Atom plus speakers - my experiences to date. What are others using ?

You could try the Kudos X2 or even X3. I have the former and they sounded very good paired with the Atom. Mine are about 25-30cm from the rear wall, and they have a very decent bottom end. In fact for a 4mx5m room it's almost too much. But that will depend on your taste, obviously. Yes these are floor standers, but are very compact, compared to many others.

Cato,

Interesting write up. I too was impressed with the Neat Iota when I first heard them. If you like what the Iota are capable of then perhaps the bigger Iota Alpha would be worth auditioning - or the yet to be launched Alpha Explorer (which I'm very much looking forward to hearing). That is if you want floorstanders in the long term?

For me, getting an Atom was an excuse to bring my N-Sats out of hibernation, and I’m pretty pleased with the results, although I haven’t bothered to consider any alternative speakers. I might try it with my X2s just out of curiosity. 

With a budget of up to £3,000 I wonder if you’d be better changing to a Nova. That with the Tablette 10 or SCM 7 is likely to be far more satisfying than £3,000 speakers underdriven by an Atom. 

Many thanks for all the suggestions above. Agree that an upgrade to a Nova kind of makes sense but very happy with the little atom and its small and discreet footprint etc. Rather investigate easier to drive speakers at first at least and stay clear of the ATCs of this world for now -

Also, although my budget could be up to 3K, I'm not dead set of spending that..so if a good suggestion around 1K comes up and sounds good then all the better - synergy and balance as always are key - part of the thinking behind getting the Atom was simplicity and reduce box count. I have previously owned a huge amount of what would be considered high-end kit such as ARC, BAT, Rowland, Verity, Cary, ML etc etc and got bored with the merry go round and found other uses for the money...

I know someone with 30 years of high-end box swapping behind him who uses the Atom with the smallest Raidhos at 6k... too rich for me... but did set me thinking...and will def look at the Kudos range

Very nice thread and subject. The guys pretty Much covered all basis 

the alpha worth exploring if you like iota. Never heard about the explorer but will check 

i invite you to try adding a sub to the iota...this combination may be all you need without blowing the budget. Like you, I love the iota and was disappointed by the alpha when I heard them with old uniti..but not with atom so this comment to be taken into context...

My first experience of the Atom was at a show where they were driving a pair of budget Dynaudio speakers, I think they were called M20s. It was a really fun, engaging sound, and made the Nova driving a pair of Focal floorstanders sound dull, flat and lifeless. 

@crabby - yes agree that a sub, or even two smaller ones, is definitely worth exploring

@chrissu - that is the essence of my thinking and interesting re the small Dyns. Many of the Dyns were, historically at least, quite hard to drive and wanted current but I have been told the more recent offerings offer a more benign load. After all, the Atom does have some drive to it and I can see it punching well above its weight with the right load. Also, agree that simply buying a Nova is no guarantee of a more satisfying experience, just more money and bulk

A few I listemend to - Totem Sky, Rega RX1, KEF LS50 and PMC Twenty5.21 and 22 as well as the Dynaudio M20.

I liked the PMCs very much (bought the .21 as they fitted my domestic requirements better than the 22. 22 is more detailed with a bit more bass extension, but I found the 21s more 'fun'.  The Skys were again very good, but different to the PMC - very much an "alive" sound.  KEFs were as expected, though a bit "rougher" than the PMCs and Totem.  I found the Regas disapointing, but they weren't run in so I discounted them.

ChrisSU posted:

My first experience of the Atom was at a show where they were driving a pair of budget Dynaudio speakers, I think they were called M20s. It was a really fun, engaging sound, and made the Nova driving a pair of Focal floorstanders sound dull, flat and lifeless. 

Chris - Good call. I'd forgotten about the Dynaudio Emit M20. I heard them at the Chester Acoustica show with the Atom. That system presented one of the best sounding rooms I heard that day. Crazily good for the money. But, the only problem (for my needs) being they need space around them. I asked the Dynaudio rep room if they were willing to experiment with speaker position, who kindly placed them near-ish the back wall and they then boomed somewhat, and the soundstage closed in. But, if space is no issue, they are well worth an audition - or perhaps other Dynaudio boxes higher up the food chain.

Cato. May be of interest - in this weeks Hi-Fi+ email bulletin there was a link to a (very) favourable Iota Alpha review by Alan Sircom. May be worth a google!

