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They're Different From Each Other

Posted by Luminator (A) on November 9, 2007 at 15:25:18

In Reply to: Ayre vs. Naim posted by Bromo33333 on November 9, 2007 at 07:48:52:

Any reason why it boils down to Ayre or Naim?

The Thiel CS2.4 is one of my backup speakers. Are you intent on keeping it? Some people will tell you to go for Ayre, others will tell you to pick Naim. Obviously, it comes down to personal preference.

My friends and I had the Naim CDX2/XPS2. While the XPS2 does clean up the sound, when you factor in the total price, it's not worth it. Plus, some trouble CDs (Genesis' eponymous album, Iron Maiden's reissued Seventh Son, the Robotech 20th Anniversary soundtrack come to mind) would not play in the CDX2. For some dumb reason, both the Naim and Ayre CD players do not have the "time remaining" function, which is of utmost importance to us (but not to most audiophiles).

If you have the CS2.4 in a small or medium-sized room, you better be sure you check out the volume controls on those amps. Many times, the sound is too loud, even with the volume control at or near MIN. If this is the case, you'll have to look elsewhere.

The Ayre is balanced, if that means anything to you. The Naim reverses left and right nomenclature, so be sure to check this, when you are using non-Naim sources.

I have no idea where people come up with the stereotype that these Naim pieces are good for dance. I'm a pop/rock/dance fan, and the Naim's retarded, plodding, disorganized, choppy sound pisses me off. When we played Erasure's "Here I Go Impossible," it was as though the music were dough, and some kid mashed it. Adding the XPS2 does organize, line up, and clean up the sound, but for US$10,000, you could do a lot better.

And don't think I'm just picking on the Naims. Go over to digital Asylum, search my posts, and read my honest criticisms of other CD players, such as the EAR Acute, Esoteric DV-60, and Meridian G08.

This stuff is expensive. That's why it pays to dwell on the negatives. Those negatives, over the long run, grate. Audiophiles who overlook those negatives are the ones who later on get the urge to upgrade. Trust me, I'm a prime example. I don't want people to repeat the mistakes I've made, and that is why I am always pointing out flaws, or factors to be wary of.

-Lummy The Seahorse

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