Introducing myself

Congratulations on the job and a not-intended-to-be-patronising 'well done' for bringing a breath of fresh air. Reading this thread has made my day.

Alastair

I don't know if the Naim induction programme still includes the newbie making a piece of hardware, but if I were you I'd pull rank and offer to make a Statement.

Charlie, as a thought. Before you become an expert in all things Naim. Can you look into the lack of no full manual with even the ND555. Is the support page sufficient for you? Or as the UnitiStar customer would you have liked a manual or even a pdf manual to download. I can buy kit for a few hundred pounds or even a kettle from Aldi and get a manual?

Charlie

Welcome to the machine, so to speak!

I was fortunate enough to be included in the group invited along to see the new digital products, ND555 etc earlier this year.  One of the interesting/ challenging observations I took away from what was a fantastic day at Naim HQ was perhaps highlighted by Nigel in his post above.  From the visitor group, there was a significant chasm which opened up when we were presented with a pair of large Focal speakers hooked up to the new Naim products.  Interesting opinions were expressed about the speakers, when ideally all focus should have been on the Naim!  With your new position straddling both Naim and Focal in UK, I'd suggest some customer clinics to try to establish why Focal is so unappreciated by some Naim forumites - there should be some very informed and valuable feedback freely available to help with Focal speaker product development or at least understand what some people perceive as holding them back.  It would be great to see one happy family in this regard.  Mind you, Naim speakers in themselves generated many opinions !!

Best of luck with with your new Naim adventure.

Peter

Signals UK posted:

Congratulations on the job and a not-intended-to-be-patronising 'well done' for bringing a breath of fresh air. Reading this thread has made my day.

Alastair

Hi Alistair

Thank you for your kind words! Looking forward to meeting soon.

Charlie

Gazza posted:

Charlie, as a thought. Before you become an expert in all things Naim. Can you look into the lack of no full manual with even the ND555. Is the support page sufficient for you? Or as the UnitiStar customer would you have liked a manual or even a pdf manual to download. I can buy kit for a few hundred pounds or even a kettle from Aldi and get a manual?

Thanks for the feedback, I'll investigate for sure,

Charlie

Nick Lees posted:

I don't know if the Naim induction programme still includes the newbie making a piece of hardware, but if I were you I'd pull rank and offer to make a Statement.

I spent some time in the Statement area last week. Incredible.

Welcome Charlie and thanks Richard for letting the boss post. As a recent arrival in past few years but already owning 2 systems and on second streamer 272 replacing 172 I will watch the continued evolution under your tenure with interest. As so many have said, have lots of fun and of course stay true to the Naim culture and ethos. Hope to get to Salisbury maybe in next 2 years in spite of all the  recent negative publicity! 

Peter

As Dame Maggie Smith would say, I don’t give advice, only opinions……

……There are two types of MD.      One, who tend to do what the CEO/Shareholders tell them to.    Second, who do what their hearts tell them to.     No prizes for guessing which ones are more successful.

Everyone works to pay the bills and live a happy life. A few people get a chance like you to work at a job that gives them happiness.

Congratulations on your new role Charlie, and I hope you also find time to have some happy moments on this here Forum !

Cheers

Don

Hey Charlie, welcome from Paris.  I have just one question :  Do you know if naim plan to produce new range of preamps and amps, not really changed since 2002, apart the dr upgrade.  Just curiosity.  I am happy with my actual naim components, but would be curious to know if.    

Hi Charlie,  pleased to add my greetings to this thread with a warm welcome to the world of Naim.  l’m currently far from home & very sonically withdrawn & Naimless on a dodgy internet out in the bush in South Africa.  So a big hello & looking forward to even greater sound quality innovations in the future.

Greetings from the 'other side of the pond,' Charlie. I'm one of those Naim fans from the States.  The brand is much smaller here, but I found it via a local dealer as I was auditioning getting back into hi fi about 7 years ago. Then I found this forum and the passion of the customers, plus the sound, got me hooked.  

In those ensuing 7 years, what has kept me a loyal Naim customer? SERVICE.  When I first entered the streaming world, there were glitches.  The Naim staff (specifically Phil Harris) was very helpful; Phil's customer-focused efforts were phenomenal and I hope that Naim can retain that focus.  Whilst it may not bring in new customers it sure helps hold onto existing customers!!  

I'm never short on opinions and if you want to know how Naim are doing here in the States, you know where to find me!  Welcome aboard and best wishes to you in your career and for Naim.

All the best,

Bart

Hi Charlie, welcome from just up the road in Bristol hope you will find your new role enjoyable and rewarding.

Like a lot of forum members I've been along time user of Naim since 1983 in fact starting with a Chrome Bumper set up then an Olive System which served me well for over twenty years.

The addition of a NDX a few years ago rekindled my musical interests which ended up with the purchase of a new Black Box System a couple of years ago the new ND555 was installed a few weeks go.

