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 Bert Schurink

Frank Yang posted:
Either Naim or nothing.
Maybe if absolutely no Naim at all, Apple HomePod for conveniences.

The marketing department will sent you a ND555....

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Gazza

Richard Dane posted:
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...

The forum should some how in the nicest possible way....pin you down to take us through your HiFi journey. Not sure how, but Richard you seem to have touched on a few decades of Hifi gems and the knowledge that goes with this.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by SteveJansen

TOBYJUG posted:
Obviously no one here has ever heard a Karan amp set up then. Although just amps and no source.

I haven't seen one in Kiwiland, but really like the styling and would love to listen, if ever given the chance.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Mulberry

For a tiny budget: Tivoli

What I would buy: EInstein, Exposure or Leben

If I win the Lottery: Neodio or perhaps Rowland

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by benjy

Conrad johnson or vac, rega, raidho or magico. - except for rega ,practically impossible to find anywhere!

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by analogmusic

Away from home.... just an audio quest dragon fly red and the basic 10 dollar sennheiser IEM....

the dragon fly rocks!!!!

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Dave J

hungryhalibut posted:
I’d like to try a Vitus amplifier one day. According to their dealer it’s better than a 552/500 for less than half the price, but then they would say that wouldn’t they. The Linn Klimax DSM is another one - I asked a Linn/Naim dealer who said not to bother and that my 272/555 would be more enjoyable. I rather like the idea of Linn/Vitus nonetheless.

Ha ha, silly dealer.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Innocent Bystander

Not having anything Naim, the shopping list starts with what i have, Chod DAC and Bryston amp.

I can’t see me being tempted easily to even try any other brand of DAC, given how good Dave is.

I would be interested in comparing Bryston and Devialet amps, with their completely different technologies. On the strength of the DACs I’d also be interested to hear one of Chord’s amps, and on the strength of reputaion, Vitus.

As for renderer, in place of Mac/Audirvana: Innuos and Melco,s products, and possibly Sonore (manufacturer of microRendu).

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by feeling_zen

Seeing a pattern here. Vitus seems to be on the most lists. I'd never heard of them before.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Dazan

Frank Yang posted:
Apple HomePod for conveniences.

In the latest Stereophile's follow-up to the last month's Apple HomePod review, this smart speaker has been described as "the best-sounding wireless system to be heard at or near the price".

More than just a convenience then!

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Hook

If not Naim, then I would probably stick with vintage Japanese electronics. Have a Sansui Eight in an office system that sounds great, and did not cost very much. On a slightly bigger budget, I’d look for one of Pioneer’s large integrated amps from the early ‘70s, possibly an SX-1280.

With my lottery winnings, and after years of reading Art Dudley’s columns, I would try Audio Note electronics.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Dazan

I think I would settle with one of them Hegels.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Peder

feeling_zen posted:
Seeing a pattern here. Vitus seems to be on the most lists. I'd never heard of them before.

???? Feeling_Zen,...I have a friend running Vitus monoblock with Marten Coltrane loudspeakers.
This is paired with Swedish,internationally award winning JormaDesign Statement cables.

It plays very musically,..well worth listening to.

/Peder ????

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by Wilko

Following an earlier response, FM Acoustics are the only amps I've heard that made me feel envious.

Posted on: 11 August 2018 by yeti42

At the Munich show the rooms I spent most time in were MBL and Kondo, Vitus was OK but just that. I’ve also enjoyed Thomas Mayer amps when I’ve heard them and Tom Evans Linea A which would imply a Mastergroove and Vibe would be on there. I don’t know about a digital front end, I didn’t like the Chord that much but that was through a Naim system, maybe it would work through something else and this is only an audition list.

Finding something that doesn’t just tell me how bad my records are but gets the music off them would be key.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Gazza

Out of everything I have heard recently I would probably go for the Cor amp from PMC, with a set of their speakers and a Melco or Innuos Zenith for NAS duties.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Mr Fjeld

Hegel - Highly engaging products and a Norwegian brand in the once flourishing Norwegian audio industry.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by blythe

Well Tempered turntable
Dynavector amps
Shanninan loudspeakers (Yes I noticed rule 5 but I wanted to make a whole system!)

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by French Rooster

wadax atlantis dac/ server / transport

spiral groove or vertere turntable

ypsilon phono

dagostino amp/ pre

magico speakers

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by feeling_zen

Gazza posted:
Out of everything I have heard recently I would probably go for the Cor amp from PMC, with a set of their speakers and a Melco or Innuos Zenith for NAS duties.

I hear a lot of really good things about the cor which makes me think it is the integrated to beat. Or at least demo before buying a SN2. The provision of tone controls though in an amp of that price range always gives me cause for pause though, I must admit.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Gazza

I heard at Audio show East with a Bryston streamer/Melco into PMC 25.23 and really cheap speaker cable. It was the most enjoyable room for music at the show imo. There was Naim, Kudos with NAP 500 and active 300;s, Chord Dave etc with their high end amps........any many more, yet this little amp just seemed a bit special even with tone controls.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Edwinxx

Probably Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) if I do have the budget. However if I can't choose Naim for budget reason I'll probably choose something from Creek or NAD.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by james n

I like simple high quality systems so assuming a suitable source :-

Budget : Heed, Exposure or Rega shoebox range. Nice kit and reminds me of the 'budget' amps of my youth

Higher end : Klimax DSM with ATC Actives / Auralic G1 with Kii3 + BXT or Devialet 440 Pro running active in Kudos Titans.

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Jeff Anderson

Whilst I no longer own any Naim, I did indulge in some in the early aughts, an extravagance on myself as I wasn't too sure I had but a couple years left on this planet. It was a struggle financially to purchase and was a mixture of used and selected reasonably priced new (Flatcap 2 and Headline 2). I enjoyed it very much but was too many boxes, the used stuff was due for service which I couldn't afford and it was time to be reasonable in the practicalities of my declining health. So back to more pedestrian gear.

Currently have a wonderful class-D Peachtree Audio Nova 150-watt integrated with bespoke DIY-design (Ergo-IX) bookshelf speakers made for me by an internet friend in New Zealand.

Edit - to correct typo in speaker info

Posted on: 12 August 2018 by Robiwan

Old skool Sony ES/Pioneer reference/Technics/Kenwood/Marantz etc.