|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
69.216.250.190
I'm not trying to bash the mfgr, but each time i've demo'd this stuff at dealers and salons, the sound is simply not to my liking. Granted, the salespeople see me and figure Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album is what i'm into so that's what they play...Recently i've heard systems of both their hi-end line and a cheaper cd player ($1200 cdp) and i wouldn't wish the sound on my worst enemy.
Again, not trying to diss anyone of the gear, but does Naim gear tend to be harsh? some posts here in the archives state this, i just find it hard to believe that such a popular and expensive brand sounds like that.
To me, its the polar opposite of 3-D, warm & inviting. maybe Naim is known for having week midrange???
Follow Ups:
which I've had for years, I recently wondered if a different cd player would be an upgrade since digital has come so far. I tried a rega planet and a jolida jd-100. I didn't think either of improved any harshness but they certainly had less drive and impact. The results may have been different with more expensive players, but I'm keeping the naim and saving my money until I can afford something pricier.about the newer stuff, the most I can say that I heard the cd5 very briefly at a dealer in a couple systems and the sound seemed natural and well-balanced to me (not much help, I know).
Like others have indicated, Naim gear does tend to sound somewhat forward, which can be disastrous when mated to the wrong gear or, in the event of an all-Naim system, impromperly set up. I've heard it both ways: overly sharp and agressive, but also quite natural and rhythmically precise. Personally, Naim isn't my cup of Earl's Grey, but I can definitely see the attraction. Same with Linn.
by harsh...
Personally I find them 'not to my liking'. They definetaly have a sound to them. I have found the items that I have heard to be very up front. Not so long ago I had a demo of a few players in the £2-3K price range, which included a Naim player and an Audionet Art V2 and I was suprised myself just how different two players could sound... but my girlfirnd said of the Naim that she was amazed that anything so expensive could sound so awful, it really appeared to hurt her ears to listen to it. I must admit it was pretty sharp and not my idea of musical and I would not have had it in my house.
But maybe in another system....
I don't think I have ever heard a good enough Naim set up done at a dealer.
Everytime I've visted a Naim dealer, whilst I admrie what they do, I never thought I could live with them long term.They tend to be ultra sensitive to a main's condition, a rack/support and cable dressing/direction. Even a small thing as a fuse direction can tip them off the *treble* scale.
I am not sure what part of their cct. topology makes it so, but an initial correct set up is important to get your money's worth anyways. That is only if you like what they do fundamentally to begin with. Otherwise you'll be futzing with a system or spending far too much money on a hifi you don't even enjoy.
Only after I've witnessed how a system is set up by people who are familiar with their stuff, I realised some care is needed to sound their best. Their active setup is even worse in terms of precise set ups to avoid their tendency to sound strident. ( of course, it doesn't say anywhere in the manual. :\ )
Their older gear does have a roll off in frequency extremes and their entry-level stuff is pretty singular focused in that a tonal accuracy or *3D* soundstage aren't much of the priority. Their best effort for an *all-rounder* so far is a Nait 5/CD5/112/150.
Once set up right to your liking, a Naim sound, to me, is more natural and real sounding than most. Not too dissimilar from my SET valve amps I enjoy in terms of a see-through quality, microdynamics and bass agility.
*warm and inviting* is too subjective and you'll never get the aural sauna from their stuff, but I found their midrange addictive and captivating. ( unless speakers used have a recessed midrange )
Their presentation tends to be 'they are here' rather than 'you are there'. Which might not agree with your taste.They are not for everyone, for sure.
In their current range, a real good thing starts happening at NAC252/NAP300 range for amps and CDS3/XPS2/555PS for a CD player.
Altho, I think their entry and mid-level gear are excellent, they might be too *out there* for uninitiated. Their current black box became much more main streamed than their older gear but it might not be enough for some.I am not familiar with Nirvana's *Nevermind*, but I found all Naim players do not sugar coat bad recordings. Sometimes,it's a bit of an effort to make it work in all Naim system and they can be even more of wild cards if it's used with a non-Naim preamp and cables.
Certainly trying to make a sand amp sound good is more difficult and costly. :)
.
Regards,
Geoff
It may have been a mismatch or they simply don’t float your boat…To me, Naim is about pristine clarity, fine sharp details,speed,very extended top/bottom frequencies and great PRAT with a more upfront presentation. As you said…the polar opposite of 3-D, warm & inviting
.....or, to each his own.First, what speakers did you listen to?
What Naim "kit" did you hear?
What music do you like?Naim has a fanatical following, but it is not for everyone. If Naim amplification is paired with the wrong speakers, the results will make your ears bleed. However, if you match the "right" speakers, you will rewarded with a highly satisfying experience.
Their cdps are all first-rate and can mate well with many other amps and pres now that rca outputs are all standard instead of the DIN connectors they tend to favor.
I have had a Naim 112/150 and CD5 then a CDX2/supercap with 250 amp and 282/hicap pre.
With Dynaudio Special 25s and Proacs, it sounded sweet. With my Merlins, it was harsh and abrassive.
naim's sound, at least the little I know of it, is quite difft compared to most gear i've been listening too...which is why the Q was posted.Are there other brands with a similar 'house' sound??
i auditioned the stuff in 2 dealer rooms: the cheaper room had naim's newest low cost cdp ($1500 or so) paired with small Rega floorstanders & powered by a naim integrated ($2500 or so). that demo was brutal to put it kindly. Their 2nd room had Naim amps and preamp mated to Sonus Faber speaks and a kickin' sub. A fun room, but still none of the 3-D sweetness i'm used too. sterile would be a good word to use.
it seems a stark departure sonically from a lot of the gear i've sampled.
Naim, in my opinion are not harsh, not the newer Naim in anycase, but, they do tend to be aggresively forward with alot of emphasis on certain frequencies. They take their snare drums and rim shots very seriously.The real entry level Naim is the NAC282 and NAP250.2. anything below these is rather crude sounding to those used to tubes.
Naim is SS to the max. To get a warmer sound, try sugden or something else...
regds
i think it was Robery Harlery who put together a system that had a Naim CD5 and Nait 5 int amp driving Wilson Sophias when they first came out.the sound was increduble. i heard it at promusica in chicago, too.
i think the key to lower level naim gear is to match it with well damped speakers like proac, sonus faber, totem, spendor, harbeth, etc.
naim is an upgrade merry-go-round that can be brutal.
go to their forum. the dudes there make this forum seem civilized.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: