If you couldn't choose Naim, what brands would you shortlist for a system?
Posted by: feeling_zen on 10 August 2018
Living in a country where there is no Naim distributor for anything other than Muso and faced with a massive struggle to get Naim equipment, I've obviously voted for my sound of choice by the fact I go to the trouble. But this got me thinking, suppose Naim didn't exist, what brands would you shortlist to build a hifi?
I think the question could be a bit of fun and informative as it may introduce people to things they had never heard of and it may be a question that gets asked for second systems.
The rules are simple:
1. You don't have to have heard any components from the brand, just predisposed to shortlist it.
2. No long lists. 4 max.
3. You can have two lists. One for entry level and one for high-end if you like.
4. If you like, share why you would be predisposed to shortlist this for a possible system.
5. Electronics only. The forum gets plenty of speaker discussion already.
I'll go first to get it rolling.
Budget System
NAD, TEAC, Denon
Always a soft spot for NAD and felt since forever that they were like "budget Naim" in their design philosophy. And they sound good too. Ditto for Denon and sound quality. Curios about the TEAC due to some seriously robust no nonsense engineering. In fact, If I was going to add CD to an existing main Naim system, I'd probably do so by just getting a $500 TEAC transport and hooking it up to my NDX. At the budget end, I don't really take any issue with the sound quality of Japanese hifi. Only the latter 2 brands are actually available in my country.
Main System
Bryston, Esoteric, Linn
Only heard the Linn and while not favoured over Naim at all, I still think it sounds damn fine. I had a source to speakers Linn system before and could easily see myself with their electronics if Naim was not an option. The other two are a curiosity. Bryston seems to have a different philosophy to Naim but similar in terms of their belief in over engineered power supplies and analogue preamps. Esoteric are an oddball. Hi-end TEAC label with some similarly serious engineering credentials. While they don't go for 2 box sources like Naim via power supplies, their external (and crazy expensive) digital master clock add on for their digital sources is an intrigue. Again, only the latter 2 brands are actually available in my country.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by feeling_zen
Yamaha - No experience, but curious - rightly or wrongly, I have this impression that some musicians (as featured in system showcases in some Hi-Fi comics of the past) often seemed to use their products.
Tis true. Yamaha run most of the music schools in Japan so instruments and equipment is also Yamaha.
And I've been to Yamaha concert hall in Ginza a few times to hear pianists. I've certainly had several of their AV amps before. At one stage, my main system was all Yamaha electronics. For whatever reason my liking for them has cooled. Might be because it sounded naff.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Clemenza
If I didn't like Naim so much I'd probably be back on the merry-go-round of trying things. Bryston, Luxman, Accuphase, Marantz, Lavardin, Cyrus, Sugden, Exposure, Rega, Yamaha, McIntosh, Primare and ATC would all get a look and probably dozens more 
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by JanÅ
Lejonklou! Combining Naim and Linn sound
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by spurrier sucks
Octave, Pass Labs, Accuphase, Aavik
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Kevin-W
Linn, Marantz or Audionote. Maybe some vintage 70s Japanese kit too.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Foot tapper
Sim Audio Moon and Vitus.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by French Rooster
i want to stay with a naim source, but for electronics, i am going towards all ear yoshino. Prat, urgency too, but also tubes magic that solid states can’t offer. The tones of instruments and voices seem more real to me.
I am interested also by ch precision, aevik and lamm . But prices are very high.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Clive B
I think I'd probably take up pottery.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by christoph
Kondo 
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by notnaim man
EAR, Marantz, Nytech, Pass
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Drewy
Vitus or Chord interest me. Also like Rega as a company.
Spoke to Vitus dealer once as I purchased a 555ps off him and crikey did he ever chew my ear off how I should be buying Vitus and not wasting my money on Naim.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Simon-in-Suffolk
Yamaha - No experience, but curious - rightly or wrongly, I have this impression that some musicians (as featured in system showcases in some Hi-Fi comics of the past) often seemed to use their products.
Tis true. Yamaha run most of the music schools in Japan so instruments and equipment is also Yamaha.
And I've been to Yamaha concert hall in Ginza a few times to hear pianists. I've certainly had several of their AV amps before. At one stage, my main system was all Yamaha electronics. For whatever reason my liking for them has cooled. Might be because it sounded naff.
Yamaha used to make some stonkingly good cassette players.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Hmack
I don't really qualify because I no longer have any Naim electronics (with the exception of a Qb) in any of my systems. However, as someone who currently has Linn, Lindemann, Krell and Chord electronics in my main systems, I would probably be looking at the following brands if forced to change:
Money no object (but excluding the impossibly expensive in the 'Statement' territory): Vitus, Gryphon, MBL, D'Agostino (but only if I were to win the lottery)
(Slightly) More sensible: Simaudio Moon, Naim, Chord, Burmeister
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by TOBYJUG
Obviously no one here has ever heard a Karan amp set up then. Although just amps and no source.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by seakayaker
McIntosh, Marantz, Chord, Rega.
No particular reason, just a blend of companies that are old (around in my youth) and new (and came along middle age or after) and all have components that I would not mind owning.........
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Huge
Very strict budget: Denon DM38 to DM41 (I've never heard anything come close at the price)
A bit more funding would allow for NAD to also be considered.
Mainstream: Exposure, but I'd also listen to Rega, Cyrus & Sugden.
Higher budgets open the door to so many brands that I'm not even going to try to list them!
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Huge
I think I'd probably take up pottery.
Whilst riding a Daliesque giraffe perhaps?
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Tabby cat
I am Like HMACK I don't really qualify as I don't use Naim amp's in any of my systems,although I do love my NAT 01 tuner as a FM source.Have had a Dartzeel NHB 108 poweramp the last 6 years and it's seriously good.It sounds more like a really good valve poweramp with incredible sound stage and transient's so would probably get a Dartzeel NHB 18 NS preamp as their synergy is supposed to be a match made in heaven.If not the new Nagra HD monoblocks as I all ready use a Nagra PLL valve preamp.
Other brands if cost no object Audio Research - Audionote - Vitus - DNM - Conrad Johnson especially the GAT preamp
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by cat345
If money was no object it would be all FM Acoustics.
Otherwise, a cute little Leben CS-300F would sometimes replace my Nait2 depending on the music I want to play or for headphone listening.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Antonio1
FM acoustics here too, though any from the other Swiss excellence i.e GOldmund, Soulution, , would be very welcome.
Pass too
leben as for low cost tube amps and maybe ear.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by SamClaus
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Frank Yang
Either Naim or nothing.
Maybe if absolutely no Naim at all, Apple HomePod for conveniences.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Calum Ferguson
To answer the question, Krell, 500hp V8 Corvette of a hi-fi
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Mike Hughes
If I couldn't have Naim... Well, I really enjoyed my old C-J amps so I could probably happily live with that. My time with Audio Research was less successful though, although I guess I'd have to give the more recent kit a fair shot. Otherwise EAR would probably get a look in. And I would go and take a good listen to what else is out there, but otherwise I might just be happy having my ex Peter Sellers Quad system serviced and updated and just live with that.
Then again, I might just stick with a Pono and a pair of HD600 headphones...
I never knew anyone had a Pono.
First Watt, Border Patrol, Pass, Devialet. Definitely not Linn.
Posted on: 11 August 2018 by analogmusic
Source first for me
Audioquest dragonfly red with good headphones
Chord mojo.... Chord Hugo 2... Chord Dave
Vertere interconnects
Rega amplifier....
Or wait for Rob Watts digital amplifiers....
