Nothing wrong sonically with a NAP250 to be fair.
It's just a flat, low distortion power amp like many others.
That's not how it was marketed by Frankland et al., though. The NAP 250 has better timing and musicality, which sets it apart, obvs.
Nothing wrong sonically with a NAP250 to be fair.
It's just a flat, low distortion power amp like many others.
I think most Naim amplifiers are perfectly fine, as is the LP12 in its many forms. They just didn't deserve elevation above other competing kit.
On the other hand things like the Linn Basik cartridge, Index and Kan 1 were just plain poor and easily bettered by a raft of competition.
Things like the Nait 1 were just crazy. People 'want' a cheap Naim, so what shall we do. Oh I know, lets stick this primitive 15w amplifier circuit in a tiny box with shitty controls and flog it to teh audiophiles for a premium. Then they can have a Naim. All they really needed was a £100 Rotel or NAD, which were better.
Nothing wrong sonically with a NAP250 to be fair. Or the rest of the range for that matter.
They were just flat, low distortion power amps like many others.
The Issue is that I'd bet good money that nobody could tell one apart form the JVC AX4 I'm playing at the moment
I agree with you mostly; in the end it does come down to a matter of taste. I never got to listen to the Naits of the day but some folk seem to like them a lot. Good luck to them, they're right in sticking to their own preferences.I think most Naim amplifiers are perfectly fine, as is the LP12 in its many forms. They just didn't deserve elevation above other competing kit.
On the other hand things like the Linn Basik cartridge, Index and Kan 1 were just plain poor and easily bettered by a raft of competition.
Things like the Nait 1 were just crazy. People 'want' a cheap Naim, so what shall we do. Oh I know, lets stick this primitive 15w amplifier circuit in a tiny box with shitty controls and flog it to teh audiophiles for a premium. Then they can have a Naim.
Nothing wrong sonically with a NAP250 to be fair. Or the rest of the range for that matter.
They were just flat, low distortion power amps like many others.
The Issue is that I'd bet good money that nobody could tell one apart form the JVC AX4 I'm playing at the moment
Opinion masquerading as fact. As someone who auditioned all of those in 1986 I'd have to say my opinion differs wildly. The Nait1 sounded way better than the Cyrus, NAD and the Rotel. It was also significantly more expensive so required me to delay purchase for 3 months so that I could afford it. BTW I'd barely heard of Naim at the time, the Cyrus was the one I was expecting to buy which I preferred to the NAD.Things like the Nait 1 were just crazy. People 'want' a cheap Naim, so what shall we do. Oh I know, lets stick this primitive 15w amplifier circuit in a tiny box with shitty controls and flog it to teh audiophiles for a premium. Then they can have a Naim. All they really needed was a £100 Rotel or NAD, which were better
Love it those shitty Naits of the day.
Actually they pissed all over the competition then as far as i'm concerned, and in many ways still do.
Actually that's a very valid position to hold - and reveals the fact that even extreme reviewers privately recognise that all competent amplifiers sound if not identical then very, close.
The version of events presented to the public via the magazines is a false one.
Love it those shitty Naits of the day.
Actually they pissed all over the competition then as far as i'm concerned, and in many ways still do.
I do struggle with folks' perception about good value, it's really no good banging on about how one might get "better value" from something that is cheaper or measures better if you happen to prefer an alternative that happens to be more expensive. My only mistake was to believe in the "perfect sound forever" sh*t when CD first emerged. Measured better than vinyl apparently...
Must have been pretty bad competition. I had LP12/Basik + NAD 3020 + AR18s, and was very interested to hear my chum's LP12/Ittok + Nait + Kans. It was awful, so wrong.
I now know the terrible sound was probably mostly the Kans' fault, but these utterly crap overpriced products were being sold as "better", and if you didn't agree, then there was something wrong with you. Probably not listening properly.
The SME 20 sounds considerably better than any LP12, and this is backed up with laboratory measurements. It's also cheaper than the top-spec LP12! It's your money, though.
Laboratory measurements are so important, aren't they? Wonder why The SMEs sound so dull then? A silly idea I know but just maybe it might be down to what one prefers?
Personally I'd rather pay for what I like.
The SME 20 does not sound "dull". So it's a question based on a false premise.
Oh yes it does...(your turn)
Laboratory measurements are so important, aren't they? Wonder why The SMEs sound so dull then? A silly idea I know but just maybe it might be down to what one prefers?
Personally I'd rather pay for what I like.