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Is Naim snake oil?

Did somebody say they come here for the pointless anecdotes?

Here's mine on the lubrication subject...

A few years ago I went to the local specialist bearing shop to buy a couple of sealed cartridge bearings for the bottom bracket of my MTB. The very knowledgeable owner of the shop asked me what they were for. I told him and expained that, before fitting them, I prise off the seals and completely fill them with grease (Silkolene Pro RG2... for the lubricant anoraks amongst us) to make them last longer.
With a very concerned expression he and told me that that was very dangerous and if I went above about 3000 RPM I would suffer from hydraulic suck!!!

‘...bottom bracket of my MTB.’
So, a Forum member owns a Motor Torpedo Boat.
 
I wouldn't go as far as to say the comments are vitriolic, but there does seem to be quite a bit of negativity towards anyone who is happy with their Naim boxes, most of it is delivered by drip feed over a paragraph or two, but we have had through the thread the following.
-sell it on to some other mug.
-a fool and his money
-if folk are daft enough, insecure enough, and can afford it so what.
-a wardrobe full of the emperors new clothes.
All of which are the HiFi equivalent of I think you have an ugly wife. You may well think that, but do you need to say or write it.

To be honest most forums go the same way, regardless of the subject, we tend to be ruder than we realise when talking at a distance.

Oi Blobbyrab! I said:

"I guess that most Hi-fi is a bit on the snake oil side. It is rather niche with a literally dying market. I imagine the only way to make a living is to ramp up the marketing and milk what's left of the market before it goes under the sod for good. No harm in that, if folk are daft enough, insecure enough and can afford it so what?"

It was a comment on the whole 'Hi-Fi' charade.
 
I just bought a Yamaha A-S3000 integrated amp and have never been happier. Had Loads of different seperate systems inc. Naim but I love the Yamaha.
 
I have owned Naim (and Apple) products for a little over a decade. Have tried other brands, but haven’t found anything I like better. Naim doesn’t carry any negative stigma or historical baggage here in the US. I would bet that most US audiophiles know little of Naim beyond the occasional Muso or Uniti advertisement.
 
I wouldn't go as far as to say the comments are vitriolic, but there does seem to be quite a bit of negativity towards anyone who is happy with their Naim boxes, most of it is delivered by drip feed over a paragraph or two, but we have had through the thread the following.
-sell it on to some other mug.
-a fool and his money
-if folk are daft enough, insecure enough, and can afford it so what.
-a wardrobe full of the emperors new clothes.
All of which are the HiFi equivalent of I think you have an ugly wife. You may well think that, but do you need to say or write it.

To be honest most forums go the same way, regardless of the subject, we tend to be ruder than we realise when talking at a distance.

Well I was setting out to check whether those comments you quoted qualify as 'Naim Bashing', but it seems the OPs of the comments have responded and demonstrated that, in context, they weren't.

I reckon it is very difficult to find any genuine 'bashing' of either NAIM or its adherents in this thread. People were asked their opinions (albeit in an arguably provocative way) and have responded. I pointed out myself that NAIM has pursued a number of idiosyncratic approaches to amplifier, power supply and loudspeaker design. I do not see that alternative views, questioning etc., constitute bashing.

Forums can get very 'rude', but I'd argue that PFM, especially considering that it also has lengthy discussions in areas such as politics and religion, manages to largely avoid 'Ad Hom' posting. As such, it succeeds in allowing and fostering debate without fear of undue censure.( And censorship) However, if people see criticism or questioning of a product, or a company ethos, as a criticism of themselves by extension, merely because they own that company's kit, then I really do feel that they need to look at their confidence in themselves, rather than any perceived slight.

Mull
 
Well I was setting out to check whether those comments you quoted qualify as 'Naim Bashing', but it seems the OPs of the comments have responded and demonstrated that, in context, they weren't.

Nahhh, just the one, which I'll give a pass to but given the main topic it's a squeeze past.
 
whether those comments qualify as 'Naim Bashing',

Forums can get very 'rude', but I'd argue that PFM, especially considering that it also has lengthy discussions in areas such as politics and religion, manages to largely avoid 'Ad Hom' posting. As such, it succeeds in allowing and fostering debate without fear of undue censure.( And censorship) However, if people see criticism or questioning of a product, or a company ethos, as a criticism of themselves by extension, merely because they own that company's kit, then I really do feel that they need to look at their confidence in themselves, rather than any perceived slight.

Eloquently put, Mull. 'Twas not always the case here, but the atmosphere seems to have morphed into a 'gentleman's club' over the years. Something to do with aging membership, perhaps? ;) Maybe the occasional political rant, but I rarely look into these anyway.
 
Naim buyer hate stems from insecurity, it's just another form of the cable/religious threads we see on many forums, if someone cannot hear it they tend to act up, shout a lot & throw childish abuse, they feel left out, like when at school, hence the playground banter.

I imagine there are many a Niles Crane here pretending to be John Wayne.
 
This thread made me curious enough to have a look at the Naim website as I had no idea what they make these days! They certainly cover a huge amount from soundbar/streaming type things right through to the ‘Statement’ range for Russian oligarchs etc. One thing I found curious is they do still appear to make active crossovers, but no speakers or mention as to what speakers the crossovers are for!

Am I right in thinking everything bar the stand-alone streaming stuff is still made in Salisbury?

PS The Bentley Mu-So thing is a bit cheesy it has to be said!
 
I recall seeing half built streamers (of what is known as the “black” or “classic” series) at the factory, but that was a few years ago. I think I read that the car audio was a rebadged Alpine unit. The Musos are made assembled in China. No idea about the new range.

The magic Fairy Dust is gathered from secret locations on Salisbury Plain, but only during a full moon.
 
One thing I found curious is they do still appear to make active crossovers, but no speakers or mention as to what speakers the crossovers are for!

Presumably Focal are now their speaker partner, don't know this for sure, but since they merged a few years ago I assumed this would be the case.
 
Naim buyer hate stems from insecurity, it's just another form of the cable/religious threads we see on many forums, if someone cannot hear it they tend to act up, shout a lot & throw childish abuse, they feel left out, like when at school, hence the playground banter.

I imagine there are many a Niles Crane here pretending to be John Wayne.

:) I have absolutely no idea who Niles Crane is.. (I'll Google it later..), but I can't for the life of me imagine any scenario in which any intelligent person would want to emulate John Wayne.

Mull
 
a man with 72 cylinders of merlin.
Wow. Impressed!

According to that “fount of all knowledge” Wikipedia the British MTBs used Packard engines, not Merlins (cries of “Shame” from all lovers of Merlin engines).

The same article, however, states that Canadian MTBs used Packard and Rolls Royce engines.
 
15 pages!!!.......well, it is the pantomime season.
To summarise, for anybody who doesn't want to wade through it all:
Is Naim snake oil?
Oh yes it is
Oh no it isn't
:)
 
I always find it amusing seeing the system pics thread where some naim owners have about 30 boxes on a massive rack. Just the thought of wiring that up gives me a headache!
 


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