inexpensive seems to be very fairly priced for an outfit paying first world wages, making products with first rate quality, and with great after sale service. For me, what they do best is follow a value system that makes for a successful and profitable company making great products while serving both its customers and its employees. I like the product and  I like doing business with people like that. 

Clay Bingham posted:

i agree with most of the excellent comments above. For me, products aside, I have always been most impressed with the company itself. Maybe because I spent my working life in government, I have always enjoyed reading about and dealing with well run companies. Naim seems to me to be a place where a profitable business has been built on the basis of an enjoyment  of music and an enjoyment of engineering both hardware and software. From its inception the company has done a great job of producing a desirable product while at the same time treating its employees and customers well.  How many support their products for as long or as well? The product while not inexpensive seems to be very fairly priced for an outfit paying first world wages, making products with first rate quality, and with great after sale service. For me, what they do best is follow a value system that makes for a successful and profitable company making great products while serving both its customers and its employees. I like the product and  I like doing business with people like that. 

 

Mmm.  Well quite.  Aside from the wonderful music they manage to record via their label activities, and then reproduce in my house with electronics, I have certainly become an admirer of Naim as a business.  There is not hint of 'oh, that'll do' in their approach to design, manufacturing, or customer care.  Beyond that, I really admire their marketing strategies.  Achieving significant mainstream press / media coverage with the Statement, almost presented as the most powerful, expensive, and best amplifier money can buy, and then unleashing their most affordable Muso products with a design that resembles the Statement, was a stroke of real genius in my view.  The Statement captured peoples' imagination, the Muso / Qb were probably the products many bought, or at least took seriously when stumbled on in JL or apple stores, as a result.  Nice!  That is of course not to suggest the Statement is simply a marketing tool, of course not, but nonetheless I feel it acted as one also.

I agree with Adam that Naim streamers should get a mention. To me they are up there with Naim amplifiers.

best

David

Also Sloop John B didn't have this category, but All in ones are another Naim strength.

best

David

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

Keeping us in their biodome.

That would be marketing. They are the Apple of the audio world.

SongStream posted:

Clay Bingham posted:

i agree with most of the excellent comments above. For me, products aside, I have always been most impressed with the company itself. Maybe because I spent my working life in government, I have always enjoyed reading about and dealing with well run companies. Naim seems to me to be a place where a profitable business has been built on the basis of an enjoyment  of music and an enjoyment of engineering both hardware and software. From its inception the company has done a great job of producing a desirable product while at the same time treating its employees and customers well.  How many support their products for as long or as well? The product while not inexpensive seems to be very fairly priced for an outfit paying first world wages, making products with first rate quality, and with great after sale service. For me, what they do best is follow a value system that makes for a successful and profitable company making great products while serving both its customers and its employees. I like the product and  I like doing business with people like that. 

 

Mmm.  Well quite.  Aside from the wonderful music they manage to record via their label activities, and then reproduce in my house with electronics, I have certainly become an admirer of Naim as a business.  There is not hint of 'oh, that'll do' in their approach to design, manufacturing, or customer care.  Beyond that, I really admire their marketing strategies.  Achieving significant mainstream press / media coverage with the Statement, almost presented as the most powerful, expensive, and best amplifier money can buy, and then unleashing their most affordable Muso products with a design that resembles the Statement, was a stroke of real genius in my view.  The Statement captured peoples' imagination, the Muso / Qb were probably the products many bought, or at least took seriously when stumbled on in JL or apple stores, as a result.  Nice!  That is of course not to suggest the Statement is simply a marketing tool, of course not, but nonetheless I feel it acted as one also.

Maybe but I got the impression the headphone outputs on their integrated amps were rather 'oh, that'll do' 

.. at making DR and colourful cubes, maybe ?  What does DR stand for, again ? 

Chag -

and... lot of mention of music - but Naim make components to reproduce great audio.. music is just too restrictive.. the space and feel of a drama, play or film on a Naim based system is really something to savour.. and concentration on the human voice is where we tend to really appreciate a quality replay system if it is to sound natural and real - its in our cognitive programming.

Sloop John B posted:

amplification?

speakers?

CD players?

DACs?

Streamers?

cables?

marketing?

phono stages?

 

 

 

 Certainly not speakers, I doubt they will ever make one again... My opinion is they are clearly the best at streamers, no one makes better streamers in my opinion, followed by power amps (although there are a lot of great power-amps out there). Combo wise I think what represents their best offering overall (In terms of value/performance) is the NAC-N 272 and NAP-250DR.  200 and 300 are both really solid amps too..

Giving me goose bumps, making me cry, making my heart beat faster when I listen to music through their amplification.  Sometimes making me check that I am really liistening to my tuner on a good radio station because it's that good.  Not sure about their streamers yet; I've not heard the NDS but I prefer other ways of feeding my amp than the other streamers I've heard, but I've not given up hope yet.

Well their DNA is their amps but generally they just have developed an expertise in audio electronics that is really quite unique.  Speakers? Same as anyone really - they work for some not others. 

They are/were the best with NAP 135s and CDS3

Iconoclast posted:

Jan-Erik Nordoen posted:

Keeping us in their biodome.

That would be marketing. They are the Apple of the audio world.

God forbid!

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

Tony2011 posted:

Amps without  a doubt. 

Yes, amps, CD players and arguably the now discontinued  NAT01

+1 (or +2 ?!)

What are Naim best at? .... understanding their customers!

For me, it has been the upgrade path, the ability to improve what you have in an incremental way without needing to effectively start again when you want to get to the next level.  I am not sure how many of us with the high-ish end systems would be prepared to write out a check for the full system in one go?  However, by installent, and with the occasional exchange, you can build up a system of exceptional quality.

What are Naim best at ?    Demanding a learning curve.