To impress friends and family with systems

Hi John, 

I've been doing just that ????

The feedback from here is invaluable. This is our core audience here, one which I am incredibly excited to be able to work with. I recognise the frustrations some have voiced, and also understand there is another audience who desire audio perfection, but with simplicity as their priority, rather than the dedication shown by those here on the forum to build extraordinary systems from a variety of components.

I believe the two can coexist, but it means paying careful attention to the core values that make Naim the iconic company it is, something I am very determined to maintain.

Charlie

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

1000%.  This hobby is essentially for me and my personal pleasure.  My wife loves music as well, but would be perfectly happy with "less" of a system, yet enjoys listening to the improvements as they come with improving the system.

I have no one else in my life other than her that listens to my hi fi or cares a hoot about it.

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

LOL - more so: I could add room treatment, consider uglier (but better sounding) speakers etc

Bart posted:

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

1000%.  This hobby is essentially for me and my personal pleasure.  My wife loves music as well, but would be perfectly happy with "less" of a system, yet enjoys listening to the improvements as they come with improving the system.

I have no one else in my life other than her that listens to my hi fi or cares a hoot about it.

Yep for me as well. My late wife loved music, but had no interest in hifi, she indulged me with the rack of olives and the large (by most standards) speakers, with only the occasional muttering about a “normal” system. During the 15 years we were together, I bought speakers and a CD player to replace failed ones, no other change. On my own I’ve added streaming, this year upgraded the 82 to a 52, and added a second system upstairs. All to allow me to enjoy music on my own, when people visit the volume is normally down to a level that allows conversation without shouting, so music is just background.

Charlie Henderson posted:

Hi John, 

I've been doing just that ????

The feedback from here is invaluable. This is our core audience here, one which I am incredibly excited to be able to work with. I recognise the frustrations some have voiced, and also understand there is another audience who desire audio perfection, but with simplicity as their priority, rather than the dedication shown by those here on the forum to build extraordinary systems from a variety of components.

I believe the two can coexist, but it means paying careful attention to the core values that make Naim the iconic company it is, something I am very determined to maintain.

Charlie

Clearly being incredibly excited is something that is doing the rounds at Naim... maybe it’s the start of Advent...

As John pointed out, the Forum does represent the lunatic fringe and I’m sure it’s the case that 99% of Naim owners don’t even know it exists, or would run screaming if they did. 

The simplicity thing is really important. I’m certainly not going to get more boxes, so unless Naim make a better streaming preamp there is nowhere for me to go. I’m sure there are many others in the same position. It doesn’t particularly matter as what I have a quite good enough, but it seems a shame that to improve further means more boxes, wires and shelves. But whatever Naim do, someone will find fault, and it’s impossible to please everybody. The trick is working out the right balance, but one thing is for sure, customers need to be treated with respect and not be fed ‘impress your friends’ twaddle. 

Charlie Henderson posted:

Hi John, 

I've been doing just that ????

The feedback from here is invaluable. This is our core audience here, one which I am incredibly excited to be able to work with. I recognise the frustrations some have voiced, and also understand there is another audience who desire audio perfection, but with simplicity as their priority, rather than the dedication shown by those here on the forum to build extraordinary systems from a variety of components.

I believe the two can coexist, but it means paying careful attention to the core values that make Naim the iconic company it is, something I am very determined to maintain.

Charlie

Many thanks for your swift and well considered reply Charlie. It's reassuring to know that you are looking in; responding and reacting to our thoughts and opinions. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

John.

Back in the day, a band like say The Who, at the brink and being on the front page of everything would cost a punter in today's money the equivalent of £5 to see playing live. An album would be the equivalent of £7.50 and a decent hifi to play that on would be the equivalent of £750 - 1K.    Back then more people were more interested to see a band play live than play an album at home for some considerable reason.    Same as today.

Well, I have only read the OP's summary of the Naim words suggesting this might be a good opportunity to impress family and friends.

I don't have any problem at all with the words so expressed. But I think I am reading them in a different way to many others who have commented.

As a group of neighbours and a fairly close-knit family, we often have family and friends at our place. Sometimes 3 or 4 of us get together to watch a DVD or we simply have a bit of music in the background. Occasionally we have a party, eg New Year's Eve with music and dancing.

We didn't buy our hifi setup to impress our family or friends, but my giddy aunt, they are ALWAYS impressed when they hear it, whether with DVDs, CDs or LPs. They are never asked to "sit down and listen, so as to be impressed" It is just an integral part of our lives together and they just happen to be impressed ! Rather than use the word "impressed" I could say they just absolutely enjoy listening to the hifi and watching the screen ! they are both so good.

