Ipswich Trip-switch! Audio Show East

Who got the night out with Donald Trump, Alastair? Poor sod.

John.

kevin J Carden posted:

<<SNIP>>

Sorry that I didn't get to meet/identify all of you, but greatly enjoyed meeting TonyM and Nick from Suffolk and the phenomenon that is Phil Harris. Thanks Phil for your generosity of time, insight and bonhomie. Very much appreciated. Super show Alastair.

I'm not sure I've ever been referred to as a "phenomenon" before ...

I have to say it was great to be able to talk through so many things with you and not be rushed - I really enjoyed it. Apparently I like to be able to waffle.

Phil

Foot tapper posted:

<<SNIP>>

Next, the new Uniti Nova playing through £7k of the new Focal speakers (an acquired aesthetic taste).  Still, Phil was revelling in the bass torture track that he so loves playing at 250dBA or louder.  I rather enjoyed it too, if only in small bursts.  What that anti-social drum & bass demo did do was to show just how very capable indeed the new Uniti Nova really is.  Yes, I'm a fan.

<<SNIP>>

*chuckle*

Ahhh yes ... the audio equivalent of a sorbet to cleanse the palate... (...or perhaps more of an audio enema?)

However I would point out that Deadmau5's "Sofi needs a ladder" isn't "Drum and Bass" - and the Yello sounded pretty good too.

Phil

nigelb posted:

<<SNIP>>

Phil towards the end was turning the wick up on the Nova which was huge fun and what an amazing bit of kit considering everything is squeezed into one box.

<<SNIP>>

... hmmm ... people will start thinking I'm a bit of a psycho! 

nigelb posted:

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My only regret is I didn't get to meet any forumites.

Maybe we can arrange some kind of unofficial AA-type meeting for the forum-aflicted...

Phil

J.N. posted:

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Not quite sure what to make of the Naim 'minimalist' room in contrast to showing off the big stuff in the past. A sign of the times and the evolving market I suppose.

<<SNIP>>

Conscious decision on our part ... we often get levelled at us that we turn up with a huge stack of kit that has external PSUs and "just isn't practical for people that live in the real world" (and the Kudos guys had a huge Naim setup there anyway) so we wanted to show something that was almost jarringly simple - one (good) box driving a (good) pair of speakers with a good speaker cable ... not a length of SuperLumina in sight - and we feel that the results were pretty spectacular.

I must apologise to Tom from PMC who popped in and gestured at me to turn it down in one of my bursts of (over?) exuberance but a fun time was had by all of us and from our perspective it's amazing that dealers like Alastair will put in the huge effort to arrange things like this so thanks to everyone that turned up and thanks to Signals for making the huge effort to make it all happen ... every year Alastair has arranged this he ends up so stressed out as we're seting up the day before but on the day his organisation just shines through!

Phil

Stressed, Phil? Me?  

I think this year it was more sleep deprivation anyway. Despite set-up in the main building not being possible until around 18:00 hours Thursday, the whole process resembled clockwork. Naim's decision to run with the Dansette made a great deal of sense

The heaviest job had always been moving, erecting and hanging the curtain gantries in all the listening rooms. We had a small but spectacularly hard working group, including two customers, who threw themselves at this task, both at start and finish. Big thanks!!!

With the nights drawing in, the show ran out of steam a little earlier than usual on the rather gloomy Saturday and we achieved a record clear out too of everything and everyone off site by 20:30. And a lot far earlier than that. 

We were keen to back off on the usual arms race of huge systems too. Not only is this easier to set up but it is far more attainable for the vast majority who come along. Want to hear the really serious stuff? We can do that better at St Cecilia's anyway. Besides, a 552 / active 300 system is hardy modest!

Not to dis all the effort involved (i wasn’t even there) but what would be really interesting, and a lot more topical than a 80s era passive vs active would be:

CDP vs. Local Streaming vs Internet Streaming:

16/44.1 vs 24/196 file streaming

16/44.1 vs 24/196 upsampled replay

Ethernet vs WiFi 

PC vs dedicated Audio Server

Blackmorec posted:

Not to dis all the effort involved (i wasn’t even there) but what would be really interesting, and a lot more topical than a 80s era passive vs active would be:

CDP vs. Local Streaming vs Internet Streaming:

16/44.1 vs 24/196 file streaming

16/44.1 vs 24/196 upsampled replay

Ethernet vs WiFi 

PC vs dedicated Audio Server

Well maybe but I don’t see why active vs passive isn’t topical.  

Was a great event, thanks to all for the organising and the unhurried demos. Have to say that was one of the most enjoyable events I’ve been to. Just next year please have something other than chilli for lunch! 

Considering the time allowed to set up, the ethernet, WiFi comparison is totally out of control of Signals and the hifi manufacturers. This may also be a problem for the streaming comparisons, and I think the forum has discussed at length.......it’s our own network is great or not?

But certainly sampling rates, pc versus server could be doable, it is probably who is in the business of selling such gear.

I would like a lull in preceedings with a get together with a knowledgeable person like a Richard Dane hosting a Q&A with manufacturers and the guests on the day. Even on a day out we probably need a Richard to control us.........just a thought.

Gazza, thanks for the sentiments but unless it's about either Naim history, lp, tape or perhaps even CD then I'm going to be a bit short on answers.  

More a master of ceremonies with the OEM ,s fielding the questions, but with your knowledge could place the question in the right hands, nothing too confrontational, plenty of bonhomie was what I saw between all involved at Audio Show East.

Phil Harris posted:

J.N. posted:

<<SNIP>

Not quite sure what to make of the Naim 'minimalist' room in contrast to showing off the big stuff in the past. A sign of the times and the evolving market I suppose.