My loyalty to the Naim brand over the years is based on several factors sound quality being the most important but also the longevity and quality of the products this coupled with the excellent dealer and Naim service that I have received over the years.

I trust under your leadership this will continue somebody did make a point of the ND555 supplied documentation I also found the startup guide as supplied very poor access to a on line manual would very useful indeed.

PCD

Welcome Charlie

I wish you luck with your new role at Naim. It sounds like you “get it” already, what Naim is about and I hope you are able to truly keep to the key philosophy in that it’s all about high fidelity music and not just about chasing numbers and sales! Any industry needs specialists and those that strive to better the rest!

keep Naim the name of Hifi! ????????

French Rooster posted:

Hey Charlie, welcome from Paris.  I have just one question :  Do you know if naim plan to produce new range of preamps and amps, not really changed since 2002, apart the dr upgrade.  Just curiosity.  I am happy with my actual naim components, but would be curious to know if.    

Yeah and Charlie is just going to come on here and say they are working hard on getting a new classic series out in 2020 and kill all sales until then!

you may as well ask for his PIN number. 

.sjb

Welcome Charlie and the best of luck

Welcome Charlie, here’s to the next 45 years of Naim.

Welcome Charlie, and Congratulations on this fantastic new role: smooth sailing on this great journey! Greetings from the Swiss Naim base,

Vik

Another welcome to you, with much appreciation of your initiating a frank and open exchange.

And a little question: are there any classical fanatics at Naim now? I have ridiculously wide tastes, but always judge my systems on how they handle timing, pace, voice, timbre, body and scale for classical music above all.

All the best. Your introduction is very much in tune with the best Naim tradition.

Mike

Congratulations and welcome.

P.S.: is this when we discuss a new Aro?

Greetings from beyond the borders of the known NAIM world here in the Alpujarras.

HI Charlie

A warm welcome to you and all the very best for the exciting times you face ahead.

By strange coincidence I was looking through a folder the other day and found my receipt for my first naim system a NAC42/SNAPS/160 and it was dated 23/11/1984 - 34 years before your first post exactly!

So yes, I am a long time owner, but I won't go in to my full and very happy naim history/relationship here as it would take too long, and this thread is not about me!

Best Regards
Geoff

TallGuy posted:

Well it looks as though you've passed the music tests

and, diplomatically, without questioning their creaking relevance to contemporary life. How do you sharpen your quill?

Small, and possibly unwanted, advice:

Your first customers are your distributors and dealers - give them the products of 'passion' and try very hard not to piss them off with missed public deadlines and shipped unready products. It's been a permanent Naim failing.

You inherit the company's excellent reputation (still intact I hope) for Customer Services.
Don't undervalue this because it doesn't appear in profits. 

However, I'd see your first responsibility as being toward the company (Naim before the parent companies) and its workers. As an ex employee I've found the factory a decreasingly 'happy' place - increasingly 'corporate' and concerned with Key Performance Indicators - rather than actually being committed to doing a job well. 

Naim used to be run precariously along a slack line between enthusiasm and competence. Recent moves may have attempted to shift the balance toward professionalism but I've heard too many anecdotes of interactions with new staff that have been characterised by a lack of company/product knowledge, rudeness and unhelpfulness -  without any compensatory enthusiasm. Do keep some in the factory who know more about the company than your customers do.

Hi Charlie,

Just to say hello and welcome. 

I've been a Naim owner and fan for over 20 years and whilst the last few have seen excellent products brought to market I must admit to having felt somewhat discouraged by an actual or perceived shift to a more impersonal and corporate approach towards customers and dealers. But having read your posts I do feel very positive about the future of Naim as a result of your appointment and I wish you well.

Best,

John

Adam Meredith posted:

TallGuy posted:

Well it looks as though you've passed the music tests

and, diplomatically, without questioning their creaking relevance to contemporary life. How do you sharpen your quill?

Small, and possibly unwanted, advice:

Your first customers are your distributors and dealers - give them the products of 'passion' and try very hard not to piss them off with missed public deadlines and shipped unready products. It's been a permanent Naim failing.

You inherit the company's excellent reputation (still intact I hope) for Customer Services.
Don't undervalue this because it doesn't appear in profits. 

However, I'd see your first responsibility as being toward the company (Naim before the parent companies) and its workers. As an ex employee I've found the factory a decreasingly 'happy' place - increasingly 'corporate' and concerned with Key Performance Indicators - rather than actually being committed to doing a job well. 

Naim used to be run precariously along a slack line between enthusiasm and competence. Recent moves may have attempted to shift the balance toward professionalism but I've heard too many anecdotes of interactions with new staff that have been characterised by a lack of company/product knowledge, rudeness and unhelpfulness -  without any compensatory enthusiasm. Do keep some in the factory who know more about the company than your customers do.

Excellent advice Adam, us customers are with Naim for a reason. Never forget the best source of new custom is your existing clientele. 

Stick to what Naim do best, thats why we are here