When anybody has ever asked about the equipment, we tell them what is, but we never indicate the cost.

Charlie Henderson posted:

I recognise the frustrations some have voiced, and also understand there is another audience who desire audio perfection, but with simplicity as their priority, rather than the dedication shown by those here on the forum to build extraordinary systems from a variety of components.

I believe the two can coexist, but it means paying careful attention to the core values that make Naim the iconic company it is, something I am very determined to maintain.

Charlie

That's good to hear. There is actually, as HH says above, some crossover between the Naimite tendencies. I am not the only one to have migrated from a multi (7)  box Naim separates system to a Nova. To flesh out my previous post on this thread, some aspects of the Nova I love - especially the truly Naim sound and the massively improved access to music. Friends have bought Unitis of various kinds after hearing mine (I did not set out to impress them!!). However, whilst the core (no pun intended) of the product is sound, the software/firmware development is glacial in pace (I am a beta tester and seriously underworked), there are several annoying glitches in relation to usability, and the bloody logo strip is falling off the front but sending it in for repair would be such a pain that I just suck it up. I mentioned the lack of a proper manual above...

To me it seems that Naim is still there in terms of the musical performance but there is a very annoying lack of grip on the other aspects of ownership that don't go well with a premium product, and to return to the original point of the thread, those leading the marketing don't seem to understand what their customers need and will relate to.

Almost 100% of both friends and family eventually, in my experience at any rate, get around to asking, either directly or obliquely, what my set up cost. I’m always honest, and make no apologies. Most of them spend the equivalent on their cars on a regular basis, I run around in a 12 year old car that’s done150k+ miles. As others have said nearly everyone is impressed by the sound, but none of them understand why it should cost so much! Invariably the conversations end with ‘each to their own’ type remarks.

I don’t believe for one minute that the average Naim punter buys with a view to impress or being able to brag. Perhaps that may change as Millenials and Generation Z buy into the new Uniti boxes. Time will tell.

Iconoclast posted:

Ask yourself the following question (and be honest): If you were living alone and NEVER had any family or visitors at your place would you still be as inclined to pursue this hobby to the same extent?

HELL, YES!!!

Bob the Builder posted:

Unfortunately I think we're all missing the point here Naim Audio has been taken over by people whose target demographic is actually people who do buy things to impress others.  They want to turn Naim Audio into a brand Bose for the better paid and more well off why else do you think they have compromised on sound quality to squeeze a whole three or four box system into a shiney little box with a colour screen it is to appeal to the fashion conscious among us.                                                                                                              

Ouch!

no one's ever asked what my system cost -- and it's a good thing, too, for i would then have to tell them the disturbing truth: i have absolutely no idea what i've spent on the thing over the years.

Somebody mentioned the word "Bose" in an earlier post. Outside of this and other places that word seems to be the pinnacle of HiFi to some people. They are also so eager to tell you what they have and what it cost.

Over the years some family and friends who have listened to my system have actually purchased their own Naim and Linn equipment. The initial listening was a common interest in music nothing to do with the system. We had been listening to the music many years before Linn and Naim came along

I keep the knowledge of how much it all costs to myself. In fact I only have a rough idea as most was bought second hand. I’ve got friends who spend several thousands on news sails for their 30 odd foot racing yachts.

One of my sisters and her husband appreciate my system and look forward to listening to it when they come to stay a few times a year. They know it costs a few bob but I’ve not elaborated. It gives me hours upon hours of musical pleasure especially now the days are short and the nights are long.

I could just say the super lumina speaker cable only costs £6.49 per centimetre most people can’t do the maths!

Acred posted:

I could just say the super lumina speaker cable only costs £6.49 per centimetre most people can’t do the maths!

 

I like that. Must use it one day 

Pev posted:

Charlie Henderson posted:

I recognise the frustrations some have voiced, and also understand there is another audience who desire audio perfection, but with simplicity as their priority, rather than the dedication shown by those here on the forum to build extraordinary systems from a variety of components.

I believe the two can coexist, but it means paying careful attention to the core values that make Naim the iconic company it is, something I am very determined to maintain.