<<SNIP>>

Conscious decision on our part ... we often get levelled at us that we turn up with a huge stack of kit that has external PSUs and "just isn't practical for people that live in the real world" (and the Kudos guys had a huge Naim setup there anyway) so we wanted to show something that was almost jarringly simple - one (good) box driving a (good) pair of speakers with a good speaker cable ... not a length of SuperLumina in sight - and we feel that the results were pretty spectacular.

I must apologise to Tom from PMC who popped in and gestured at me to turn it down in one of my bursts of (over?) exuberance but a fun time was had by all of us and from our perspective it's amazing that dealers like Alastair will put in the huge effort to arrange things like this so thanks to everyone that turned up and thanks to Signals for making the huge effort to make it all happen ... every year Alastair has arranged this he ends up so stressed out as we're seting up the day before but on the day his organisation just shines through!

Phil

Thanks for the explanation Phil. Good to chat at the show. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

John.

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Blackmorec posted:

Not to dis all the effort involved (i wasn’t even there) but what would be really interesting, and a lot more topical than a 80s era passive vs active would be:

CDP vs. Local Streaming vs Internet Streaming:

16/44.1 vs 24/196 file streaming

16/44.1 vs 24/196 upsampled replay

Ethernet vs WiFi 

PC vs dedicated Audio Server

Well maybe but I don’t see why active vs passive isn’t topical.  

Topical:  Current, up to the minute, relevant, contemporary

Active vs passive amplification is something going back to the 80s. I had an active Naim system in the early 80s. The recent demo was basically comparing what I had back then with the passive system I’d upgraded from. Not topical at all. 

What is topical would be active speakers driven by a streamer/pr-amp/DAC or an all-in-one box....just add speaker cables....with the emphasis on Digital streaming and simplicity (box, speaker cables, speakers).  The pictures of the demo showed exactly what I had 35 years ago, a dozen or so Naim boxes arranged in towering racks. 

Well yes - perhaps Naim’s speaker partner have something in mind.   Perhaps not if it would undermine the demand for the NAPs?

Blackmorec posted:

...What is topical would be active speakers driven by a streamer/pr-amp/DAC or an all-in-one box....just add speaker cables....with the emphasis on Digital streaming and simplicity (box, speaker cables, speakers).  The pictures of the demo showed exactly what I had 35 years ago, a dozen or so Naim boxes arranged in towering racks. 

Funnily enough Naim do make something like this - Simple and straightforward, all-in-one, incorporating a streamer, pre-amp, active power amps, actively driven drive units;  It's called the Mu-So.  

Richard Dane posted:

Blackmorec posted:

...What is topical would be active speakers driven by a streamer/pr-amp/DAC or an all-in-one box....just add speaker cables....with the emphasis on Digital streaming and simplicity (box, speaker cables, speakers).  The pictures of the demo showed exactly what I had 35 years ago, a dozen or so Naim boxes arranged in towering racks. 

Funnily enough Naim do make something like this - Simple and straightforward, all-in-one, incorporating a streamer, pre-amp, active power amps, actively driven drive units;  It's called the Mu-So.  

Hi Richard,

Actually I think he's more meaning a "just add speaker cables and speakers" system which - erm - is exactly what we had in the Naim room and, as some other posters have mentioned, that system was more than capable of getting down and boogieing when the evil little devil on my shoulder got the upper hand.

Phil

I know Phil, my point (somewhat lost perhaps) is that Naim do still make active speakers. And they also comply with the wishes for simplicity and "all in one".

I'll get my coat...

Blackmorec posted:

Topical:  Current, up to the minute, relevant, contemporary

Active vs passive amplification is something going back to the 80s. I had an active Naim system in the early 80s. The recent demo was basically comparing what I had back then with the passive system I’d upgraded from. Not topical at all. 

What is topical would be active speakers driven by a streamer/pr-amp/DAC or an all-in-one box....just add speaker cables....with the emphasis on Digital streaming and simplicity (box, speaker cables, speakers).  The pictures of the demo showed exactly what I had 35 years ago, a dozen or so Naim boxes arranged in towering racks. 

Hi,

So perhaps just not relevant for your needs then rather than not topical overall?

Remember this was A.N.Other manufacturer (not Naim) showing their speakers running passive and active rather than us (Naim) demoing passive v active ... I think a number of people found the demonstration quite enlightning and isn't it good to be able to experience differences and changes in a real-world scenario where something can be shown as making a tangiable difference?

We were doing a Nova into Kanta N2's using good-old NACA5 which should cover your "an all-in-one box....just add speaker cables....with the emphasis on Digital streaming and simplicity (box, speaker cables, speakers)" I thnk?

Cheers

Phil

Richard Dane posted:

I know Phil, my point (somewhat lost perhaps) is that Naim do still make active speakers. And they also comply with the wishes for simplicity and "all in one".

I'll get my coat...

It is raining outside - wouldn't want you to catch a chill!

P

It's not rainy in sunny(ish) Kent at the moment.  Time to walk the dog before it starts...

J.N. posted:

Thanks for the explanation Phil. Good to chat at the show. Your enthusiasm is infectious.

John.

A somewhat appropriate choice of words there!

I suspect I was somewhat "off-par" as whilst driving the van up on Thursday I went from "normal" (well, as normal as I get) to being pretty much dead on my feet with a most spiteful cold but I'd been looking forward to this event for seveal months and so I was determined not to end up missing it so I apologise if I was snuffling and sniffing.

As for enthusiasm ... at the end of the day, if you don't love it then you shouldn't be working in it - the ten years I've been here at Naim working in the "HiFi biz" have been the most amazing time of my working life. I've met some of my "HiFi Heroes" from old (Richard Lord, Max Townsend etc.) and some incredible dealers as well as working with people so clever they make your head hurt.

Phil