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What's Opposite to the Naim sound?

F

Fin

pfm Member
Hi guys

In the past I've had Naim Nait xs integrated amp along with a Naim dac. To be honest, I really got to dislike the sound. It had too much treble, or maybe thinness, to describe it in the most communicable language I can think of.

Just wondering what amplifiers may offer a more lush warmer sound? My speakers are B&W CM9s.

Thanks
 
What's the budget?
The new Arcam A49 may fit the bill, or Rega, or maybe a valve amp.
If you don't like Naims presentation, ( & the most frequent complaint sonically, with their gear tends to be the treble end, as you found), Steer clear of Cyrus as well. Someone will probably suggest keeping the amp & changing the speakers, as there's a lot of committed Naim fans here.
 
Fin said:
Hi guys

In the past I've had Naim Nait xs integrated amp along with a Naim dac. To be honest, I really got to dislike the sound. It had too much treble, or maybe thinness, to describe it in the most communicable language I can think of.

Just wondering what amplifiers may offer a more lush warmer sound? My speakers are B&W CM9s.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Just beyond Naim now.
Valves, 6C33C.
 
Measure your room, then you will get a handle on what contribution or otherwise is down to the system. Thin sounds usually mean a room suck out.
 
Fin said:
Hi guys

In the past I've had Naim Nait xs integrated amp along with a Naim dac. To be honest, I really got to dislike the sound. It had too much treble, or maybe thinness, to describe it in the most communicable language I can think of.

Just wondering what amplifiers may offer a more lush warmer sound? My speakers are B&W CM9s.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I went from Naim to an EAR V20 integrated valve amp and it was like listening to music with a new set of ears. The improvement was immense. The edgy treble was replaced by clear high notes and the overall presentation was warmer.

EAR integrated amps aren't cheap, but you can find them secondhand for a couple of grand.

Jack
 
Might well be that your Naim kit doesn't gel with your B&Ws. I once heard top Naim amplification (and CD) with very large B&Ws (Nautilus?) at Graham's in London, and my friend and I agreed that they were not synergistic. We were both high end Naim users.

If you're stuck on your speakers, simply find technically and sonically compatible amplification (agree with previous post; avoid Cyrus), but if valve, it'll probably be a push-pull 50 + watter; however, there's just so much out there at that level, you'll just have to suck it and see unless you know people with your speakers. Then there's the room factor, of course................:eek:
 
jackbarron said:
I went from Naim to an EAR V20 integrated valve amp and it was like listening to music with a new set of ears. The improvement was immense. The edgy treble was replaced by clear high notes and the overall presentation was warmer.

EAR integrated amps aren't cheap, but you can find them secondhand for a couple of grand.

Jack
Click to expand...

I changed my 135s for E.A.R. 509 monoblocs, but I wasn't really dissatisfied with my 135s except that they were a little dry; it's swings and roundabouts, but I'll stick to (E.A.R.) valves !
 
Characterful valve amplifier, or solid state with tone controls.

....or Naim with tone controls.

There is nothing inherent in the Naim circuits to make them sound thin, bright, or possessed of too much treble. Old wives tale.
 
Quad 909 is very nice, with slightly rolled off top end that might work well. That said, when I auditioned the Nait XS I didn't think it was bright especially compared to a similar priced Roksan amp. The XS sounded slightly 'gentle' in the treble and bass with a deep but not very wide soundstage. Instead of the XS I bought an Onion Research Primo, which was much more characterful than the Nait - I'm not sure that was the best decision.
 
Fin, you aren't alone in this view. Nevertheless the faithful will still say that Naim never sounds thin. It does to me, and so I shop elsewhere.

For solid state I'd try Quad or Meridian, both of which will be a pleasant surprise in terms of price, assuming you are going second hand, and as other have said any number of valves. If you want to try a left field option, try a Krell - massive power, sensational grip, you might like it.
 
Absolutely, utter nonsense end to end, I made it all up, including the bit about shopping elsewhere. I made that bit up too. I actually have a 6-pack setup with power supplies for my power supplies, I'm just in denial.

Naim always sounds lush and warm, and perfect. Anyone who thinks otherwise just needs to learn how to listen, or they need another power supply, or they need to move up the chain a little. Honest. Everything else is just made up.
 
FWIW I went back to my Quad 34/606 from my 72/140 because - subjectively - I was bothered by a sense something wasn't quite to my tastes. Moving back to the 34/606 and it was a sense of fullness in the midrange I wasn't quite getting with the Naim setup. Both systems were freshly serviced too. Probably not an inherent 'character' of either setup, but more a very simple case of one being 'happier' with my speakers than the other, the speakers becoming part of the amplifiers circuit, of course. Very subtle differences, but after trying both setups over extended listening sesions (over a week) it was the Quads I kept coming back too.

John.
 
Naim Nait XS + ATC = too much Naim type sound IMO. The amp drives the speakers ok, but it sounds exactly like what the OP has described.

I would second the valve amp option, something like a Puresound A30 with good, smooth drive is an amp I have heard and available at a similar price to the Nait XS. Electrocompaniet is another, I had the ECI-3 which had quite a dark, warm and again powerful sound.

As suggested, a Quad 909 might be your thing as well.
 
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