Charlie

That's good to hear. There is actually, as HH says above, some crossover between the Naimite tendencies. I am not the only one to have migrated from a multi (7)  box Naim separates system to a Nova. To flesh out my previous post on this thread, some aspects of the Nova I love - especially the truly Naim sound and the massively improved access to music. Friends have bought Unitis of various kinds after hearing mine (I did not set out to impress them!!). However, whilst the core (no pun intended) of the product is sound, the software/firmware development is glacial in pace (I am a beta tester and seriously underworked), there are several annoying glitches in relation to usability, and the bloody logo strip is falling off the front but sending it in for repair would be such a pain that I just suck it up. I mentioned the lack of a proper manual above...

To me it seems that Naim is still there in terms of the musical performance but there is a very annoying lack of grip on the other aspects of ownership that don't go well with a premium product, and to return to the original point of the thread, those leading the marketing don't seem to understand what their customers need and will relate to.

I think everyone would agree that the new Uniti launch was an almighty bog up, and I’m sure Naim have learned their lesson. It does seem rather pathetic that elements of basic functionality are still not there. I suspect, if you spoke to the factory, a new logo bar could be fitted while you wait. It certainly seems silly to lose your music for a month for a job that takes a few minutes to be carried out. 

I definitely don't try to impress friends or family with hifi!  I've tried to a couple of times but people invariably talk over it which winds me up!  So if anything, I avoid the subject.

If I was on my own, I would definitely spend more - dedicated & treated room, more boxes, bigger speakers, etc etc

Last Christmas, my bro-in-law put down his pint glass on my Kudos Super 10s.  I was like "Noooooooooo!" People looked shocked at how quickly that escalated.

wilro15 posted:

I definitely don't try to impress friends or family with hifi!  I've tried to a couple of times but people invariably talk over it which winds me up!  So if anything, I avoid the subject.

 

Amusingly (for me), I was out after work on Friday socialising in a loud pub with some colleagues, I spent most of the evening chatting with Jos from Amsterdam and Istvan from Budapest. Jos asked me whether I’d finished the decoration of the room we’d talked about a few months ago, so I showed them a photo on my phone. Istvan turned out to be a hifi person, so asked about the speakers, he recognised the name PMC, but couldn’t hear the Naim (sic) of the electronics over the music. He has the recent Quads. When I showed him the picture of the NDX 52 Supercap 135s rack, he didn’t Just recognise them as Naim, he said “Naim, Olives”! I was very impressed. Jos meanwhile looked confused, he’s very happy with his 40 year old Wharfedale speakers.

It’s all in the choice of words.   If it had read “Naim Audio would like to wish all customers a great festive season sharing brilliant music with their friends and families” - job done! 

wilro15 posted:

 

Last Christmas, my bro-in-law put down his pint glass on my Kudos Super 10s.  I was like "Noooooooooo!" People looked shocked at how quickly that escalated.

Y'see, this is why B&W's 800-series have long made so much sense - without any horizontal upper surfaces, there's no danger of the uninitiated doing the (to us) unthinkable. They don't sound too shabby either.

Mind you, when I first got my 804Ss, my brother-in-law (why do all these stories involve brothers-in-law?) did exactly what the district nurse a few posts ago did - tried to pick up the tweeter, thinking it was a microphone. Thankfully, I get on with him well enough to be able to shout at him...

Mark

"BROTHER-IN-LAWS WILL BE EXTERMINATED!"

"AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!"

Ebor posted:

wilro15 posted:

 

SNIP

Y'see, this is why B&W's 800-series have long made so much sense - without any horizontal upper surfaces, there's no danger of the uninitiated doing the (to us) unthinkable. They don't sound too shabby either.

Mind you, when I first got my 804Ss, my brother-in-law (why do all these stories involve brothers-in-law?) did exactly what the district nurse a few posts ago did - tried to pick up the tweeter, thinking it was a microphone. Thankfully, I get on with him well enough to be able to shout at him...

Mark

I bought my 804Ss from Graham’s, they stressed strongly that at a party I had to make sure people knew the tweeters weren’t karaoke mikes, they said they knew of more than one disaster.

Naim are missing a fantastic marketing opportunity........

all they need to do is offer a Louis Vuitton hand bag with every black box purchased....

our wife’s would be asking ‘ are you due an upgrade dear’ ....

I am puzzled as to why people seeing what they think is a microphone want to pick it up - are they so used to karaoke? (That dreadful idea of not only encouraging drunk people to "sing", but amplifying it as well!)

As for the advert, they are clearly targeting new people otherwise they don't need to say anything at all, and I guess, as others have said, that Naim means impress in terms of sound  rather than looks or bragging rights.