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Views on NAIM amps |
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dvv
Regular Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Location: Belgrade, Serbi Status: Offline Points: 95 |
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Posted: 18 Jan 2008 at 8:30am |
For over 30 years, I have held NAIM in extremely high regard for the late Julian Vereker's approach, which to me, seems so rock solid stable and reasonable that I wonder why more people have not used a similar approach in the same price bracket.
However, in Serbia, NAIM is not a household name, and consequently, I have lost touch with their products. Reading about them is more of a teaser than anything else. The last product of their I have hands-on experience was a 30 or 35 Watt integrated amp dating back to 1989.
So, I would love to hear some comments on their current crop of products, and in particualr, their amps, which I hold in high regard.
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Graham Slee
Admin Group Retired Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 16298 |
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Hi dvv,
All I know is they are hardly on the fringe anymore... Maybe Leo would want to air his views on Naim here? |
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That none should be able to buy or sell without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
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ServerBaboon
Senior Member Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Location: NW England Status: Offline Points: 968 |
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When I first listened to Naim Amps some 10 years ago I found them a bit upfront and relentless for my tastes. I ended up with a Shearne Audio Phase 2 Reference instead (narrowly beating a Sugden) which was a more relelaxed (warmer?) sound.
Have listened to the latest Naim amps at some HiFi shows and with the limited 'Hifi show' music they were playing did find them less up front. The house sound seems to have changed since Julian's Death. DVV how do you find the newer Naims compared to the originals? Edited by ServerBaboon - 18 Jan 2008 at 1:07pm |
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dvv
Regular Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Location: Belgrade, Serbi Status: Offline Points: 95 |
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@Mr Slee
Amen to that, Graham, they have long ago crossed over to the mainstream industry, however I also feel they have at least tried hard to keep up their own spirit alive. Unfortunately, this view is a result of reading tests, not personal experience.
@ServerBaboon
I do not find them anyhow, that's exactly my problem, I can't find anyone I know who owns anything newer than 1989. And since I'm not likely to hit the shores of the British Isles before August or September, the first time since 1986 and hence long overdue, I expect I won't find out before that.
As you could read elsewhere on this site, I design, manufacture and sell power line filters. My only knowledge of NAIM after 1989 is from user feedback. While I am very grateful to people who take the time to send in a few lines, by sheer reason I must doubt their findings at least a little bit, given that I know nothing of their criteria, system, room acoustics, etc. So, while most welcome, their feedback is inconclusive.
For example, a US dealer in St Paul commented that using the filter he discovered that NAIM was capable of bass as he never knew it before. This more or less corresponds with that 1989 unit, which was also better all around, but bass was the most impressive insofar that it appeared to faster, taughter, better controlled. Obviously, just two cases/views do not necessarily make it so, especially when comparing units some 14-15 years apart.
And I frankly admit to having a weakness for NAIM, based on that 1989 unit. A job truly very well done, my hat off to them, and with pleasure.
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Graham Slee
Admin Group Retired Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 16298 |
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Here's a "potted history" of Naim Audio entitled Naim That Tune (click link) from HiFi World.
As a matter of interest Naims export market kicked off in 1980 and by 1985, just 5 years later, was big enough to gain the Queen's Award for Export Achievement. Today, and for the last 8 years at least, it's a very different market for UK firms. GSPAudio's export market kicked-off in 1999. I think we've many years to go to reach the Queen's Award status, that's if such an award still exists? Let's face it, in a country that can be likened to Monty Python's "Bicycle Repair Man" sketch, in that it is all financial services with virtually no manufacturing industry left - a country that has done it's level best to help the people of other countries while doing sod-all for it's own people (unless you're in the world of finance) - a downward slide since 1985 perpetuated by successive UK governments - today's budding UK manufacturers can only really exist in the "twilight zone", a zombiefied "world" where the State does it's level-best to destroy, nay, spit on manufacturing as if it's some kind of disease. I doubt that Naim's success story would exist should Julian Vereker have set it up over the last 10 year period, unless that is, he'd set it up as a "buy cheap in China - sell dear here" box moving business. For small talented UK manufacturers this is no longer "Great" Britain - Neofeudalistic Britain should be it's new title! Edited by Graham Slee - 19 Jan 2008 at 10:37am |
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That none should be able to buy or sell without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
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How very strange, Graham. My wife and I were having the self same discussion this morning while walking the dog. We consider the UK is now a 3rd world country. As you say there is virtually no manufacturing now and we believe this is partly to blame for a lot of the young thugs roaming the streets. In days gone by these thugs would have been working in apprenticeships. With the lack of engineering/technical jobs they have no real future as they are not the office types!! ( how's that for a thought ? )
This country may rely on it's finance industry, but that too is going west, sorry east. My wife is a computer analyst, who used to be self employed until the goverment pulled the plug on that. Now she works for a national insurer and their services are going to India.
Sadly I do not produce anything, something I am acutely aware of! I am an Environmental Health Officer specialising in Pest Control. But my father was a Precision Engineer in the aircraft industry. A good one as well. Engineering used to be the backbone of this once great country. No engineering, no Great !
What a sad state of affairs when all the recent great hi-fi products that were made in this country are now all made in the same factory in China. Quad, Audiolab, Mission etc.
Seems to me that the 80s created the car boot mentality, then this was quickly followed by the ebay mentality, buy cheap and sell on ebay for huge profit. This seems to the growth industry in the UK now.
Adrian.
The original grumpy old man
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leo
Moderator Group Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Location: uk Status: Offline Points: 53 |
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Better not, don't want to upset the Naim users Schematic for the Nap250 if anybody is interested , I can't find the amp regulation schematic, the Naim amps have some weird and wonderful grounding http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=64565&stamp=1033080178 Edited by leo - 20 Jan 2008 at 7:37pm |
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