Jonboi
Because Music Matters
I think Naim was at it's zenith when Julian Vereker was alive.
The kit had a great reputation in the 80's & 90's as to fab sound for enthusiasts at affordable (but not cheap) prices.
It arguably gathered a cult like following during the flat earth & PRaT years as far as HiFi sound philosophy in the UK went during that era.
I owned a CDI, 72/Hi-Cap/180/SBL's which at the time thought would last me forever, with the only 'upgrade' on the horizon being to go fully active.
Times & technology changes and AV came along, creating enough interest for me that my 'active' plans became AV plans, which is where the rot started really, as I found Naim's AV solution and attitude towards AV at the time, less than desirable.
I ended up adding on 9000ES Sony components to my Naim electronics for initially AV purposes, but eventually sold off all the Naim electronics in favour of Sony ES on performance grounds for both AV and dedicated 2 channel music listening.
After a decade with the Naim electronics, and another near decade with the Sony kit, driving my Naim SBL's, I finally made the jump to a fully active system, which also combined both serious music listening and AV, with the purchase of a B&O system.
Naim is great kit, no doubt about it. But I think the whole ethos has changed completely out of sight since Vereker sadly passed away, and with the eventual takeover by Focal, and now run by an investment company.
I really enjoyed my time with Naim from a performance POV, but did find it high maintenance, with all the leaving on, 'warming up' for a couple of weeks to sound it's supposed best rituals, which eventually weighed quite heavily against it in terms of ownership satisfaction and convenience.
I have no regrets about moving on from Naim at all, and can see no reason why I would ever go back to the brand.
I heard Naims modern 'best' - the statement amp, fronted by Naim electronics and Naim Ovator 600 speakers at a Naim road show. It was very, very good - no doubt about it, being one of the best amps in the context of a separates system that I have heard.
However, I did not hear anything that a pair of Classe mono blocks and a pair of B&W 800D's would not do, and at A$220,000 for the statement amp, and A$350,000 for the total Naim system as heard, I would also say it was one of the most overpriced and poor value HiFi setups I've ever heard as well.
Given that A$350,000 buys one a brand new 3 bedroom house in outer Melbourne suburbs, that is what Naim are competing against when it comes to value - the price of a house + land - and to my mind it's very much wanting.
But horses for courses, and some will have the money and the audiophile obsession to splash out on it, and good luck to them.
But I have certainly heard much better (as in more AUTHENTIC) sound for a good third of the price, - hence my comment about not being tempted on sonic and value for money grounds to go back to the brand, speaking personally of course.
Cheers
The kit had a great reputation in the 80's & 90's as to fab sound for enthusiasts at affordable (but not cheap) prices.
It arguably gathered a cult like following during the flat earth & PRaT years as far as HiFi sound philosophy in the UK went during that era.
I owned a CDI, 72/Hi-Cap/180/SBL's which at the time thought would last me forever, with the only 'upgrade' on the horizon being to go fully active.
Times & technology changes and AV came along, creating enough interest for me that my 'active' plans became AV plans, which is where the rot started really, as I found Naim's AV solution and attitude towards AV at the time, less than desirable.
I ended up adding on 9000ES Sony components to my Naim electronics for initially AV purposes, but eventually sold off all the Naim electronics in favour of Sony ES on performance grounds for both AV and dedicated 2 channel music listening.
After a decade with the Naim electronics, and another near decade with the Sony kit, driving my Naim SBL's, I finally made the jump to a fully active system, which also combined both serious music listening and AV, with the purchase of a B&O system.
Naim is great kit, no doubt about it. But I think the whole ethos has changed completely out of sight since Vereker sadly passed away, and with the eventual takeover by Focal, and now run by an investment company.
I really enjoyed my time with Naim from a performance POV, but did find it high maintenance, with all the leaving on, 'warming up' for a couple of weeks to sound it's supposed best rituals, which eventually weighed quite heavily against it in terms of ownership satisfaction and convenience.
I have no regrets about moving on from Naim at all, and can see no reason why I would ever go back to the brand.
I heard Naims modern 'best' - the statement amp, fronted by Naim electronics and Naim Ovator 600 speakers at a Naim road show. It was very, very good - no doubt about it, being one of the best amps in the context of a separates system that I have heard.
However, I did not hear anything that a pair of Classe mono blocks and a pair of B&W 800D's would not do, and at A$220,000 for the statement amp, and A$350,000 for the total Naim system as heard, I would also say it was one of the most overpriced and poor value HiFi setups I've ever heard as well.
Given that A$350,000 buys one a brand new 3 bedroom house in outer Melbourne suburbs, that is what Naim are competing against when it comes to value - the price of a house + land - and to my mind it's very much wanting.
But horses for courses, and some will have the money and the audiophile obsession to splash out on it, and good luck to them.
But I have certainly heard much better (as in more AUTHENTIC) sound for a good third of the price, - hence my comment about not being tempted on sonic and value for money grounds to go back to the brand, speaking personally of course.
Cheers