I started Atom and did think for a moment best to improve my basic Focal speakers, but the Nova blew it all away.

Source first for sure.

Try Neat Iota Alphas. I have a similar sized room but went for the Uniti  Star rather than the Atom to add the cd and ripping function. I auditioned several floor mount speakers including SX2. I thought the Alphas were clearer and more precise and suit the room. They also achieved the wife’s approval being discrete and floor mounted. Combination works with all types of music. I am delighted with the system.

Thanks all - agree that the Iota Alphas look interesting; ditto the Totem Sky.

I heard the Mites and Dreamcatchers with a UQ2 some years ago and thought the Dreamcatchers in particular were a good match

Audiovector in Denmark used to distribute Naim and seemingly work very well too; but difficult to get an audition as few dealers

Hi Everyone, I am new on this site & trying to figure out how to post a question. Im in the us and about to get a Nova,  I have a pair of B & W CM 6 S2s that I plan to use with the Nova. Question 1. Would the CM6s be a good fit with Nova in  generaI ?  Thank you ! 

Interesting question, the Nova will have no problem in driving your speakers. Assuming you like them already, it should be OK, however if you are buying to get more pace, rythmn and timing....... they may be the problem.

Thaanks for replying to my question gazza. Could you please elaborate a little on your answer.

The CM6s are just all I have right now . I am just starting to build a new system piece-by-piece and intend on using the Nova as its core. So maybe in a year or 2  I will maybe think about  upgrading speakers if I can find the right match, maybe sooner if I found a good deal. Do you have any suggestions on the right speaker fit for with the Nova ?

I listen to a wide variety of musics, so it would have to able to handle rock the same way it would be able to handle acoustic, classical, jazz etc. Thanks again

O K I was starting from scratch, I bought a Muso, after retiring, and  got the Naim bug again. I bought the Core to handle my cd collection, it’s now a fine product for me, still has issues for those with classical collections. Various things happened withneighbours of my age dying, so I decided to build a new hifi system. Spend the money while alive.

I heard the Nova several times with different speakers, and decided it was a great one box streamer, and it really is. I have heard it with Russell k 120, 150,s,  Kudos Super 20, Focal Sopra N1, and PMC 25.26. I bought the PMC speakers. But speakers are very personal and needcareful auditioning,they all had their good points....butPMC for me? 

My preference is rock, folk etc not classical .

Not in reference to the Nova above but heard the Graham/Chartwell ls3/5 with the Atom at a dealer’s today. Sounded pretty damn good to my ears anyway - wonderful vocals, a surprisingly solid and meaty sound even if clearly limited in the lower octaves. Disappeared completely as one would expect, just leaving a big and airy soundstage.

Definitely the best I’ve heard the Atom sound to date and high on my list

Thank you both for your replys, im gather information so it's a big help !

Gazza, I see you have the basically close to the system I am starting with the Nova & Core. Also, you listen to similar music Rock & Folk. So, I was wondering with the core did you have any problems with importing your rock & folk cds & the metadata, or any other problems with the core  that you can share ?

Ii have read some of the problems people were having and it made me a little hesitant to make the jump af first, but I know I have to get one. Thanks

Cato posted:

Audiovector in Denmark used to distribute Naim and seemingly work very well too; but difficult to get an audition as few dealers

The new q3 could be a very interesting match for the Unitie range. You get the AMT tweeter in a speaker costing much less than you have to pay in the s3 series, and you cannot upgrade the q3, unlike the 3 and 6 series speakers, so a nice system it is almost impossible to upgrade if this is what you are after.

Claus  

I'm very happy with my Totem Tribe In-Walls (£2000 a pair) which are installed either side of my plasma screen TV.  There are a handful of Tribe On-Wall options.

I have read on this site that with Naim amps music performance is not enhanced when speakers are run bi-wired ? Is there any truth to this ? Or if it is true, why is it ? And has anyone here run there speakers bi-wired though a Nova ? or any other Naim amp ?  Thanks 

Gazza posted:

Interesting question, the Nova will have no problem in driving your speakers. Assuming you like them already, it should be OK, however if you are buying to get more pace, rythmn and timing....... they may be the problem.

Hi Gazza, The other day you mentioned in your response to my question that with the B&W CM6 S2s that with the Nova if I was buying  hopeing to get more pace, rhythm and timing out of the 6s they may be the problem ? Would you elaborate on that a little more for me please I'm a bit new to this, so I am just trying to learn. Thank you